M20 Southbound

[Chris Laing]

Is now a static truck park.
We drove north from Tunnel yesterday and there was miles and miles of parked lorries. There must have been 1000+ and Lorries still joining. The whole carriage way has been closed and anyone else going to Dover or Tunnel is getting diverted. Not sure what route.

 

[Carpmart]

Operation stack… we really do need a better solution that this….

 

[bobnick]

Motorways and A roads blocked, sea ports in chaos, 9 hour waits at airports, fuel prices through the roof, ah yes come to glourious UK (or try to leave) for a wonderful holiday.
SAD

 

[HKF]

Operation stack… we really do need a better solution that this….

We saw the start of this on our way up from Eurotunnel last week. We travel back to France on Wednesday but have chosen to go much further south from Dartford and approach Eurotunnel from Dymchurch area. Fortunately, we can afford the extra time and fuel.

 

[iain26]

Hopefully better this morning

Dover cross-Channel ferry disruption begins to ease

Drivers trying to reach ferries on Saturday saw delays of up to nine hours.

www.bbc.co.uk

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[Chris Laing]

We saw the start of this on our way up from Eurotunnel last week. We travel back to France on Wednesday but have chosen to go much further south from Dartford and approach Eurotunnel from Dymchurch area. Fortunately, we can afford the extra time and fuel.

We stayed in Canterbury p+r last week before we left and drove down from there. It was all fine.

 

[Gellyneck]

News article this morning said the P&O issue, poor weather, DFDS ferry damaged, etc!

 

[Chris]

Coming around the M25 this morning the motorway signs were telling HGV’s to use the M20/A20 and tourists to use A2/M2.

 

[pelican]

Coming around the M25 this morning the motorway signs were telling HGV’s to use the M20/A20 and tourists to use A2/M2.

Seems very sensible

 

[faraway]

Correct. Cut across from the M20/M2 road using the A249, then go down the A2 to Dover to the ferries or continue on to Folkestone for the tunnel. At least you’ll be going in the opposite direction to the stacked HGV’s!

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[scousebird]

M20 finally open after 'nightmare' lorry hold-ups

Highways authorities and police are braced for 'at least two or three' more days of disruption but the M20 has reopened.

www.kentonline.co.uk

 

[Reallyretired]

My neice and nephew caught the Dover-Calais ferry this morning. No hold ups for cars, and actually got an earlier ferry. Lorries were queueing though

 

[nicholsong]

Correct. Cut across from the M20/M2 road using the A249, then go down the A2 to Dover to the ferries or continue on to Folkestone for the tunnel. At least you’ll be going in the opposite direction to the stacked HGV’s!

Don't tell them Pike!

 

[shawn&emma]

It is quite an amazing site to see literally miles of lorries, not amazing for those stuck in it but once things start running the backlog gets shifted very quickly.
I think it actually makes people realise how much stuff comes in and out each day.

Shawn

 

[Ivory55]

It is quite an amazing site to see literally miles of lorries, not amazing for those stuck in it but once things start running the backlog gets shifted very quickly.
I think it actually makes people realise how much stuff comes in and out each day.

Shawn

Also highlights how cheap transport is to move so much stuff so far

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[jongood]

Also highlights how cheap transport is to move so much stuff so far

Quite! Its ridiculous the amount of stuff being hauled great distances because its pennies cheaper. The amount of bottled water in lorries at anyone time must be enormous; Welsh, English, Scottish, French and even Italian water being trucked around the continent for no really good reason apart from profit.

 

[HKF]

Quite! Its ridiculous the amount of stuff being hauled great distances because its pennies cheaper. The amount of bottled water in lorries at anyone time must be enormous; Welsh, English, Scottish, French and even Italian water being trucked around the continent for no really good reason apart from profit.

The vast majority of profit is driven by consumer demand.

 

[jongood]

The vast majority of profit is driven by consumer demand.

I realise that but in these days where we are supposedly more focussed on the environment, its not right that we're moving large amounts of readily available products across Europe.

 

[John Barrett]

Quite! Its ridiculous the amount of stuff being hauled great distances because its pennies cheaper. The amount of bottled water in lorries at anyone time must be enormous; Welsh, English, Scottish, French and even Italian water being trucked around the continent for no really good reason apart from profit.

Why else?

 

[HKF]

I realise that but in these days where we are supposedly more focussed on the environment, its not right that we're moving large amounts of readily available products across Europe.

'Supposedly' being the operative word. As long as the demand remains, the goods will be moved. The only way to stop it is to convince the vast majority to buy goods produced locally but, since that often means an increase in price, it's unlikely to happen any time soon.

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[Spriddler]

Quite! Its ridiculous the amount of stuff being hauled great distances because its pennies cheaper.

I certainly agree that shipping stuff that's readily available 'locally' is ridiculous, but the blame lies not with the producers or supermarkets but fair and square with the greater part of the consumer market who buy on price (i.e. who seek out 'cheap').
Forums are littered with requests and recommendations for 'the cheapest' sources for everything.

 

[TheAleMan]

Used tunnel Last Saturday. J8 - J9 closed. Diverted to A20, no probs at all. In fact, it came in handy because we were very early, and used a lay bye along there to kill a couple of hours..worked out perfect for us. So many lorries as previously mentioned.

 

[ctc]

Cheap used to mean a bargain.