Eurotunnel Tips
Discussion
Hello all.
I had a masterplan of blasting through Europe with the roof off from about 0730 tomorrow but reading the news it seems I might be parked on the M20 instead.
Does anyone have any first hand information on the situation?
I’ve never used the service before so any tips or advice on getting there/checking in etc… would be much appreciated.
Booked on the 0550 and travelling from the South West - probably leave home at 0000(nice eh?)
I had a masterplan of blasting through Europe with the roof off from about 0730 tomorrow but reading the news it seems I might be parked on the M20 instead.
Does anyone have any first hand information on the situation?
I’ve never used the service before so any tips or advice on getting there/checking in etc… would be much appreciated.
Booked on the 0550 and travelling from the South West - probably leave home at 0000(nice eh?)
On Saturday there were already queues on the A20 at 4:30 to get into the site that took 90 minutes to get through, today there weren't any queues at 4:30 but they built up from 5:00 on through the morning. The traffic is due to be at a lower level tomorrow albeit still very busy, the earlier you get there the better really.
Ideally the Highways Agency would reopen the M20 so that entrance can be used for entering the site rather than the far smaller entrance from the A20.
Ideally the Highways Agency would reopen the M20 so that entrance can be used for entering the site rather than the far smaller entrance from the A20.
We are booked next Saturday first thing so I am hoping they’ve sorted it out by then! Seems that the trains are running fairly on time and passports checks are okay it’s actually getting to the terminal that is the issue. Problem is that because the M20 is shut to park lorries the alternative routes are gridlocked.
You could try attacking it from a different route altogether, i.e. an alternative, alternative route, that may get you closer before you hit the queues? I don’t have any suggestions though apart from hit the coast at a different spot and coming in from that direction?
You could try attacking it from a different route altogether, i.e. an alternative, alternative route, that may get you closer before you hit the queues? I don’t have any suggestions though apart from hit the coast at a different spot and coming in from that direction?
I was there at 5:00 this morning and it was a nightmare. Queued for 3 hours just to get into the site, we had Flexiplus but the idiot girl at the barrier waved us to the right of the gate and then there was no turning back - we were in the normal queue for the train which was stationary. I walked down the length of the divide and spoke to the lady on the door of the Flexiplus lounge and she said that there was nothing she could do as it was impossible to get from that lane back into the Flexi parking, she let me into the lounge so I could grab some coffees and food, apparently the girl at the barrier had done the same to a few other people
I then spotted a bloke who was supervising at the start of the loading queue and he told me to signal to him when we came around and he would raise the barrier and let us into the Flexiplus lanes which he did and we were the last car on a soon to depart train so all was not lost, it was a 09:30 train instead of the one around 07:00.
Would not normally bother with Flexi but when I booked there were no other fares available and apart from the idiot girl and the long queue to get in I'm glad we did it.
Now sitting in a hotel in Blois getting ready to have a beer.
I then spotted a bloke who was supervising at the start of the loading queue and he told me to signal to him when we came around and he would raise the barrier and let us into the Flexiplus lanes which he did and we were the last car on a soon to depart train so all was not lost, it was a 09:30 train instead of the one around 07:00.
Would not normally bother with Flexi but when I booked there were no other fares available and apart from the idiot girl and the long queue to get in I'm glad we did it.
Now sitting in a hotel in Blois getting ready to have a beer.
greygoose said:
On Saturday there were already queues on the A20 at 4:30 to get into the site that took 90 minutes to get through, today there weren't any queues at 4:30 but they built up from 5:00 on through the morning. The traffic is due to be at a lower level tomorrow albeit still very busy, the earlier you get there the better really.
Ideally the Highways Agency would reopen the M20 so that entrance can be used for entering the site rather than the far smaller entrance from the A20.
A quick update on this - they have now closed the A20 entrance and the queue is now on the M20, and appears to be reducing quite well.Ideally the Highways Agency would reopen the M20 so that entrance can be used for entering the site rather than the far smaller entrance from the A20.
