 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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As a long term ex-smoker I'm incredibly sensitive to the stink of other people's fags - just because this one didn't set off an alarm I wouldn't assume that the alarm wasn't working 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Unlikely that a single cigarette would set off the smoke alarms, after all the car exhaust doesn't set off the alarms. I very much doubt a train (or part train) would be allowed to remain in service with a faulty fire alarm, somewhat more serious than a malfunctioning toilet!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@munich_irish, I'd rather cross with a faulty fire alarm than no toilets!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@munich_irish, the car engines are only switched on at the start and end of a journey when the train is stationary.
@Boris, I've not seen any evidence either, and usually in the single decker too. I was surprised that the doubles looked much better, but loos were still fecked.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Hells Bells, But that would imply that the smoke alarms are switched off if the train is not moving. That makes no sense as whilst not as serious as a fire in the tunnel a fire in a partially loaded train packed with cars would be pretty serious. There is always some impatient person who insists on starting their car before all the doors are open! The smoke detection system must be designed so the smoke level has to go over a certain point before triggering maybe not as sensitive as the one in your hallway which goes off from a piece of burnt toast 
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Sped through Folkestone this evening. Arrived at 19:30 for a 21:15 train and offered the earlier train at 20:15 (they were hourly this evening). No cars at UK border control and only one in front at French border.
Trains running to time and toilets on board working, not sure about the fire alarm though 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I turned up 4 hours early on Saturday after possibly the easiest crossing of France ever. They wanted £95 to get on the 16.54 which I declined, so they put me on the 17.54 for free but actually got the 17.24 instead of the planned 19.54.
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Also only use Total Enegies, were 30-40c a litre cheaper.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Arrived at 13.00 ish for 14.46 . No queues at pet passport. Now on the train for 13.46 departure. No extra charge.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| blahblahblah wrote: |
| Also only use Total Enegies, were 30-40c a litre cheaper. |
Can you please give an example location. We use prixdescarburants.fr to find the best price for fuel but have never found more than 20c difference.
Regarding the flash photography and the smoke Alarms, it will be because they are using optical smoke alarms which sense the amount of particulates in the air rather than effectively smelling them. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with the old flush bulbs on cameras.
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Bear with. I can find this.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Just wanted to update on my return trip yesterday (I was the poster regarding the smoker on my trip out!). Would like to mention that I did ask a member of staff why the cigarette didn't set anything off and she said it would need to be quite smoky for the jets of whatever from the ceiling to activate (I'm guessing like a massive fire extinguisher from the sky). So one cigarette isn't going to create havoc!
Might be worth sharing a few things we talked about. I asked her about what the escape corridors are like in the middle if you have to evacuate. She hasn't seen them or been shown them....but knows she would have to keep everyone calm (including herself). Hmmmm.
Also asked what's to stop me booking a simple (cheaper) car crossing and then rocking up with a roofbox. After all, check in is automatic and doesn't check your car size. Most traffic controllers just look at your crossing letter (apparently the '3' or '5' next to it dictates single/double deck but is so small they don't bother checking). Border force are there for passports and not original booking details. Which just leaves you going through the 'large' lane and hoping you don't fall at the final hurdle.
Don't think I have the balls to try and see what happens but surely there have been people who have made 'mistakes' before and gotten away with it? Maybe a friend of a friend?
PS - Paid over 2 Euros a litre for unleaded in a small town off the autoroute at a L'Eclerc (was going by and didn't go out of my way). Assumed it would be cheaper. Then saw a Total garage nearby with a price of 1.90 Euros and a Total Energies on the A26 heading North of Troyes for 1.99. If you can search for Total services on or nearby autoroutes you'll get the best deal I reckon.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Kettonskimum1971 wrote: |
| PS - Paid over 2 Euros a litre for unleaded in a small town off the autoroute at a L'Eclerc (was going by and didn't go out of my way). Assumed it would be cheaper. Then saw a Total garage nearby with a price of 1.90 Euros and a Total Energies on the A26 heading North of Troyes for 1.99. If you can search for Total services on or nearby autoroutes you'll get the best deal I reckon. |
Total Energies have capped the price of fuel until 31st March when they will look at the situation again….as such their stations will be charging a max of €1.99 for petrol and €2.09 for diesel
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bit of carnage today with only 2 departures and hour. 2 hours from sliproad of M20 Folkestone side to customs via an empty pet passport. Husband drove round after check-in while I walked the dogs to the pet passport in the main terminal so it is slow! Have no idea what time train we will go on but don't mind, we just need to get to Reims for our hotel
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Big queues on the slip road to check in this morning, as well. No reason given except for "lots of people travelling!"
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Harry Flashman, are they still working on the new check-in booths? Many of them were unavailable when we travelled a few weeks ago. It wasn't that busy in the terminal, but the queues for check-in were lengthy . I think it took an hour.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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45 mins queue for check-in at 7:15 this morning. Easy through passport control after and on-time departure at 9:06.
