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Subject Topic: Tunnel - driving onto train Post Reply Post New Topic
15/7/2010 at 12:47pm
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Sorry, a daft question I suspect.

Am using the tunnel next week pulling a caravan. When getting onto the train do I just drive straight to get on or is it like when I dont tow, I go through a door on the side of a carriage.

Thanks.



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Wes.



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15/7/2010 at 12:56pm
 Location: Blackpool Lancashire
 Outfit: Kampa Bamburgh 6 C4 Grand Picasso
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You drive into the side of the carriage, it is a massive opening and you drive on and straighten up.  You can then get out of the car and walk around near your car....

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Graeme
_____________________________
Aug 2012 - La Chant D


15/7/2010 at 1:00pm
 Location: west country
 Outfit: None Entered
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Entering is much the same as a car but you go into a double height carriage with the coaches etc. Entering is easy enough. Watch out for the height barriers as you go through the terminal. Make sure you are in the right lane.

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Steve




15/7/2010 at 3:08pm
 Location: Blackpool Lancashire
 Outfit: Kampa Bamburgh 6 C4 Grand Picasso
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Do a eurotunnel search on www.youtube.com and there are a couple of videos on there which make it clear....

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Graeme
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Aug 2012 - La Chant D


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15/7/2010 at 4:06pm
 Location: Wirral
 Outfit: Elnagh Clipper 90
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Just do not follow the out-fit/Coach in front of you too closely.

This year for the first time (that we have ever seen), they could not fit us all on the Train.

There were a number of coaches & Vans loaded before us and we followed a car towing a Glider trailer on, I could see in my mirrors that another car and Caravan tried to get on after us (we have an 8m caravan). The car & Caravan that tried to get on behind us had to reverse back off. Presumably he got the next train ?

 



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15/7/2010 at 4:06pm
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On the single deck carriages for high vehicles, you drive diagonally off platform onto a flat waggon with flaps that drop down each side so it is flush with platform. Aim for centre of waggon & run your front wheel right off onto platform on 'tother side, then steer hard round into carriage. If you have a mover in front of caravan wheel you need to avoid clouting that on't metal kerb as you enter carriage so you need to get caravan straight as poss before it actually enters carriage.





16/7/2010 at 4:27pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Bailey 460 4
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Once you've done it you'll wonder what all the fuss was about, its soooo easy!

 



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17/7/2010 at 4:01pm
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OMG - just watched a video on youtube - I really don't like the look of it inside the carriages... arghhh, I hope I'm ok.


Christine


17/7/2010 at 4:48pm
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700
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You will be fine, as mentioned...the golden rule is don't move forward into the next carriage until you know there's room for you! as you get closer to your final parking spot the marshall will guide you.


17/7/2010 at 9:04pm
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Its the claustaphobia at the thought of being in a tunnel that scares the beejebas out of me LOL!


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17/7/2010 at 9:24pm
 Location: High Peak
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SI 2017 Hyundai Santa F
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xtinexoop, i was worried about the claustophobia in the tunnel ad i remember saying when it first opened that i could never do that. We tried it because P&O stopped taking Tesco vouchers and also as we wanted to take our dogs to France but i didn't want to leave them in the car on the ferry. Despite being very nervous the first time, i was fine. We have used it a few times since and although i'm still apprehensive going in, its been fine. I just have to tell myself if i want to go to France then for half an hour i can manage being in the carriage. I don't like going on top of the sea either but because the tunnel is much quicker, i'd rather use that than the ferries now.


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17/7/2010 at 9:49pm
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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another silly question...when you arrive at Folkstone, do you park in a main car park and then get out of your vehicle to go and check in? then proceed for boarding, or is everything done from within your vehicle?

We are blue badge holders, so I beleive we board first?



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Nat


17/7/2010 at 10:03pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420
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You drive straight up to the check in window/screen and if you're lucky it recognises your number plate and all you have to do is touch the screen to confirm it's you, you take your hanger then go to the car park if you've got time for a toilet stop before going through passport control etc.  It's dead easy.

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Kate

Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!


17/7/2010 at 10:06pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Vango Diablo 600 Canopy Equinox 350
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/\ good job i refreshed the page...

Its like a toll booth, like Dartford etc, you talk to a person if needed and get your stuff from them.

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Rich


18/7/2010 at 11:18am
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700
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As above...but..have your booking reference ready for the touchscreen check in...they also have left hand drive check ins so drive slowly up to the check in booths which are at the end of the motorway slip road and decide which to go for, if your unsure pick one that is manned.

It may well offer you to get on an earlier train, if you don 't want to shop in the terminal you can accept the earlier train....there's signs after that telling you where to go....the electronic ones will say if you need to go straight through passports/vehicle checks etc or wait at the terminal..... your mirror hanger has a letter on it (A,B,C etc) the signs will tell you when to move.....make sure your gas locker keys are handy!! you will need to open it for the man to check they are turned off.

The size of the place can be a bit daunting on the first visit, just watch what other people are doing, and where they are going.

The carriages are fine, just like being on a normal train (apart from your car is next to you!!!) go and talk to the caravanner who will probably be parked behind/infront of you, before you have finished chatting about where your going etc you will be in france!!

Last year we did breakfast on the train, cereals and croissants in the van and next thing we were there!!

And just remember.... the tunnel doesn't go through water...its under the solid bedrock so it won't leak!!!!!!

Its also really easy when you get off at the other end, follow everyone else straight onto the autoroute.. just remember which direction you are travelling or which main town you are heading for, same as when you join a mway over here!!

If you want to fuel up or simply get you head together when you get off there's a garage before you hit the autoroute that you can pull into

Enjoy!



18/7/2010 at 2:10pm
 Location: High Peak
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SI 2017 Hyundai Santa F
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Sproz, that reminded me - when we came back in April we too sat in the 'van on the train to eat! We had lunch of (the last of) 'French bread', with cheese, ham etc. By the time we'd eaten and cleared away we were back in UK. We'll do the same this time as we have a mid afternoon train booked again! 2 weeks today and we will be getting near our overnight stop at Camping Municipal la Croix d'Arles!!!!



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