just back from a day trip to france on the Eurotunnel, this had to be the worst experience we"ve ever had on the crossing,we arrived back at Calais at 8.30pm for the return, on approaching the check-in booths all the vehicles were directed to a holding compound with 100s of lanes of cars all parked up, the Eurotunnel staff explained that the passport staff were checking every passport and vehicle after the Brussels attacks four hours after our scheduled departure we were directed towards the check-in, some 50mins later we arrived at the uk passport area, the most annoying bit was out of eight check in booths, only six were operating, the Eurotunnel staff said trains were leaving half empty due to the delays in checking in with the latest checks,not got a problem with security checks, but lets have the extra staff to do the extra security stuff, then the people who have paid good money for certain timed departures, can at least have a chance to catch the time booked,if we had wanted an early hrs of the morning train we would have booked one and saved a far bit of money, no refunds offered by Eurotunnel for the 4hour delay,
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sorry oliver typing error, meant to say a few lanes of cars, unfortunately if you wasn"t there to witness the soul destroying lanes of cars, and the long delays for people returning home from the easter weekend, then I'm sure you would find it hard to understand, basically trying to warn fellow members of this horrid situation at calais
I drove past the Folkestone end yesterday lunchtime and for the first time I can ever recall there was not a single car or truck queueing on the exit lanes from the M20.
Just wrong place, wrong time. It will be a random thing. If you are unlucky enough to be booked to travel when they do these random checks then nothing you can do about it.
With a day trip at least the delay was going home after having day out rather than having it spoiled by a delay going out.
I think in a knee jerk response to a security situation, as with Brussels, it would be normal to expect delays and for the company not to have extra staff immediately on hand to implement the extra security processes. Horrible and frustrating, but just one of those things. And of course there would be no refunds as the delays were as a result of a security situation.
Don't think (hope!) that it's a sign of things to come in the summer.
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
When there is a security alert on, then surely people will forgive whatever needs to be done! I'm sorry that your travel was delayed. You just have to accept that in today's world these things are always possible, and far better that our borders have an element of protection.
Even the Spanish were checking every car leaving the country on the day of the Paris attacks and the Brussels bombings. There were nine mile queues - and again long queues a week or two when there was some other (un-newsworthy) incident.
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Topic: eurotunnel delays
