Insights

On one of the busiest travel days of the year, thousands of families returning from Continental Europe faced significant delays at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais due to a Shuttle train breakdown. Passengers reported waiting for hours, with some arriving well before their scheduled departure times only to miss multiple trains. The situation was exacerbated by customs and passport control delays, leading to frustration among travelers. Jeremy Rebbeck shared his experience on social media, detailing how he arrived at 1:30 PM for a 7:30 PM train, only to be delayed further by a broken-down train ahead of him. Another traveler, Janet Bonthron, described being stuck in a hot carriage for over 90 minutes after boarding her train, with limited information and no refreshments provided. Eurotunnel acknowledged the disruptions and apologized for the extended waiting times, assuring passengers that efforts were being made to resolve the issues. By late evening, the company continued to update travelers about the ongoing technical problems affecting the Calais terminal. In addition to the Eurotunnel delays, ferry passengers traveling between Calais and Dover also faced challenges due to a separate technical issue with a P&O Ferries vessel. The shipping line advised passengers to check in early and assured them that those who missed their booked sailings would be accommodated on the next available service.