Bonjour à tous,
Welcome to this new trip report! Finally! We’re reviewing the Shuttle service of Eurotunnel… It’s a video I have wanted to make for a long, long, long time; I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did
– TRIP INFORMATION –
RECORDED OCTOBER 2022
Railroad company: Eurotunnel
Train type: Class 9 engines and Shuttle carriages
From: Calais Terminal to Folkestone
Time: 35 min (Time between Terminal)
Price: 130€/$ – 114 GBP
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00:00 : Intro
02:26 : Arrival at Calais-Terminal
03:16 : Check-in
04:16 : Calais-Terminal
04:54 : Borders controls
06:44 : Final lane
07:25 : Early boarding
08:27 : The Shuttle train
09:00 : Loading onto the train
10:16 : Ready to go!
11:04 : Mid-roll ads
11:28 : Departure from France
11:40 : More on the Shuttle
12:51 : LGV Nord
13:29 : Freight Shuttle
13:51 : In the Eurotunnel
14:08 : Walkthrough
15:26 : Toilets Time
16:11 : Lower level
16:59 : Approaching the UK
17:26 : Welcome to the UK
17:43 : HS1
17:54 : In the loop
18:35 : Arrival in Folkestone
18:42 : Thoughts on the Shuttle
20:25 : Unloading
21:02 : Welcome to Kent
21:22 : Outro
44 Comments
There is high security between areas at the tunnel try and keep those unwanted immigrants out. But they don't always succeed, sadly.
Very interesting and informative video! That was the first time I've seen the overall check-in and boarding process. Also enjoyed the trip to Provence!
There are some very special safety features for trains using the tunnel. First there must be a locomative at both ends in order to ensure escape in either direction. The on board manager is trained to drive the "spare" engine. None of the continental railways except Germany have trains that comply with the rules. DB has run a few test trains. The reason the UK Government did not give Covid help is that the Tunnell and Trains are owned by FRANCE, The "Eurostar" trains are 85% owned by SNCF. The gauge is basically the Basle standard that's how the Eurostar
can travel all over Europe but European trains would only able to travel to St.Pancras as the UK gauge is smaller.
Awesome video ! Are there any other auto-trains in Europe with no real passenger car and you have to basically stay in your car ?
great video as always. it's indeed a unique way of travel and also looks hassle-free. I can understand your frustration about how under-used these type of infrastructure.
Paula’s a good lass ❤
There isn't enough demand for more trains through the tunnel. Maybe Thibault has been listening to The Man In Seat 61 too much.
The idea that St Pancras will have trains to all parts of Europe is just a pipe dream.
Interesting video, Thanks.
This Toilets Time makes up for the lack of one a while back, all is forgiven Thibault!
It seemed that just to get to the train in Calais was more like being in a gigantic maze. Is that really necessary ?
What type of security is provided? Don't the police search each vehicle before boarding? Ingenious way of traveling between two great nations, thank you for the view.
Fun fact: The reason why the Calais Eurotunnel terminal looks like a prison is Calais has a huge illegal immigrant problem. If the terminal wasn't designed like a prison, illegal immigrants would probably be able to sneak onto a train or into the service tunnel to the UK.
Another fun fact: The travel time from France to the UK is minus one hour and 35 minutes, accounting for time zones, and the travel time from the UK to France is one hour and 35 minutes, again accounting for time zones.
Rumors abound that HS2 was to eventually have trains from Scotland going into the Chunnel to various destinations in the Continent. Honestly having Eurostar monopolize the HS1 into the Chunnel (and charge a premium for it) is terrible. My colleague at work took her daughter to London for her university graduation trip, and they wanted to go to Paris for a day. It was cheaper to take a Black Cab to Gatwick, fly on a cheap airline, take another cab into the city, and then reverse all of that back to London in the evening than to get two tickets on the Eurostar in July!
That's pretty cool you can take your car with you to the UK or France! Couldn't really hear any noise until you went to the lower level. Nice! Interesting small bathroom.
