A procession of vehicles will be crossing the Channel between the UK and France head of the upcoming bank holiday weekend. Even though the Channel Tunnel linking the British Isles to mainland Europe has been open for 27 years, there still seems to be some confusion between the two popular train services that use it - Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and Eurostar.
Not sure which is which, or how to choose between the two options? It really depends on where you want to go and how you want to travel. The following aims to help clear up some of the myths surrounding the transport link
Are Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and Eurostar the same company?
No - Eurostar uses Eurotunnel’s tunnel, and is one of their biggest customers. The Channel Tunnel is the longest undersea tunnel in the world at 38km long.
Where can I board?
Eurotunnel’s UK boarding point is in Folkestone, Kent, while Eurostar currently runs from St Pancras International, London, and Ebbsfleet or Ashford International in Kent.
Where can I go?
The main Eurostar routes go to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, with some seasonal routes and connections across France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle runs solely between Folkestone and Calais.
By foot or by vehicle?
Travelling on foot is great if you’re visiting a busy city for the weekend, but driving might be more suitable for a longer trip and allows for greater baggage allowances.
Eurostar trains are for foot passengers only, so are ideal if you don’t need or want a vehicle for your trip. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle carries freight and all forms of vehicle, including cars, motorbikes, campervans, caravans, coaches and lorries. You cannot travel as a foot passenger on Eurotunnel, but you are able to take a bicycle.
Animals
Only assistance dogs are allowed on Eurostar trains. Eurotunnel allows passengers to travel with a pet for an additional cost of £22 each way (assistance dogs are exempt), providing they have the necessary paperwork.
Journey length
Eurotunnel takes just 35 minutes between Folkestone and Calais. Eurostar takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach Paris from London.
Frequency
Eurotunnel currently two or three shuttle departures per hour, likely to increase to four in the summer. The busiest day of 2022 so far was February 19, on which 8,500 passenger vehicles were transported on Le Shuttle. Eurostar currently runs a service from London every 60 to 90 minutes.
How does the tunnel operate?
The Channel Tunnel is made of three separate tunnels running parallel to each other. One train tunnel running south (UK to France), one train tunnel running north (France to UK) and one service tunnel. All three tunnels were drilled below the seabed and link Folkestone in Kent to Coquelles in Pas-de-Calais.
How much did it cost to construct?
It took just under six years and 13,000 workers to build the Channel Tunnel. The total cost came at an eye-watering £4.65 billion which would be the equivalent of £12 billion today.
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