It looks like they are holding all HGVs and prioritising tourist traffic this evening to clear the backlog.
I’m travelling over on Wednesday early morning, so hopefully sorted by then.
Greygoose - you are well informed…if you could update on Tuesday night, that would be very much appreciated!
Copy & paste from the other thread. Friday night/Sat AM was painful. Seems the ‘perfect storm’ hit, what with the M20
closures etc.
Our Tunnel ‘experience’ from Friday/Saturday.
Original plan: Leave home at 2130 to get to Folkestone for midnight ready for an 0230 crossing to be spat out France side for just after 0400 local for a leisurely drive down to the Dordogne. Who knows? Might even get an earlier train….
Reality: Saw the ensuing chaos on M20/Dover etc. so left home at 1900. Utter carnage on the M20. Forced off the motorway onto a minor road about 2 miles from the Tunnel.
By this time it was around 0200. We waited for a gate to be opened that joined the access road to the tunnel booths. Massive queues and was probably around 0400 by the time we got checked in. Then another 2 hr wait to get through passport control.
No real delays actually processing passports, it just appeared they weren’t open so was backed up all the way to the terminal. Possibly holding off until trains available?
Lady at the final check where they put you in lanes claimed it was the M20 issues that basically meant they had far fewer travellers Friday evening and then a huge wave turn up early hours Sat.
We spoke someone processing a pet for travel and they’d been queuing for 2 hours and weren’t even close to the front.
We finally got an 0630 train and made it to Tremolat for around 2000 with stops and a power nap!
I hope it’s better going home in 2 weeks!
closures etc.
Our Tunnel ‘experience’ from Friday/Saturday.
Original plan: Leave home at 2130 to get to Folkestone for midnight ready for an 0230 crossing to be spat out France side for just after 0400 local for a leisurely drive down to the Dordogne. Who knows? Might even get an earlier train….
Reality: Saw the ensuing chaos on M20/Dover etc. so left home at 1900. Utter carnage on the M20. Forced off the motorway onto a minor road about 2 miles from the Tunnel.
By this time it was around 0200. We waited for a gate to be opened that joined the access road to the tunnel booths. Massive queues and was probably around 0400 by the time we got checked in. Then another 2 hr wait to get through passport control.
No real delays actually processing passports, it just appeared they weren’t open so was backed up all the way to the terminal. Possibly holding off until trains available?
Lady at the final check where they put you in lanes claimed it was the M20 issues that basically meant they had far fewer travellers Friday evening and then a huge wave turn up early hours Sat.
We spoke someone processing a pet for travel and they’d been queuing for 2 hours and weren’t even close to the front.
We finally got an 0630 train and made it to Tremolat for around 2000 with stops and a power nap!
I hope it’s better going home in 2 weeks!
Thanks all!
Sounds a bit more promising as the weekend has went on.
I’m going to leave early to give me a chance of leaving on time but a 3 hour delay I could deal with, just not 15, 18, 21 like I’ve been reading!
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Also thanks on the flexi plus ticket advice! I have the same so I’ll make sure they’re aware and I get in the correct queue.
Sounds a bit more promising as the weekend has went on.
I’m going to leave early to give me a chance of leaving on time but a 3 hour delay I could deal with, just not 15, 18, 21 like I’ve been reading!
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Also thanks on the flexi plus ticket advice! I have the same so I’ll make sure they’re aware and I get in the correct queue.
Ok I’ll round this off a bit by floating the idea that this may be the most seamless cross channel service I’ve ever received 
Perhaps it’s by virtue of the ungodly hour I’m travelling or perhaps the tunnel staff and highways have done an amazing job clearing the backlog over the last couple of days, who knows, but I’ve literally just driven from my house, all the way to the first check in lane non-stop, then boarded the 0250 train instead of the 0550 I had ‘booked’. Flexi+ ticket worth its weight in gold on this occasion.
Onwards, hopefully the next couple of legs go as well as the first.
