Eurotunnel Le Shuttle opened its passenger terminal in Folkestone on Wednesday, following a surge in bookings after the Government’s initial announcement about quarantine exemptions the previous week. They are likely to surge further still if France as given a green light for travel from 10 July and the Foreign Office lifts its blanket advice against all non-essential travel to France.
John Keefe, director of public affairs at Eurotunnel said: “We… had more customers accessing our online booking system [last] weekend than ever before.”
The 35-minute journey provides a contact-free crossing during which travellers remain in their car. Refreshments can be ordered in advance to be delivered to passenger vehicles.
The service provider is also offering a fully refundable standard ticket option. Journeys cost from £78 one way per car for up to nine passengers in September, rising to £143 in August. Weekdays are cheaper and currently have reasonable availability over the summer.
Deborah Merrens, Eurotunnel’s Chief Commercial Operator, cautioned: “There is a lot of pent-up demand, meaning we expect the coming months to be busier than ever both within and outside of term time.”
Social distancing measures on ferries and Eurostar
Ferry operators are adapting services, with face masks now compulsory on board, fee-free booking amendments offered by most, reduced passenger capacity and staggered boarding/disembarkation on DFDS services and vehicle-only sailings on P&O’s Dover-Calais route. Brittany Ferries is also staggering boarding and disembarkation and is making seat or cabin reservations mandatory.
Enhanced cleaning with virucidal products is taking place between sailings, and hand sanitisers placed around ships for passenger use. Some on-board services, such as bars, remain closed, but shops are largely reopening with social distancing requirements in place and catering served by staff rather than self-service. The industry body Discover Ferries has launched a Ferry Safe campaign detailing the changes.
Face masks are mandatory on Eurostar trains and in terminals, with every other seat left empty on board. Food and drink sales have been suspended. Special assistance must be pre-booked.
