MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: rdfcpete on June 23, 2015, 09:25:37 pm

Title: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on June 23, 2015, 09:25:37 pm
Anyone been affected by the complete mayhem with the strikes and refugees from beyond Europe?

Looks like the tunnel and ferry ports in the South are all closed tonight while they try and get a grip on things.
Has anyone's journey(s) been affected?

I'm off to the Ring in a month and can see this perhaps being a regular thing with the closures, our governments don't tend to get a grip on things too quickly in this department of affairs  :scared:

Plan B looks like an Eastern or Northern ferry port that's not compromised, or plan C will be a train - any train, that heads for Belgium or Germany  :ashamed: :sick:

Cheers.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 24, 2015, 02:49:49 am
The company (myferrylink) are the ones who caused the strike and all the disruption. The refugees just take advantage of the static traffic. If you can get into Dover DFDS travel to Dunkerque which is out the way of all the disruption  :happy2: but most of the time eurotunnel is the way I travel without problem.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on June 24, 2015, 02:59:21 am

I'm planning on Eurotunnel mid October
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: phillips on June 24, 2015, 07:13:40 am
Using the tunnel Sunday morning hopefully it will be a smooth departure, fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 27, 2015, 09:12:52 pm
I'll keep my ears open as I'm in calais at the minute. If anything comes up I'll post
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 29, 2015, 04:59:24 am
Euro tunnel might be a bit hit and miss today. All traffic out of Calais stopped about 2 hours ago
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: phillips on June 29, 2015, 03:17:56 pm
Got through no issues yesterday  :happy2:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on June 29, 2015, 06:17:10 pm
Euro tunnel might be a bit hit and miss today. All traffic out of Calais stopped about 2 hours ago

What was that for @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994) was it staff-strike, or border control related?

As I understand it all the shipping co. staff are back at work, but are there any further strikes planned or rumoured?

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rich83 on June 29, 2015, 06:32:24 pm
Ive got an idea.....

Get big boat.... moor it up in Calais with a big "heading for England.... everyone travels for free" sign.

Sail boat to west coast of Africa and let them off.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 29, 2015, 07:03:08 pm
@rdfcpete (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=590) I can't let on too much of what's going but this morning was an immigration problem.

But it's all gone Pete Tong this afternoon. Calais is blocked, possibly until the 2nd of July. Eurotunnel and dfds at Dunkerque are running at the moment. We have been told they may also have to cease travelling in the next day if the ports get blocked.

It's all down to Myferrylink being bought out by DFDS and DFDS not keeping any of the myferrylink staff.

I like the boat idea but I'm not as sympathetic as that

Euro tunnel might be a bit hit and miss today. All traffic out of Calais stopped about 2 hours ago

What was that for @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994) was it staff-strike, or border control related?

As I understand it all the shipping co. staff are back at work, but are there any further strikes planned or rumoured?

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on June 29, 2015, 07:12:59 pm
Yeah I understand the buyout.

What were todays issues at a top level summary? More strike talk or immigration influx?

Basically, I just want to be able to plan getting out of country via the Shuttle 10th July onwards. Are outgoing trains an issue at all?
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: dazza on June 29, 2015, 07:18:51 pm
They would just work there way back down to Morocco get across to Spain and head for the holy grail again (UK).

Why are France and Spain not so appealing for them??
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: andyR43 on June 29, 2015, 08:03:56 pm

Why are France and Spain not so appealing for them??

The UK benefits payment system is far more appealing to them.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Adam0604 on June 29, 2015, 11:34:32 pm
I was under the impression from tomorrow things would be easing in Dover after the fiasco of the buyout.
They've cut 600 jobs or something like that from like 800 to 200

Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 30, 2015, 03:42:33 am
Yesterday morning was an immigration problem.

Last night and today is strike action causing major disruption at calais. There's talks of Dunkerque being blocked this morning.

It should all be sorted by July 2nd. I hope so at least, I'd like to get back from work at some point.

Again I'll update you all later this afternoon once I know.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on June 30, 2015, 06:10:24 pm
...It should all be sorted by July 2nd...

What's significant about the 2nd chap?
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on June 30, 2015, 09:52:15 pm
The 2nd of July is when MFL are due to cease trading. They'll then have no grounds to strike although we have been informed they want to try and last it out until next Monday.

Again if I hear anymore I'll updste you all
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 01, 2015, 04:19:55 pm
The 2nd of July is when MFL are due to cease trading. They'll then have no grounds to strike although we have been informed they want to try and last it out until next Monday.

Again if I hear anymore I'll updste you all

Any news @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994) ?

Cheers.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: phillips on July 01, 2015, 04:38:19 pm
Getting the tunnel back on Saturday night, fingers crossed its all fine by then.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Adam0604 on July 01, 2015, 06:17:35 pm
Getting the tunnel back on Saturday night, fingers crossed its all fine by then.

Tunnel is already open. Has been since yesterday evening.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 01, 2015, 06:35:10 pm
Tunnel is already open. Has been since yesterday evening.

...We know that.

There's substantial disruption and delays though (which is what we're discussing....)

 :signLOL:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 01, 2015, 06:35:53 pm
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/latest/
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Adam0604 on July 01, 2015, 06:46:34 pm
Tunnel is already open. Has been since yesterday evening.

...We know that.

There's substantial disruption and delays though (which is what we're discussing....)

 :signLOL:

Oh yeah but only really the operation stack on the M20 that's delaying anything now.
I booked one of my work colleagues on the tunnel only yesterday evening for 14:00 today and had no real troubles to speak of other than the queues on motorway.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on July 01, 2015, 07:56:29 pm
Literally in the last hour or so one of our guys has been sent down to calais as we've been told it's reopen. I have however spoke to a French collegue and they seem to think it's all going to start again tomorrow for another 2 days.

