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United Kingdom,
The Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel: -
Road vehicles: All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Le Shuttle running between the two terminals, one near Folkestone in Kent, with direct access from the M20, and one just outside Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages, and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck shuttles depending on their height. There are facilities for cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft). Bicycles are provided for. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special shuttles with a separate passenger coach for their drivers. Terminals and shuttles are well equipped for disabled passengers, and Passenger Terminal buildings contain duty-free shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about one hour from motorway to motorway. Services run every day of the year, and there are between two and five an hour, depending on the season and time of day. There is a reservation system and a turn-up-and-go service. By contacting Eurotunnel Customer Services in Coquelle (tel: (3) 21 00 61 00) as they approach the French terminal, motorists can find out when the next shuttle leaves and how busy the service is. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board the shuttle without further checks on arrival. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. The fare may be paid in cash, by cheque or by credit card. The fares that follow are valid at the time of going to press. Day Returns, if booked a day or more in advance, are £69 if travelling Mon-Sat, or £49 if travelling Sun. If not booked in advance, fares are £209. A return ticket (valid from 1 to 5 days) is £219 or, if booked in advance, £193. A standard return ticket is £339 or £310 if booked in advance. Fares are lower if departure time is before 0600 or after 2200 (this does not apply to day trips). Early Bird Returns can be pre-booked for £49 (if leaving before 0700 and returning after 1600; or if leaving after 1200 and returning after midnight). Lower rates apply to motorcycles. Tickets may be purchased in advance from travel agents, or from Eurotunnel Customer Services in France or the UK with a credit card. For further information, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services in the UK (tel: (0990) 353 535; fax: (01303) 288 786; e-mail: callcentre@eurotunnel.com; web site: http://www.eurotunnel.com).
Direct Rail links: The direct Eurostar train link through the Channel Tunnel between London and Lille, Brussels or Paris started operating on November 14 1994. Eurostar (web site: http://www.eurostar.com) is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the United Kingdom and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes three hours from London to Paris. When the high-speed rail link from London through Kent to the tunnel is operational (expected to be in the year 2002), the travel time between the two capitals will be reduced to two and a half hours. It takes 2 hours 40 minutes from London to Brussels. Trains depart approximately 12 times a day from Waterloo to Paris, and approximately nine times a day from Waterloo to Brussels. Services, including overnight sleeper trains, will also run from major regional centres. Access to the entire British railway network will be provided, bringing many British business centres within a comfortable day's journey of the continent. Plans also envisage the use of London's St Pancras station by Eurostar travelling north of London, and also as a second London terminus. The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class seating, buffet, bar and telephones, and are staffed by multi-lingual, highly trained personnel. Pricing is competitive with the airlines, and there is a large range of different tickets and prices. Children aged between 4-11 years benefit from a special fare in first class as well as in standard class. Children under 4 years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat. Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For more information, contact Eurostar Special Services, Room 4/508, Waterloo International Terminal, Waterloo Station, London SE1 7LT (tel: (020) 7928 0660; fax: (020) 7922 6018). Telephone reservations may be made by travel agents on (0990) 134 909 and by members of the public on (0990) 186 186 (only available from within the UK) or (01233) 617 575. For information on special fares for groups of at least ten people, telephone (0870) 600 0333. Enquiries in France should be made to Eurostar in Paris (tel: (8) 36 35 35 39; only available from within France). Information about package deals, inclusive of accommodation and travel on Eurostar can be obtained from Eurostar Holidays Direct (tel: (0870) 167 6767; fax: (0870) 010 0284).
Sea: There are many ports offering ferry connections between the UK and mainland Europe, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles and the Isle of Man.
UK ferry operators include: Stena Line (tel: (01233) 647 022; web site: http://www.stenaline.com); P&O Stena Line (tel: (0870) 600 0600; web site: http://www.posl.com); P&O European Ferries (tel: (0870) 242 4999; web site: http://www.poportsmouth.com); Hoverspeed (tel: (08705) 240 241; web site: http://www.hoverspeed.co.uk); Norse Irish Ferries (tel: (01232) 779 090; web site: http://www.norse-irish-ferries.co.uk); Condor Ferries (tel: (01305) 761 551; web site: http://www.condorferries.co.uk); Brittany Ferries (tel: (0990) 360 360; web site: http://www.brittany-ferries.com); Isles of Scilly Travel (tel: (08457) 105 555; web site: http://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk); Red Funnel (tel: (023) 8033 3042; web site: http://www.redfunnel.co.uk); DFDS Seaways (tel: (08705) 444 333 or 333 000; web site: http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk); P&O North Sea Ferries (tel: (01482) 377 177; web site: http://www.ponsf.com); Fjord Line (tel: (0191) 296 1313; web site: http://www.fjordline.com); P&O Scottish Ferries (tel: (01224) 572 615; web site: http://www.poscottishferries.co.uk); Swansea-Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116; web site: http://www.commerce.ie/cs/scf); Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. (tel: (01624) 661 661; web site: http://www.steam-packet.com); Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717; web site: http://www.irishferries.ie); Caledonian Macbrayne (tel: (01475) 650 100; web site: http://www.calmac.co.uk); and Wightlink (tel: (08705) 827 744; web site: http://www.wightlink.co.uk).
Rail: Trains meet connecting ferries at Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Folkestone, sailing for France, Germany and Belgium (board at Victoria Station in London); and at Harwich, sailing for The Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia (board at Liverpool Street). See also Direct Rail Links above.
Road: Few formalities are encountered when driving between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
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