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Just a question…
I love Eurotunnel but today there’s a 1h 30min checkin and a 30 minute train delay. On these busy days wouldn’t a Ferry be quicker?
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@Sfellows, possibly, but once on train its 35-mins. Ferry closer to 90-mins crossing plus unloading faff
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Sfellows wrote: |
Just a question…
I love Eurotunnel but today there’s a 1h 30min checkin and a 30 minute train delay. On these busy days wouldn’t a Ferry be quicker? |
Yes. And a lot cheaper. We are ET regulars but for Easter which is only a 5 day trip for us DFDS was £250 cheaper. That will cover the fuel and tolls!
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I've stopped using the tunnel, the ferry is much more civilised and half the price. The ferries have upped their game whilst the ET has become more cattle class. The last few times I used ET they were always running late, the time savings became not so good.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@king key, not always half the price. I've just booked eurotunnel for August £391 return, ferry was £315
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Well, I'm going at the end of June returning July on P & O and paid £119 return..... That looks cheaper than the ET alternative to me.
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I've just checked prices for our summer holidays at the beginning of July. We were going to go one way by ferry and return by Eurotunnel. Timings for the ferry involve either leaving home much earlier or arriving in France much later than planned. One way only from Dover/Folkestone.
DFDS £205 (includes 2 dogs left in vehicle)
P&O £180.50 (includes Pet Lounge access)
Le Shuttle £237 (includes dog charges)
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You know it makes sense.
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@king key, even at that price it d never use P&O again, they certainly haven’t upped their game. After the whole lay off disaster the food and service was appalling, gone were the full English to be replaced by more ver proves tiny bacon roll. The experience was so bad it d never use them again.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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To be fair, ET's building is hardly Michelin star. In fact it's just greasy trash food.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Boris wrote: |
| even at that price it d never use P&O again. |
If you have grudge against P &O you could look at Irish Ferries, they were actually slightly cheaper, but their timing didn't suit this trip.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thankfully I am not limited to peak days. Drive down from Scotland (8 hrs ish), normally on a weekday. Get to Eurotunnel around 16:30 and there is never a queue. The train is a much more pet friendly option and we are normally in France about 19:00 their time.
Once the train starts rolling we decide how far we want to travel in France and book a hotel accordingly.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I just arrived in France - 90 min delay but all was quite calm.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Hells Bells, Flipping heck, that's pricey for one way! For our November to January trip we paid £227 return with DFDS.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| king key wrote: |
| To be fair, ET's building is hardly Michelin star. In fact it's just greasy trash food. |
But I don't need to eat there as I can be in France in 35 minutes. Visit to the terminal building is only ever to check in the dogs, and a loo stop. We occasionally grab a coffee if we have a longer wait for departure. We usually pick up sandwiches in Greggs on the way down. Freshly made ones the other week, Chicken and Bacon Club.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@RobinS, yep, I'm guessing July is peak prices? I could jiggle with the crossing times a bit, but it doesn't save much. Fares are for a Thursday too which you would expect to be a bit cheaper.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| king key wrote: |
| To be fair, ET's building is hardly Michelin star. In fact it's just greasy trash food. |
But I don't need to eat there as I can be in France in 35 minutes. Visit to the terminal building is only ever to check in the dogs, and a loo stop. We occasionally grab a coffee if we have a longer wait for departure. We usually pick up sandwiches in Greggs on the way down. Freshly made ones the other week, Chicken and Bacon Club. |
I was refering to Boris's criticism of P & O's cafe.
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@king key, no ET offerings aren’t great but as HB says I don’t really care. Going out is usually stupid o clock so just need coffee and will stop in France.
It’s whatever suits at the nd of day and for me Shuttle, despite its faults, wins.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Furry muff, you pay your money, you take your choice.
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Was booked on the 15:36 this afternoon. rocked up at 11:45, offered the next crossing for 70euros, or the 13:24 at no cost, obviously took the zero cost option.
Was rapidly through the terminal for a bit of duty free/customs claim back (30 euros from a 200 euro booze stock up at Cité Europe this morning) and a Starbucks.
Train was being called, but annoyingly I chose the french passport queue that was doing a dog security check of random vehicle as you went through passport control, instead of pulling them to one side. So even after passport being stamped, about 1minute, you needed to wait for vehicle in front to be cleared to move 
If this had not happened, I would have been able to get on the earlier (costlier) train, as the lane I was directed to had a green light to go straight through, but turned red before myself and the two cars in front could get there.
We were the first cars in an otherwise empty waiting area.
In the end waithed around 40mins before loading, and departed 10mins late.
All in all cannot complain as will be 2 hours earlier than planned, just frustrated I could have been on earlier train, if I had chosen right passport queue.
Anyway, M20 and M25 beckons me, after spending 10hours on nearly empty french motorways yesterday 
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FAQ
I though they were revamping all the trains currently, not seen much evidence of this, as certainly the double-decker carriages look incredibly tired and beaten up
