Eurotunnel ... Delays today

Minxy

Minxy

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Carthago Compactline
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
Booked onto the 8.50 am crossing, been here since 7.00am, through checks etc and been waiting in the boarding since 7.50 am, and still waiting at 8.54 am! Not happy as it looks like they're cancelling bookings if they don't have the number of vehicles to go to make it worthwhile as traffic is very light. Next one is supposedly 9.10 am but on their website the are saying 30 mins delay of original booking time.

Fed up as wanted to get an early start and passed M25 before all the shopping traffic.

Oh, they've altered the ET area so you have to drive all over the place through a chicane to end up virtually where you started! I thought the Covid testing drive through chicanes were bad but this was worse!! I'd hate to have to do it at night.
 
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Just boarded, hopefully off soon as Lily complaining.
 
The chicane was there when we last crossed in September,don’t understand why really. I hope you get on ASAP ,safe journey home.
 
Perhaps they may start up their FT scheme or something similar, sooner rather than later, if they're having to cancel trains because of low booking numbers? Though there may be a different reason for your delay....

An FT scheme would result in an immediate massive cash injection for the operators, but I doubt it will be introduced, in whatever form they're planning, without some sort of lead in period, as people with standard bookings would cancel them, get a refund and rebook.

PS - probably too late now, but we always make a flask of hot water, so it's easy to have a coffee or two. I suppose it's where an inverter, decent battery and electric kettle would come into its own !! (Makes mental to note to self !!)
 
Minxy said:
Booked onto the 8.50 am crossing, been here since 7.00am, through checks etc and been waiting in the boarding since 7.50 am, and still waiting at 8.54 am! Not happy as it looks like they're cancelling bookings if they don't have the number of vehicles to go to make it worthwhile as traffic is very light. Next one is supposedly 9.10 am but on their website the are saying 30 mins delay of original booking time.

Fed up as wanted to get an early start and passed M25 before all the shopping traffic.

Oh, they've altered the ET area so you have to drive all over the place through a chicane to end up virtually where you started! I thought the Covid testing drive through chicanes were bad but this was worse!! I'd hate to have to do it at night.
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The chicanes and then some was there in December Mel, was hard to follow if you weren’t following someone🤯🤯

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Minxy said:
looks like they're cancelling bookings if they don't have the number of vehicles to go to make it worthwhile as traffic is very ligh
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Why? They should have been made to carry the trucks when P&O closed. Another load that are technically bankrupt & operating an under funded system since its opening.
 
When I came back a week past on Friday I was early (arrived Calais at 0745 and I had booked on 1020 train) and, as planned, got booked on an earlier train (0950). I sat at the van/bus/motorhome area watching the notice board for my number to be called. Nothing changed on the board. 0950 came and went, no change on the board. No-one in the car park moved. At 1000 I thought sod this and drove through to customs etc. Got through (van checked by French customs) and told the Eurotunnel staff that their board was broken and that there were a bunch of motorhomes sitting in the car park waiting to be called forward to customs. I just made the 1040 train.
Maybe the board wasn't broken after all!
 
Delays on Eurotunnel? Surely not! 😭😭😭😭

It used to be my first choice crossing but over the years with the trains getting older there have been more delayed trips than on time departures! I even went earlier once, but that was in about 2008....

I live 4.1 miles door to door and only use it if I have enough Tesco clubcard points and if the dog is with us ...
 
Minxy said:
Oh, they've altered the ET area so you have to drive all over the place through a chicane to end up virtually where you started! I thought the Covid testing drive through chicanes were bad but this was worse!! I'd hate to have to do it at night.
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When we came back the chicanes were there because they have changed the order you get processed to make it the same as in the UK end. In Calais once you checked in you used to go through all the immigration and customs checks and then park up in the car park to wait to be called for boarding. Now they have changed it to what has always been in Folkestone, i.e. once you have checked in you drive straight to the car park and wait to be called for boarding and only then do you have to drive through all the customs and immigration.

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MisterB said:
Perhaps they may start up their FT scheme or something similar, sooner rather than later, if they're having to cancel trains because of low booking numbers? Though there may be a different reason for your delay....

An FT scheme would result in an immediate massive cash injection for the operators, but I doubt it will be introduced, in whatever form they're planning, without some sort of lead in period, as people with standard bookings would cancel them, get a refund and rebook.

PS - probably too late now, but we always make a flask of hot water, so it's easy to have a coffee or two. I suppose it's where an inverter, decent battery and electric kettle would come into its own !! (Makes mental to note to self !!)
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Thermos flask is a tad cheaper!!
 
Landy Andy said:
Can’t recall ever being delayed on ET and have been using it at least 10 times a year for many years. Nearly always get an earlier crossing.
Personally can’t fault it.
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We have never been delayed and mostly have been put on an earlier crossing when we have been early. But we are FT’s so only travel very early or very late in the day.
 
Same with us, so maybe that’s why. Hadn’t thought of that. Still got a few FT crossings to use. 👍🏻👍🏻

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Landy Andy said:
Same with us, so maybe that’s why. Hadn’t thought of that. Still got a few FT crossings to use. 👍🏻👍🏻
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You lucky so n so , we will use our last crossing on Friday ,then away for two weeks.
 
Minxy said:
Just boarded, hopefully off soon as Lily complaining.
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Train set off at 9.25 am (8.25 UK time) so we had a bit of a wait on board but when we got to the UK we were only 3 from the front of the carriage so I suppose a lot of the waiting time was due to them loading others behind us.
 
WESTY66 said:
The chicanes and then some was there in December Mel, was hard to follow if you weren’t following someone🤯🤯
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Hopefully going the right way! :LOL:
 
Stealaway said:
We are back next Sunday. Is there any Covid requirements or restrictions necessary any more
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Nothing at all, not even in the pet passport control.
 
We used the last of our FT tickets earlier this year. Just booked for June and paid an eye-watering £397 :oops: including 2 dogs - the first time we have paid rack rate since we started motorhoming in 2009.

I do hope they introduce another FT wallet option soon. We have always used them and have been thoroughly spoiled with the costs - although I'm not holding my breath for this year since they extended all the current wallets until December.
 
nicholsong said:
Mel, are you home safe now?

Geoff
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Yes thanks Geoff, bit of a pain due to the delay and a crash on the A1 so it was closed so we had to take a fairly big detour because of it, but I'm settled on the sofa now and chilling out; hubby's gone to bed as he's tired and taken Lily and Minky with him and I've got Tazzy next to me snoozing happily.
 

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