Get a ferry.
First time on Le shuttle, any tips?
- Thread starter PIGGLET
- Start date
It sure does make you feel like you’ve done additional 5 mile ride from the check-in booth to the train door
, not least it can make bods feel nauseous with all the flip-flop from side to side followed by an array of road signs and various bollards. Still it is a most convenient way to jump across the ditch in no time at all and once you off the train, it is wall to wall European freedom, with no further document checks etc.
@PIGGLET when train does arrive in Coquelles (Calais) be sure to be ready to go, gloves on etc.
As bikes are loaded last, My advice especially for somebody who hadn’t traveled on these trains before, is not to rush the moment the doors open, you will have some 100+ cars in front of you leaving the train, it’ll be a 5 minutes before I personally would even consider starting the engine. I do not wish to be starting and stopping every car length, not least do I wish to be breathing the exhaust fumes from some old smoker in front of me. A. Nice clean run from the moment my wheels are set in motion and all the way to the front of the train. With at least a train carriage or two worth of clear space. Make sure you know where you are putting your feet down if you do need to suddenly stop.
Pay attention to road signs as you leave the terminal, as A16 motorway will come in to its own play in no time at all. You do not want to end up going south if your plan is to travel north or are planing to Swain’s motorways at all.
Ride on the right. I’ve seen Some bods have cut them self out a fluorescent coloured arrow that they had stuck on the inside of their windscreen just as a reminder. Some just printed an adhesive label and stuck that to their clocks or windscreen.
It is no joke. In rural France you could be riding in the wrong side of the road for miles before meeting an oncoming vehicle, to give you a clue that you are indeed on a wrong side of the road.
As bikes are loaded last, My advice especially for somebody who hadn’t traveled on these trains before, is not to rush the moment the doors open, you will have some 100+ cars in front of you leaving the train, it’ll be a 5 minutes before I personally would even consider starting the engine. I do not wish to be starting and stopping every car length, not least do I wish to be breathing the exhaust fumes from some old smoker in front of me. A. Nice clean run from the moment my wheels are set in motion and all the way to the front of the train. With at least a train carriage or two worth of clear space. Make sure you know where you are putting your feet down if you do need to suddenly stop.
Pay attention to road signs as you leave the terminal, as A16 motorway will come in to its own play in no time at all. You do not want to end up going south if your plan is to travel north or are planing to Swain’s motorways at all.
Ride on the right. I’ve seen Some bods have cut them self out a fluorescent coloured arrow that they had stuck on the inside of their windscreen just as a reminder. Some just printed an adhesive label and stuck that to their clocks or windscreen.
It is no joke. In rural France you could be riding in the wrong side of the road for miles before meeting an oncoming vehicle, to give you a clue that you are indeed on a wrong side of the road.
The truth is, yes, when you have used the Chunnel oncr, it is very straightforward. But, for newcomers, it can be a bit daunting. After all, it’s not everyday you put a bike onto a train.
Simpler than a ferry? Yes, undoubtably. But there’s enough enquiries on this forum, to show that msny bods have concerns and questions about ferries, too.
In 2016 myself @astrro and couple of other northern reprobates had the pleasure of riding an open carriage car transporter train through the Swiss Mountain (Vereina Tunnel).The truth is, yes, when you have used the Chunnel oncr, it is very straightforward. But, for newcomers, it can be a bit daunting. After all, it’s not everyday you put a bike onto a train.
Simpler than a ferry? Yes, undoubtably. But there’s enough enquiries on this forum, to show that msny bods have concerns and questions about ferries, too.
Here is us waiting to load at Klosters…
Now if le Shuttle is exiting, this is next level stuff! An experience that I will not be forgetting in the hurry
. Le shuttle with toilets and the comfort of the carriage is luxury compared to what you about to witness.You load onto the train in a very similar fashion as you do onto le Shuttle, and then for 18 straight minutes you hurtle somewhere inside a freezing mountain in an open sided carriage and in complete darkness whilst being sat astride your awesome Adventure (with capital A) steed with the astonishing and deafening clatter and screeching of the wheels resonating through the metal cage that is surrounding you.
For your pleasure, I have found this video on YouTube. Enjoy!
PS: turndown the playback volume, as James Bond themed choice of music for this video is a bit awful in my opinion.
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I was a frequent user of the tunnel for most of it`s life, living in Sussex formerly and then buying a house in Portugal, so I had those multiple ticket things you could buy at 10 crossings a time.
I would not use it now, as it is only a matter of time before an EV catches fire in one of the carriages, of course that will happen on a ferry, but the ferry would be more fun in that event.
I would not use it now, as it is only a matter of time before an EV catches fire in one of the carriages, of course that will happen on a ferry, but the ferry would be more fun in that event.
not yet, quite a few crossings completed. I'm usually close enough to grab near side handlebar. Usually..
If you've got a tracker, remember to put it into 'service' or 'transport' mode before the train starts moving haha!!
I quite like that route... Both ends are quiet and easy to get into/out of...
Not sure why you're worried about an EV fire... statistically, it's more likely to be a Petrol/Diesel vehicle.I was a frequent user of the tunnel for most of it`s life, living in Sussex formerly and then buying a house in Portugal, so I had those multiple ticket things you could buy at 10 crossings a time.
I would not use it now, as it is only a matter of time before an EV catches fire in one of the carriages, of course that will happen on a ferry, but the ferry would be more fun in that event.
Statistically yes but the fire suppression system will put out a diesel/ petrol vehicle fire. EV fires are proving to be very difficult to extinguish and seem to reignite very quickly.
That's true... but EV fires are actually rather rare... and Lifepo4 chemistry cells are far more stable than the earlier ones. It's the people in the carriage that I'd be worried about !
Hopefully the people in the carriage would move to the next carriage fairly quickly in the event of any vehicle fire.
EV fires are rare but seem to cause a lot of trouble when they do go up. Only last week an EV fire caused the loss of a whole ship complete with cargo. I haven’t heard of this happening with a diesel or petrol vehicle fire.
I expect he mentions EV’s as a worry because a petrol or diesel fire can be put out
Luton airport car park comes to mind here
Although wasn’t that a Land Rover Hybrid.
There have certainly been more fires on car transport ships since 2018, though hard to attribute they were all carrying EV’s, and more fires on containers ships due to lithium batteries. The ships are usually lost as lithium battery fires can’t be put out so even if a fire started elsewhere once a battery catches fire it’s all over.
Yep, it was fine thanks. As Richard says, once you've used it you realise it's a very simple and well thought out process (Idiot proof???) and that there's nothing to worry about in the first place.
It was all pretty last minute and happening on the back of a lot of shit going on in my life that's meant I've not been in a great place mentally so I was a bit stressed at the point of departure.
The tunnel staff are really helpful and friendly as we're all the other bikers I chatted to while waiting for the train and met at services in France. Getting away on my own on a little mini adventure has been a great tonic. Getting woken up by a massive stag stamping and roaring at me from about 20 meters away while I was snoozing next to the bike at 2am in the mountains near St Claude was a unique experience!
Currently in Morzine doing silly things on a peddley bike and laughing like a pirate with 20 mates all behaving like kids...
No, it’s not.
I was second in the queue to board, many years ago, behind a Volvo.
He drove into the shuttle, and out of the door on the other side onto the other platform.
It was quite early in the shuttle’s life, I think the crew were open-mouth astonished. I think that since then they shut the door on the other side of the wagon too, to keep Mr Magoo on course.
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