As for the tunnel, it's a bit hit and miss leaving coquelles and last night tourist traffic was backed up onto the A16 motorway. I believe this may be running better now though as I didn't notice any tourist traffic queuing.

DFDS sailing from Dunkerque is busy but running. Tourist traffic has priority over freight
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 01, 2015, 09:56:06 pm
Oh yeah but only really the operation stack on the M20 that's delaying anything now.
I booked one of my work colleagues on the tunnel only yesterday evening for 14:00 today and had no real troubles to speak of other than the queues on motorway.

Yeah, that's the point  I suppose - I'm hoping that's clear by 10th as I don't want to have to leave any earlier. It's a 7am start and 3.30 hour journey for me when everything is running smoothly you see  :sick: :scared:

Even just by running one shuttle train an hour (as opposed to the normal two), that's already half an hour I've gotta add on in theory with the backlog, and they've been reducing and changing the number of trains all week (from the page I linked above).

Literally in the last hour or so one of our guys has been sent down to calais as we've been told it's reopen. I have however spoke to a French collegue and they seem to think it's all going to start again tomorrow for another 2 days.

As for the tunnel, it's a bit hit and miss leaving coquelles and last night tourist traffic was backed up onto the A16 motorway. I believe this may be running better now though as I didn't notice any tourist traffic queuing.

DFDS sailing from Dunkerque is busy but running. Tourist traffic has priority over freight

Reckon you'll be home in 10 days @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994) ?  :innocent:

:happy2:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on July 02, 2015, 05:32:21 am
Oh yeah but only really the operation stack on the M20 that's delaying anything now.
I booked one of my work colleagues on the tunnel only yesterday evening for 14:00 today and had no real troubles to speak of other than the queues on motorway.

Yeah, that's the point  I suppose - I'm hoping that's clear by 10th as I don't want to have to leave any earlier. It's a 7am start and 3.30 hour journey for me when everything is running smoothly you see  :sick: :scared:

Even just by running one shuttle train an hour (as opposed to the normal two), that's already half an hour I've gotta add on in theory with the backlog, and they've been reducing and changing the number of trains all week (from the page I linked above).

Literally in the last hour or so one of our guys has been sent down to calais as we've been told it's reopen. I have however spoke to a French collegue and they seem to think it's all going to start again tomorrow for another 2 days.

As for the tunnel, it's a bit hit and miss leaving coquelles and last night tourist traffic was backed up onto the A16 motorway. I believe this may be running better now though as I didn't notice any tourist traffic queuing.

DFDS sailing from Dunkerque is busy but running. Tourist traffic has priority over freight

Reckon you'll be home in 10 days @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994) ?  :innocent:

:happy2:

I'll swim if I have to.

There no queues for tourist this morning at euro tunnel but still a 4km queue of freight traffic both directions. I'll know more this afternoon
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 02, 2015, 01:16:18 pm
^ What are you in, a HGV or something mate? @Rholtby (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11994)

Why's there still days worth of freight backed up, are they not even clearing a percentage of the backlog every hour/half day/day?

Seems very strange, surely EU health and safety is well and truly breached now?

Must be a pi** take to watch the tourist traffic saunter by...  :ashamed: :confused: :sad1:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on July 02, 2015, 08:29:29 pm
@rdfcpete (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=590) nah mate I work over here, something to do with the boarders.

Yeah it probably is. They've had medical staff going up and down checking on the drivers and giving out water from what I've seen.

The freight queues are getting smaller but it's going to take days to clear as Calais is only running partially, the euro tunnel gets queues for freight on a normally anyway. It's just a poor system going in
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 02, 2015, 09:34:04 pm
@rdfcpete (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=590) nah mate I work over here, something to do with the boarders.

Yeah it probably is. They've had medical staff going up and down checking on the drivers and giving out water from what I've seen.

The freight queues are getting smaller but it's going to take days to clear as Calais is only running partially, the euro tunnel gets queues for freight on a normally anyway. It's just a poor system going in

Ah, Mi6.

I get it  :wink: :evilgrin:

Just had this vision taking 7 hours to get there and missing my original train when we head down in week or so.
Didn't realise the tourist traffic was able to board ahead of the freight and so on, so forth...

I'd have been there early anyway, but reckon we should arrive an hour before check in opens?  :happy2:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on July 03, 2015, 06:39:01 am
Yeah something like that  :P

Euro tunnels usually how I travel and when I'm early the auto checkin gives me the earlier ticket for nothing usually.

06:00 this morning, the traffic still backed up but its on the hard shoulder. They are attempting to open Calais full time today. P&O have been running a ferry an hour. Problem is there's still disgruntled staff on the 2 boats that are moored in Calais. These are likely to be the ones who cause further disruption in the coming days

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fw388%2Frholtby%2F726F6DCB-80B7-4BA6-BF9F-0F4BA07B0C4A.jpg&hash=8bf231038e25843a32c6aa1a742a66e472db45c3)
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Paulo P on July 03, 2015, 03:33:06 pm
I was due to go to Calais today for a shopping trip but we thought better of it and re-scheduled it for next month.
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: Rholtby on July 04, 2015, 04:57:59 am
Good shout on that. Euro tunnel has gone to crap again due to certain illegal persons causing problems.

P&O are running a ferry every hour
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: rdfcpete on July 04, 2015, 11:46:25 am
90 minute wait leaving Dover
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/latest/

'Technical fault'.

FFS  :scared: :popcornsoda: :fighting: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
Title: Re: Euro Tunnel & Shuttle Disruption (Stowaway situation)
Post by: phillips on July 04, 2015, 06:48:33 pm
Just arrived at the calais terminal got through with no problems and am getting an earlier train at no extra cost. :happy2: