 Poster: A snowHead
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| James77 wrote: |
| Many of you opting to drive through he night? Tempted to start doing that to avoid queues, stress etc but not used to it should be fine fine stop every 2-3 hours to swap driver, stretch legs and have a coffee. Presume all the aires are open 24 hours so no problem filling up the wagon? |
My kids don't sleep well in the car otherwise I'd definitely opt to drive through the night!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We're just packing final bits then heading to the tunnel, expecting to get there quite a bit before our crossing time and hoping to get bumped to an earlier slot...
Had a minor panic when I realised all the nuts to fix our roof box had rusted solidn over the winter (foolishly left the fixings in the box - doh!) but luckily have a huge array of spares in the garage!
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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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@Specialman, that's very good going, we're a bit further south (Daventry area) and takes us about that
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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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Renaming it Le Shittle. Delays. Every time.
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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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| James77 wrote: |
| Many of you opting to drive through he night? Tempted to start doing that to avoid queues, stress etc but not used to it should be fine fine stop every 2-3 hours to swap driver, stretch legs and have a coffee. Presume all the aires are open 24 hours so no problem filling up the wagon? |
We do and have done for many years. Booked on Le Shuttle 8:24 this evening, though sometimes we are slightly later than that. As you say swap drivers as and when. We have energy drinks (only time we use them). Any non drivers (we have two children) sleep. It's not for everyone but we've always found it works for us.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Le Shuttle website states 30 min wait at check in and border control, one hour delay on departures.
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We had a 30 min delay on m25 and now all trains delayed by an hour due to broken train. bug !
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| Hurdy wrote: |
EES booths at St Pancras are not operational and will not be so until the French decide to turn them on whcih may be as late as October.
They make no difference to the queues as they are in seperate areas away from security and passport control. |
They ARE taking EES photographs and fingerprints, but at the French passport booths, so that takes a little longer. Queues depend on how many booths are open, but wasn't a problem when I went through a few weeks ago.
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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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If it’s any consolation, it appears to be a bit of a free for all. We have passed security and we are seeing ticket N-T queuing up. They suggested at customer service that you can go through two letters before your current ticket and be put on a standby space so we have tried that.
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| mogulski wrote: |
| ..Skiing 3V with free oldies passes we got in January. ... |
 I thought 3V no longer do free passes at any age, over 75s getting something like a 70% discount? Or do you mean you bought season passes in January, so this extra week is "free"?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Neville wrote: |
| We had a 30 min delay on m25 and now all trains delayed by 1hr 20 due to broken train. bug ger ! |
And check in was also about 30 mins but that doesn't really matter as you've gotta wait anyway..
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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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@Neville,
We arrived at 9.00. Took about twenty mins to get to terminal. Then got a Starbucks. At 9.45 I suggested to husband we just go for it rather than wait to be called (rightly or wrongly) we were a T3
From there, it has taken over an hour to get through passport and then the queues to the actual train. We are now about to load. I suggest you don’t wait to be called..
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I'd be very grateful for updates from those travelling out on le Shuttle today. Our train is this evening.
Once you're through check-in, I'm unsure whether we should wait at the terminal or proceed straight through passport control? I got a message saying toilets past passport control weren't open, so more tempted to wait at the terminal.. but also keen to get on the earliest possible train.
Is it right that you can go through and wait for earlier letter trains on standby?
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You know it makes sense.
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Not surprised its busy. Saw plenty of channel bound roof boxes and ski racks this morning on M20 between 8:45 & 9:30. Perhaps more than the Friday before half term & Christmas/NY holidays.
I know a small sample and anecdotal
Good trips and holidays to all you lucky travelers 
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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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@Sonmi451, we did so.
Arrived on slip road at 9.00 and boarded a train at 11.20.
This included 20 mins at Starbucks whilst the Tesla charged.
We did not wait to be called and went through when they were calling the o and p and we were a T. We were not challenged at any point. Maybe we are the problem.
It’s busy. We were booked on the 10.30 and thought 90 mins to get through would be plenty.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Sonmi451, sometimes they will turn you back, sometimes not. As above on a day like today it's a bit of a free for all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Generally when it's very busy they will enforce the letters and not let you through until you're called, when quieter you can usually risk it. When you've gone through check-in you can look to your right and see if there are staff checking hangers leaving the terminal car park
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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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Delays are due to a broken train earlier.
Our train was due for 11.05
It's now 13.06
As Snowtrain has said, don't hang around waiting to be called.
It took an hour and half from leaving the terminal to departure
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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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We experienced the same the day after boxing day December 2024. At this point all organisation falls apart as you cant get out of the car park absolutely awful. They should park folks in specific zones and call a zone rather than a complete melee, saw so many people getting very agitated as you can imagine having being called but unable to move. Assume it's the same today.
All I would say is stick a complaint in online we got a sizeable amount off that leg of the journal as a code which we used the following year.
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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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Good shout,
I'll give it a go
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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James77, That's good to know.
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Took 7am train today. No delays. Longest part was waiting for french passport control to deal with our passports.
Quick boulangerie stop on a16 out of calais for croissants and filled baguettes and about to arrive in Lyon for some chill and nice food and drink!!!
Drive down has been full of Brits but clear roads and rapid the whole way. 
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2 hour + delays at the tunnel, so much for our plan of getting to our hotel in time for a leisurely beer or two!
Pretty chaotic in the terminal
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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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@Boris, I was very surprised. Pretty much zero traffic in the M1 and M25. Think we caught it just right.
Currently sat in services south of Troyes having a burger and doing a fuel top up - Chanpagne has ruined the fuel economy (not a big fan of the undulating nature of champagne, and the traffic always feels heavier) but we have been doing 145kph so I suspect with a lighter foot, I’d be 50km of fuel better off.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Specialman, and less risk of a speeding fine
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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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Out of curiosity, why is it so busy today?
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Our daughter and family have just got this message as they went to check in
- due to unavailable train you could be delayed for three hours - and suggestion they make alternative travel arrangements…
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You know it makes sense.
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Eurotunnel now warning of three hour delays UK-France, and recommending people make alternative travel arrangements if they’ve not checked in yet.
@pamski - snap!
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 27-03-26 17:42; edited 1 time in total
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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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We have had a message from Eurotunnel recommending we book an alternative route. We were on the 18.54 train this evening. Their website says 3hr delays.
Still plenty of ferry availability if people want to choose a different option...
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
| Out of curiosity, why is it so busy today? |
Start of Easter holidays for most areas (although not Kent - they have another week of school).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Also received the Eurotunnel message. Though our booking is not until 22:24.
Looking at live departures looks like most trains are 1.5 - 2 hours behind schedule.
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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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"alternative travel arrangements"!  What an absolute pain.
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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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How awful for everyone. We booked the eurotunnel at vast additional expense over the ferry as my daughter gets sea sick, but as we travel at peak times it’s a 50/50 as to whether it’s a car crash or smooth sailing!
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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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We have booked onto a ferry instead. Just at Dover port queuing for passport control. Queues look light, I'd estimate 15mins to get beyond passports.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Start of Easter holidays for most areas (although not Kent - they have another week of school).
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Ah! I thought Good Friday was the start of the Easter holidays
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I think if you got the message in good time you could make alternative arrangements - they got it at check in. She says they are ‘ in the queue of doom’ but have plenty of snacks and drinks. And only going to Tinqueux tonight.
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What a horrid start to a holiday. Good luck everyone!
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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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Dear all. I’m not going skiing this Easter. I hope that helps everyone see their travel delays in a better light 
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@Orange200, join the club! Me too. Second consecutive season off skis, just lead me to the Eurotunnel delays! 
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