Eurotunnel Shuttle

[tgr]

Have Eurotunnel got it together now or can we still expect massive queues and delays?

I always choose Eurotunnel instead of ferries as past experience has been very good however several friends and colleagues have had a complete nightmare with them recently particularly over the Christmas period.

Are they now reliable again or are they not (as at the beginning of 2016)?

[rufmeister]

We use the tunnel every few months, only had a small delay once last year on our return.

We used it over New Year and no trouble at all, even got allocated an earlier train which was nice.

[drdino]

Used it for a quick break last week. UK->France no issues, on time. France->UK on Sunday had an hour's delay due to "technical issues", all of the afternoon trains were rescheduled.

[jamiebae]

I used it over Christmas and it was excellent, no delays or anything, but I live in mainland Europe so I guess most of the traffic was going the other way to me.

In general I think it's at least as reliable as the ferries, if not more so. They have had 'migrant issues' but seem to be on top of these now, and in reality they tend to happen at night which causes minimal disruption to travelers.

[krallicious]

I use it a bit but in 2015 only one of my 6 trains was on time. All of the other times I have had around an hour's delay which was due to broken trains or tavelling at peak periods. The first is excusable whilst the second isn't but having said that, I have only had very minor delays over the past 8 years or so of using the tunnel.

[tgr]

Thanks everyone, sounds as if one would have to be unlucky to be badly caught out.

I'm just worried that they have clearly not invested in infrastructure and therefore that problems will crop up (equipment failures, migrants)

[jamiebae]

When their trains are this spotless what makes you think they don't invest in their infrastructure

[numtumfutunch]

Listening with interest here

Have used without stress extensively for years but on reflection only at off peak times

Went to France in August last year but one and got stacked at Folkestone on the way over for an hour but coming home was an utter nightmare with enormous queues from the Peage exit all through the facility - thank goodness I'd paid for priority boarding, our lane took an age to get past customs and border control but then fed straight onto the next train

[BenjiA]

It's ok on the way out, but coming home at peak time has been a disaster for us the last 3 times. I'm going out on the train and coming back on ferries from now on.