I always look forward to your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Watching buses and truck go onto the train is quite impressive, with limited amount of space they gotta get a massive vehicle through
Great trip, finally you try it. This trip remembered me when I playing Truck Simulation Game, I always use this facility for crossing between Mainland and UK or vice versa, more than taking a available Ferry route in same route. And yes, I'm taking the freight one, bit challenging for making perfect entry to the car. Something different is, in that game, there is no formalities when crossing between Mainland Europe and UK, no matter you taking Ferry or Le Shuttle service.
this is really cooooool and informative 👍🏼 hello from Indonesia
That was excellent !!! :):):)
5:11 Mario Kart 🤣🤣
The price proposition of the Shuttle is a bit weird for any situation other than driving up to Calais and away from Folkestone (or cycling, granted). When you book in time, getting a single from Rotterdam to London isn't that much more expensive; and for the minimal time gain, I'd pick the cheaper ferry when I wanted to do just the crossing.
Wow… Thats a sort of different train journey and I must say.. the mario kart was good. 😂😂
i prefer the inflatable from Calais to Kent the shuttle is 2 expensive🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Good thing the channel tunnel exists alongside the ferry which allows not only shuttles, but also passengers to/from London/Paris. Previously, this was only possible by boat or by air.
Been on this one by car, by bus and truck. And used the Eurostar.
Starbucks? That is shit coffee! Great video.
Nice video 👍
Is this mario kart Lol
The shuttle is not that big of a train when compared to international freight.
There is a similar underwater tunnel in Japan that connects the two islands in Japan, burt is unfortunately only experienced with the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train)
It is a huge area for entrance to the Eurotunnel, bigger than some airports. Doesn’t seem that big while playing ETS 😅
I travelled on the Shuttle in 2015, arriving with a regular bus from Kraków to London. Actually, the French border guards were quite nice, saying bonjour to every passenger and scanning our luggage, while the UK guards were looking at and treating us like potential criminals with our IDs being checked under a magnifying glass. One of the passengers had to come up with a different document, because their ID had a little scratch on its photo 😡
Is there no problem with driving with French/American wheel on left side on English highways? Is it something that occurs often?
The feedback device being the only thing not working in the bathroom is near peak comedy 😆
The Minitrak link in the description doesn't work.
There was an intention to run sleeper trains between the UK and various European destinations, progressing as far as some vehicles being built. Someone then decided that it wasn't commercially viable and was cancelled. The coaches were sold to sold to Via Rail in Canada who rebranded it as part of their Renaissance fleet.
Excellent video as always. We were on Eurostar two days ago and whilst I understand your point about cost, the technology is fantastic even when the price feels high. Unfortunately, political will across boundaries is always difficult. Much as I would love to see trains from Scotland, Wales and across England to Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Rome, Madrid and elsewhere, this will take time at best. Still, with frequent direct trains running again between London and Amsterdam, maybe the forthcoming Thalys and Eurostar merger might bring some of these prospects a little closer….
Very nice video. Thanks!
The thing about the more talkative British though is that they're still interrogating you, just their training is to do so in a way that relaxes you and makes you perhaps more likely to talk. I suppose it's just my preference but I'm not a fan – they don't care about my holiday, they're just looking for reasons to deny me entry!
THIS IS UNREAL … UNREPRESENTATIVE OF THE NORMAL – why you ask? Because there is no queue for British customs at Calais. I didn't recognise the place – whenever I've been there (certainly since Brexit) the queues have snaked as far or even beyond the French customs. Lucky you!!!
Train left 11.19, but what was the time when you entered the terminal, seems a bit ineffektive to me.
It is actually possible to ride this service without a car: take one of the handful of buses that use it between the UK & Mainland Europe!
Brexit remains super stupid.
You could fly to London for 10 Euros. Just to let you yuropoopeans know that you shouldn't take trains everywhere