Perhaps it’s by virtue of the ungodly hour I’m travelling or perhaps the tunnel staff and highways have done an amazing job clearing the backlog over the last couple of days, who knows, but I’ve literally just driven from my house, all the way to the first check in lane non-stop, then boarded the 0250 train instead of the 0550 I had ‘booked’. Flexi+ ticket worth its weight in gold on this occasion.
Onwards, hopefully the next couple of legs go as well as the first.
Edited by ColdoRS on Monday 25th July 02:59
Any latest updates on M20 / traffic / queues at Folkestone ? My usual route is M25 clockwise, Dartford crossing then M20 to Eurotunnel - on the 11.39 crossing this Thurs. Probably leave St. Albans area around 7am. Can’t decide whether to take my normal route or a plan B. Hopefully someone has just carried out this journey and can confirm it’s like a hot knife through butter 
According to this map, there is a road closure on the M20 (Leeds Castle exit coastbound) until October 2020. I haven't seen anything aboutr this in the local news, but it is really going to affect people travelling down to Eurotunnel or Dover.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2629885,0.6174273,...
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2629885,0.6174273,...
andyA700 said:
According to this map, there is a road closure on the M20 (Leeds Castle exit coastbound) until October 2020. I haven't seen anything aboutr this in the local news, but it is really going to affect people travelling down to Eurotunnel or Dover.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2629885,0.6174273,...
That’s the switch over for opp brock to drive on the north bound carriage when heading south for cars, and for lorries where they join the queues.https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2629885,0.6174273,...
RSpiston said:
Any latest updates on M20 / traffic / queues at Folkestone ? My usual route is M25 clockwise, Dartford crossing then M20 to Eurotunnel - on the 11.39 crossing this Thurs. Probably leave St. Albans area around 7am. Can’t decide whether to take my normal route or a plan B. Hopefully someone has just carried out this journey and can confirm it’s like a hot knife through butter
Use this https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/travelling-with-us/l...
Now for example
M25 to bridge should see majority of traffic.
Personally I use a2/m2 then a229.
I am hoping things calm down now after the perfect storm of traffic fatality, initial holiday rush and slow French passport controls, (and M20 closure too?) last Friday. We're due to catch an 8.30pm train on Friday 12 August for an overnight drive the the South of France. We may leave a bit earlier than normal but we'll just watch the traffic on the day and see.
I thought of booking a backup ferry via Portsmouth or Newhaven, but crossings where available start at c £500, and with an extra 4-5 hrs in crossing times, may as well take our chances with delays.
We don't have flexi+ tickets for Eurotunnel, as I've always had enough flexibility with the normal tickets, again fingers crossed we get a steady approach to the terminal and onto the train.
I thought of booking a backup ferry via Portsmouth or Newhaven, but crossings where available start at c £500, and with an extra 4-5 hrs in crossing times, may as well take our chances with delays.
We don't have flexi+ tickets for Eurotunnel, as I've always had enough flexibility with the normal tickets, again fingers crossed we get a steady approach to the terminal and onto the train.
Deesee said:
Use this
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/travelling-with-us/l...
Now for example
M25 to bridge should see majority of traffic.
Personally I use a2/m2 then a229.
This didn't help us at all when we went, simply wasn't updated enough. Did it int he car when we got there - waiting for entry to get our paper to hang on the mirror, got through, then bam hit by traffic snaking around the car park, nothing on the app, and it didn't update until we got through passport control to then be left waiting due to delays, ended up on a 30 minute later train think it was, may have been later - and this was before kids holidays.https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/travelling-with-us/l...
Now for example
M25 to bridge should see majority of traffic.
Personally I use a2/m2 then a229.
No staff around whatsoever, starbucks was incredibly slow, that we gave up, got a coffee in belgium.
Service has dropped, minimal staff, trains are looking a bit battered and bruised now, but still prefer it to the ferry and I feel eurotunnel know this now, so why bother with anything.
Deesee said:
someday said:
Are they checking COVID passes or that you've been tested?
Yes pre load them with the pre departure documents, or you will cause yourself and others more delay.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff