Travelling by Eurotunnel?
Discussion
Eurotunnel's web page give conflicting information.
UK departures are delayed due to an Incident in the tunnel.
FR departures are delayed due to a Technical problem.
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/latest...
UK departures are delayed due to an Incident in the tunnel.
FR departures are delayed due to a Technical problem.
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/latest...
I came through yesterday at about 2:30 and there was about a 90 minute delay.
As far as I could tell it was all due to French passport / security checks.
Once past here the main car park and shopping area was literally empty and we drove straight onto the train without stopping.
I don't know if linked to football or terrorism but they were searching for something.
As far as I could tell it was all due to French passport / security checks.
Once past here the main car park and shopping area was literally empty and we drove straight onto the train without stopping.
I don't know if linked to football or terrorism but they were searching for something.
BBC News website is reporting a 6 hour delay at the French terminal due to only one tunnel available because of the need to do emergency repairs, and the French passport controllers taking 3 hours to process everyone wishing to get to the UK.
Son and I usually go to LM each year but we were not able to do so this year. Having seen the weather and now Eurotunnel problems, I'm glad we watched on Eurosport for the best part of 24 hours.
We're going to Le Classic Le Mans in 2 weeks and I hope all is OK for that trip.
R.
Son and I usually go to LM each year but we were not able to do so this year. Having seen the weather and now Eurotunnel problems, I'm glad we watched on Eurosport for the best part of 24 hours.
We're going to Le Classic Le Mans in 2 weeks and I hope all is OK for that trip.
R.
Yesterday, we did not observe either the French or the British Passport checks taking any longer than normal. In fact I saw the French Authorities, not even open any passports on a number of occasions. The main check is obviously the UK passport review that needs to be in place to allow you to drive off the train and get away without any boarder checks.
Personally, I think it's a volume issue, they were managing the volumes of people into the French checks and the volume of vehicles into the UK checks. Any more vehicles through and it would clog up, so they were managing things last night around 9pm as good as they could.
I've used this crossing for the last 6 years straight after the race, and I have never seen that volume of cars, so that would explain the process. If you check the Euro tunnel website, it says that they have planned to use this overflow for much of June and July as a result of re-inforced checks.
I did not see any re-inforced checks and cars appeared to go through at a normal pace.
I hope everyone gets home safely and with minimal disruption, safe travels.
Personally, I think it's a volume issue, they were managing the volumes of people into the French checks and the volume of vehicles into the UK checks. Any more vehicles through and it would clog up, so they were managing things last night around 9pm as good as they could.
I've used this crossing for the last 6 years straight after the race, and I have never seen that volume of cars, so that would explain the process. If you check the Euro tunnel website, it says that they have planned to use this overflow for much of June and July as a result of re-inforced checks.
I did not see any re-inforced checks and cars appeared to go through at a normal pace.
I hope everyone gets home safely and with minimal disruption, safe travels.
I'm not convinced this is a passport check problem. We drove by all the queues yesterday on our way to the ferry where we sailed through the French passport checks and got a much earlier boat.
Likewise coming out, as a regular euro tunnel user, once finally getting to the check area, the only thing unusual was that they had all the check booths open, the checking didn't take any longer than normal.
I think this is a channel tunnel issue as opposed to a customs issue. If it was the latter, then surely their counterparts at the docks would be doing the same.
Either way, my sympathies to those stuck waiting there in that horrid place
Likewise coming out, as a regular euro tunnel user, once finally getting to the check area, the only thing unusual was that they had all the check booths open, the checking didn't take any longer than normal.
I think this is a channel tunnel issue as opposed to a customs issue. If it was the latter, then surely their counterparts at the docks would be doing the same.
Either way, my sympathies to those stuck waiting there in that horrid place
On Thursday morning the delays were 100% additional checks - I assumed due to the football being played in Lille and the desire to keep thugs away. I asked the UK customs official and he told me that top command in Paris had given instructions to increase checks and not to allow football supporters without tickets to travel.
I don't know why additional security checks at the tunnel yesterday and today. When we were checked I was told explosives.
All of our delay coming back yesterday lunchtime was these additional security checks. There were sniffer dogs walking up and down the lines of cars and almost every car seemed to be held and samples taken. It was this rather than the passport checks that was taking time. Once we got past the French checks there was only a 2 minute wait at UK passport control and the terminal was dead. There were no more than 20 cars parked up in France.
Today there are additional tunnel power delays on top of course.
I don't know why additional security checks at the tunnel yesterday and today. When we were checked I was told explosives.
All of our delay coming back yesterday lunchtime was these additional security checks. There were sniffer dogs walking up and down the lines of cars and almost every car seemed to be held and samples taken. It was this rather than the passport checks that was taking time. Once we got past the French checks there was only a 2 minute wait at UK passport control and the terminal was dead. There were no more than 20 cars parked up in France.
Today there are additional tunnel power delays on top of course.
We saw the bent Merc.
Not surprised about it really. We were cut up by a liveried white Disco from the left who had decided to drive past those of us merging in turn and push in, we had past him a few moments back he was on our right at the point we were all being funneled in to exit and go to the holding area. No idea how he managed to get from the first lane to the third lane.
Clearly Karma was in effect as we were allowed to go straight to Passport control, he was directed to the holding area.
Not surprised about it really. We were cut up by a liveried white Disco from the left who had decided to drive past those of us merging in turn and push in, we had past him a few moments back he was on our right at the point we were all being funneled in to exit and go to the holding area. No idea how he managed to get from the first lane to the third lane.
Clearly Karma was in effect as we were allowed to go straight to Passport control, he was directed to the holding area.
What a fricking nightmare - started queuing off the motorway at about 3pm for out 1750 train but didnt make it onto a train until 2245 or so! The road layouts don't help the flow with all the bottlenecks, especially all uk booths going down to one lane and again at the terminal car park exits leading to gridlock
Edited by chrisr111r on Wednesday 22 June 17:47
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