Travel warning
Discussion
Not going to start worrying unless it's still going on literally the day before leaving.
Most things tend to be totally exaggerated by the media also. Not just possible travel difficulties.... Travel doom!!!.... Thousands of family holidays ruined.... Euro 2016 cancelled.. End of the world!!!!!! Arrrrggghh.
Most things tend to be totally exaggerated by the media also. Not just possible travel difficulties.... Travel doom!!!.... Thousands of family holidays ruined.... Euro 2016 cancelled.. End of the world!!!!!! Arrrrggghh.
ellroy said:
RAC bloke on the radio earlier saying don't panic, don't cancel trips, there's plenty of fuel in most filling stations, possibly a little bit of a queue or a limit to what you can put in.
Sorry to bring some realism to the panic fest.
Today the RAC, according to the radio were advising not to travel unless necessary and fill up before crossing... Sorry to bring some realism to the panic fest.
As others have said, I'm not going to worry until the day before I travel, hopefully it will have all been sorted by then...
My contingency is to go down in the dirty diesel but my Boxster is already stickered up and not to take that would be a waste now, right?
My advice would be to stop reading the news etc. A friend arrived in Caen last night and said there are no problems getting fuel. I'm going tomorrow morning to Calais and then driving to Caen. All the reports I've had from off the ground are positive - particularly if you're after 98 sans plomb. I'm in an Audi v8 and will report back here tomorrow - if I can make it in that full of people and "stuff" I shouldn't see too many others having an issue. He who dares etc
Truckosaurus said:
Indeed. As long as you don't start looking for a filling station once you get down to fumes then there shouldn't be a problem getting fuel.
The first game of Euro 2016 is the 10th June, it'll be all over by then.
Well yes, common sense prevails I guess. I'll be looking for fuel whenever I get to half a tank - about every 100 miles.The first game of Euro 2016 is the 10th June, it'll be all over by then.
I've also been looking on the caravan club forum (I know, I know - I don't have one though) and a lot of their members report no problems. Some of them have gone as far as cancelling holidays, but I don't think that is necessary.
bmw535i said:
My advice would be to stop reading the news
And there speaks a voice of good sense.Left-wing news and unions in France have been talking this up a storm (as is their way) to pressure Hollande, resulting in the UK media outlets (and the bloody RAC) completely blowing the problem out of all proportion.
The facts:
- France has "a 4-month supply" of fuel stockpiled
- The Govt has categorically said that they won't allow refineries to be blockaded
- Current shortages/rationing has been caused by panic buying, rather than actual shortfalls
- At last count, more than 80% of fuel stations were still open
Contingency planning at this stage is akin to building a nuclear bunker in your garden, and stocking up on corned beef and tinned potatoes.
C70R said:
bmw535i said:
My advice would be to stop reading the news
And there speaks a voice of good sense.Left-wing news and unions in France have been talking this up a storm (as is their way) to pressure Hollande, resulting in the UK media outlets (and the bloody RAC) completely blowing the problem out of all proportion.
The facts:
- France has "a 4-month supply" of fuel stockpiled
- The Govt has categorically said that they won't allow refineries to be blockaded
- Current shortages/rationing has been caused by panic buying, rather than actual shortfalls
- At last count, more than 80% of fuel stations were still open
Contingency planning at this stage is akin to building a nuclear bunker in your garden, and stocking up on corned beef and tinned potatoes.
Clivey said:
E36GUY said:
A 3 litre TDI Lupo!?
Custard.
Haha Guy...they mean the Lupo 3L. There was a story about Renault getting wind that VW were to build a "3L Lupo" and that's how the Clio V6 came about. Not sure about that one though!Custard.
Regarding fuel shortages, I expect the various motorway stations on the way to LM will be utterly hideous with monumental queues (more so than normal) so you're better off trying to fill up a bit off the beaten track. Having said that, it's the same every year.
Will Hollande capitulate? Who knows, but if he does it'll be curtains for a lot of his government - the regulations have already been watered down more than a teenagers parents drinks cupboard so it's not far off pointless that they've forced them through in the first place.
jamiebae said:
Regarding fuel shortages, I expect the various motorway stations on the way to LM will be utterly hideous with monumental queues (more so than normal) so you're better off trying to fill up a bit off the beaten track. Having said that, it's the same every year.
Please stop adding fuel (badum, tish) to the fire. There is nothing suggesting that this will be the case.Plus, I've never once queued for longer than a couple of mins to get fuel en route to Le Mans in more than 10 years of visiting, autoroutes or otherwise.
C70R said:
jamiebae said:
Regarding fuel shortages, I expect the various motorway stations on the way to LM will be utterly hideous with monumental queues (more so than normal) so you're better off trying to fill up a bit off the beaten track. Having said that, it's the same every year.
Please stop adding fuel (badum, tish) to the fire. There is nothing suggesting that this will be the case.Plus, I've never once queued for longer than a couple of mins to get fuel en route to Le Mans in more than 10 years of visiting, autoroutes or otherwise.
Unfortunately, given the 'fuel shortage' discussion in the news it's inevitable that people will 'top up' when they have half a tank left if they see an open station 'just in case'. This will add 30-50% to the normal number of visitors so will jam up the motorway stations horribly. If the whole situation has blown over by then of course it won't be an issue though.
BBC news is reporting that the French government will be holding reform talks on June 14th but will not be making the amendments the unions want. On the same day, the unions are planning a big protest in Paris, which they are hoping will attract 300,000 people.
The idea that this will be over before Le Mans I think is wrong. The unions see Euro 2016 as leverage to get what they want as the government is not going to want to be embarrassed by them. I think it's a real shame as somebody said earlier on the thread, the French people could really do with a success story at the moment and this isn't going to help.
I would fill up before you cross and hope for the best.
The idea that this will be over before Le Mans I think is wrong. The unions see Euro 2016 as leverage to get what they want as the government is not going to want to be embarrassed by them. I think it's a real shame as somebody said earlier on the thread, the French people could really do with a success story at the moment and this isn't going to help.
I would fill up before you cross and hope for the best.
France24 report "PARIS (AFP) -
Blockades of French fuel depots manned by union activists have been cleared away and just one remains out of operation because of a strike, the government said Friday.
"Blockades have been removed at all the depots, except for the depot at Gargenville (in the Paris area), which is on strike," a transport ministry spokesman said.
Blockades of French fuel depots manned by union activists have been cleared away and just one remains out of operation because of a strike, the government said Friday.
"Blockades have been removed at all the depots, except for the depot at Gargenville (in the Paris area), which is on strike," a transport ministry spokesman said.
Nigel_O said:
Many of us thought they were utterly mad, but there's one bunch of PH'ers that are pretty much guaranteed to get there, regardless of the fuel crisis
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yes, lack of fuel won't be an issue for us!! I'm sure this is all a storm in a teacup anyway and the status quo will be restored quickly.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Happy hooning to Le Mans everyone
not long to go now 
As this topic is live, I thought I would have a quick spin to my local petrol station in the Conti.
No problems, full tank of 98, no restrictions and only one car in the queue.
That's in Ambrieres les Vallees, not too far from Le Mans.
As an aside, some of the French in a Cafe today were actually talking about Maggie Thatcher and their need for some type of curb on unions and strikes. Maybe they are getting fed up after all.
No problems, full tank of 98, no restrictions and only one car in the queue.
That's in Ambrieres les Vallees, not too far from Le Mans.
As an aside, some of the French in a Cafe today were actually talking about Maggie Thatcher and their need for some type of curb on unions and strikes. Maybe they are getting fed up after all.
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