Eurotunnel Wide deck
Discussion
I’ve used the Eurotunnel 10-12 times in the past, just on a basic ticket, and never been directed upstairs.
I’m looking now to book for a trip with my 981 Spyder which though a combination of being relatively low, plus a surprisingly long and low front bumper, plus no nose lift, means it is guaranteed not to clear the up-deck ramp.
I suspect the staff would sort me out appropriately, but maybe I’ll book the single deck carriage to take any curb stress out of the equation too.
What is the online “hack” for this? Say I have bikes on the roof? That adds a few quid so I presume that’s it?
I’m looking now to book for a trip with my 981 Spyder which though a combination of being relatively low, plus a surprisingly long and low front bumper, plus no nose lift, means it is guaranteed not to clear the up-deck ramp.
I suspect the staff would sort me out appropriately, but maybe I’ll book the single deck carriage to take any curb stress out of the equation too.
What is the online “hack” for this? Say I have bikes on the roof? That adds a few quid so I presume that’s it?
Eurotrunnel help page said:
Low ground clearance and wide sports cars
We may detect that your vehicle (despite being under the 1.85 meters high) is better suited to our Single Deck shuttles due to its low ground-clearance, width, or scissor/gull-wing doors.
Our Single Deck shuttles can accommodate wider vehicles, and do not require driving up the ramps to the upper deck during loading. If your vehicle is not detected as being wide/low but you wish to request this type of allocation, please book via our Contact Centre
Some things you can't book online, like normal out, flexi back - you have to call themWe may detect that your vehicle (despite being under the 1.85 meters high) is better suited to our Single Deck shuttles due to its low ground-clearance, width, or scissor/gull-wing doors.
Our Single Deck shuttles can accommodate wider vehicles, and do not require driving up the ramps to the upper deck during loading. If your vehicle is not detected as being wide/low but you wish to request this type of allocation, please book via our Contact Centre
Or just go into the high vehicles lane after you pass immigration and customs, once you're there you almost certainly won't get redirected, you'll just be in a line of vans. A couple of weeks back I accidentally ended up in the disabled lane in Calais. No one checked anything and I was first onto the shuttle
The system will pick up if your car isn't suitable for the normal decks. Failing that, just follow the wide/tall lane and feign stupidity if the drone points out you're in the wrong lane. They'll just let you carry on given the huge amount of 'normal' cars now in the large carriages.
Oh, and unless you think you might arrive at the terminal more than a couple of hours late, I'd avoid the temptation to pay double the price for Flexi tickets, no matter how nice your car.
The shuttles are fairly empty right now (I'm crossing every week), so I'm always getting onto the first available shuttle whatever ticket I hold. I used to get Flexi just in case, but now I just turn up and drive on as long as it's within two hours before or after
The shuttles are fairly empty right now (I'm crossing every week), so I'm always getting onto the first available shuttle whatever ticket I hold. I used to get Flexi just in case, but now I just turn up and drive on as long as it's within two hours before or after
Just follow the sign for Large Car/Bus/Bike..
The booking process will generally pick this up anyway (they require Reg of car now).. the width won't be an issue (my car without mirrors is over 2m wide, I have to pull the mirrors in to drive through the carriage), if the booking system does not pick up the clearance issue you have you will need a call to the contact centre, or as above just follow the sign and you be loaded up separately if not spotted and re directed.
The booking process will generally pick this up anyway (they require Reg of car now).. the width won't be an issue (my car without mirrors is over 2m wide, I have to pull the mirrors in to drive through the carriage), if the booking system does not pick up the clearance issue you have you will need a call to the contact centre, or as above just follow the sign and you be loaded up separately if not spotted and re directed.
Just specify bikes on the roof/car, doesn't matter what car you have. The kerbs may be low on the standard carriages but still high enough to kerb wheels with ULP tyres. The website use to (may still somewhere) recommend those with ULP tyres to specify the wider carriage. My 981 had only a couple of inches clearance each side, but have got on the wide carriage for our last 3 trips, and booked again this summer with our M240i.
Spleen said:
if the drone points out you're in the wrong lane
Having done 4 return crossings this month - there are no marshals or “drones” as you put it managing the boarding lanes. The whole thing seems to be on a bit of a shoestring at the moment, with some hourly crossings fairly empty. At one check-in a couple of weeks ago the attendant (I aim for those booths, to ask for an early crossing) told me that my ticket didn’t really allow it but just to drive straight on the next shuttle, as there’s no checking other than border/customs/security swabbing (which is happening every time outbound). That may change as we get to high seasonRedSwede said:
I’ve used the Eurotunnel 10-12 times in the past, just on a basic ticket, and never been directed upstairs.
I’m looking now to book for a trip with my 981 Spyder which though a combination of being relatively low, plus a surprisingly long and low front bumper, plus no nose lift, means it is guaranteed not to clear the up-deck ramp.
I suspect the staff would sort me out appropriately, but maybe I’ll book the single deck carriage to take any curb stress out of the equation too.
What is the online “hack” for this? Say I have bikes on the roof? That adds a few quid so I presume that’s it?
First time I took my F430 over the system picked up on the fact that it's low-bodied and wide and booked me onto the wider carriage. Unfortunately I ended in the wrong lane but two marshals sorted me out, one to tell me I was in the wrong lane and to look for his oppo on the other side of the barrier who waved me into the correct place. Didn't get it wrong the second time.I’m looking now to book for a trip with my 981 Spyder which though a combination of being relatively low, plus a surprisingly long and low front bumper, plus no nose lift, means it is guaranteed not to clear the up-deck ramp.
I suspect the staff would sort me out appropriately, but maybe I’ll book the single deck carriage to take any curb stress out of the equation too.
What is the online “hack” for this? Say I have bikes on the roof? That adds a few quid so I presume that’s it?
If you 'accidentally' end up in the large lane after passing through customs etc you'll be met by an attendant in a booth who will tell you which lane to use and invariably they'll just tell you to stay in the wide lane, the chances of them redirecting you to a normal lane are minimal unless it's silly season which might put a different spin on it. Wife went over last week and it was dead so much depends on the time of year you go.
Try your reg on the site, it may pick up on it but if not pay £15 for peace of mind. Or plead ignorance..!
It damaged a tyre on my E Class on the kerbs. The trains are old now and many of the metal kerbs are damaged. IIRC there was about 4" between the kerbs and the tyre. Cars are all a lot wider than they were when the tunnel was first opened
When I make the booking (on line) I just say I have a roof box so I'm booked on the high carriage which has narrower pavements. I have been asked a couple of times why I'm in the lane for the high carriage and just tell them its because of the width, never a problem
When I make the booking (on line) I just say I have a roof box so I'm booked on the high carriage which has narrower pavements. I have been asked a couple of times why I'm in the lane for the high carriage and just tell them its because of the width, never a problem
From memory I book the 'high vehicles' carriage and don't believe I've been charged a premium? The loaders tend to know which cars they can send upstairs in the normal carriages but as others have said it's the width space between the raised kerbs in the carriage that questions your driving skills if you have low profile and nice alloy wheels. Many have been caught out.
Spleen said:
If you 'accidentally' end up in the large lane after passing through customs etc you'll be met by an attendant in a booth who will tell you which lane to use and invariably they'll just tell you to stay in the wide lane, the chances of them redirecting you to a normal lane are minimal unless it's silly season which might put a different spin on it. Wife went over last week and it was dead so much depends on the time of year you go.
This won't work if the train is fully booked.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff