Bike over on the Eurotunnel

Once you're actually on it's fine.
Well, sort of.
You can't really relax until you've disembarked...........back in Blighty.
 
I’m a Chunnel virgin. Please tell me it’s not worse than the pucks and metal floor cables on ferries. Bstard things!

Piece of piss.

Although UKGS will give you believe that

1. Your bike will get destroyed.

2. It’ll be 8 hours late

3. Your new passport will expire before Customs and Immigration will let you in

4. Your bike will get stolen on the tunnel.

5. If 4 is not correct, then your bike will get stolen 0.000000005 seconds after you arrive on French tarmac.

Honestly it’s a great system, apply common sense, have great holiday.


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I’m a Chunnel virgin. Please tell me it’s not worse than the pucks and metal floor cables on ferries. Bstard things!
Far, far worse. There’s nowhere to get a beer, no cabin, no restaurant, no duty free, no breakfast, no turn on in the show area, It’s not tied down at all. Just side stand and hope hold it secure. 😂😂😂.
I have seen one fallen over on the Irish Sea crossing. It hadn’t been left in gear though.
You won’t be on the train long, around 35 minutes so just stand by the bike chatting with the other riders. Riding off the full length of the train on a wet slippery polished steel floor is far more scary 😂😂😂.
 
I’m a Chunnel virgin. Please tell me it’s not worse than the pucks and metal floor cables on ferries. Bstard things!

Just ride up to the gate and then up the train when directed.
It's easy/perfectly normal shuttle.

No drama. Just 15/20 minutes of boringness looking at the floor or your phone.

Enjoy your trip!
 
The cradles were used when the Chunnel first went into service in or around 1994. I then had my VFR 750. They limited the number of bikes on each train to something like four, all in separate cradles. The operators were convinced (as some still seem to be today) that motorbikes woukd go flying. They never did.

I’d have a modest wager that more bikes have gone over whilst loading, than when parked up in the carriage.
And didn’t we have a little “waiting room” ?
 
If you put your front tyre hard up against the 'kerb', as they tell you, it cannot roll forward of the stand - simples.
 
I'm always disappointed that they haven't erected a little shelter for motorcyclists to sit in when it's pouring with rain given that, if you time it badly, you can be queuing at the gate for 30 minutes or more.
 
I'm always disappointed that they haven't erected a little shelter for motorcyclists to sit in when it's pouring with rain given that, if you time it badly, you can be queuing at the gate for 30 minutes or more.

Life, sometimes deals you a bad hand.

:beerjug:

PS I’m only disappointed they don’t lay on the Hawaiian Tropic dancing girls and offer rubdowns with the Sporting Life.
 
And why, no matter where you are in the queue, you are always loaded on last?
 
I'm always disappointed that they haven't erected a little shelter for motorcyclists to sit in when it's pouring with rain given that, if you time it badly, you can be queuing at the gate for 30 minutes or more.

I had a very wet day in Epernay when I was wandering around Champagne Houses. I bought one of those collapsible brollies. Very handy as it fits nicely in a pannier wedged beside my overnight bag.
I have used it when wandering around a base and on a quayside in rain and, smugly, in very hot sun in Santander.
 
It’s all “Me, me, me…..”. Relax (or, as some on these pages put it) chill. The train won’t go without you.

:beerjug:

I suspect we're seen as an inconvenience to them tbh.
Which is at least a continuation of how I've always been seen throughout the rest of my life. :D
 
Indeed, I've never understood that. Let us on first then we can get out of everyone's way on disembarkation.

Probably something you do with exhaust fumes and having to be stuck 10 minutes inside the train breathing it all in while they “park” all the cars.

Cars have cabin filters that slightly help.

Also, in any loading emergency, all the passengers not protected by a vehicle shell are already outside.
Loading seems to be a more involved and longer process both for train staff and people traveling (just look at some of the questions in this forum) than unloading.

My assumption, of course.

Pretty sure people would whine the same even if bikes were loaded first. :)
 
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I suspect we're seen as an inconvenience to them tbh.

That is undoubtedly so, whether on the Chunnel or ferry.

Conventional vehicles are easy. Drive on, apply brakes. Job done. Disembark by hopping in, releasing brake and driving off, Motorcycles (and often their riders, too) is all faffing about.

:beerjug:
 


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