Can you drive across the chunnel

Since its opening in , the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle has proved to be the most efficient operator in moving people across the channel. Today, the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle sees thousands of passengers travelling underneath the English Channel to reach Calais, and other stunning French cities and towns.

If you are in need of a quick and efficient journey through to Calais, we encourage you to take the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. If you are travelling during winter periods, or patches of bad weather, the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle will continue to run, unlike the Ferry which may be cancelled or hit delays. As you are leaving one country and entering a new one, you will need to have your passport or national identify card to hand.

These will be presented to customs before your departure. To speed things up, we would recommend using the Advance Passenger Information system, and updating your information. For further information on what you need for your car, visit the AA driving abroad advice page. We would also recommend filling your car with fuel while you are in France.

This allows time to make sure you are ready, and for you to go through security. When you reach the check-in terminal, you will need your booking reference handy and the credit or debit card which was used at the time of booking. You will then be given a hanger for your departure, which will tell you where to get on the train.

Once checked in, you can go and park up and wait for your train to arrive. You drive on at the back and drive through the train until the stewards tell you to stop. A top tip is while waiting to park, avoid parking across multiple carriages. You then have two options before boarding the train; you can check the boarding screens and head straight to the queue where there are no toilets , or you can park up and wait for your train. There is a vending machine and a dog exercise area for those whose pets need to stretch their legs!

Or if you have to wait a little longer, park in the car park for the terminal. There are screens around the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle which inform people of the train that they should be boarding. It was actually a really simple and sterile experience. You get off the highway and enter a series of booths to check your ticket, go through customs and get your passport stamped.

From there you wait in a line of cars waiting to board the train. The train was one really long, connected train car that all of the cars had to drive through in one big conga line. Once all the cars are loaded, there are hydraulic doors to separate the train cars that fold in. Europcar prohibited us from taking the car onto ferries and into Eastern Europe. Your email address will not be published. Escorted by three boats and covered in porpoise oil, he reached Calais in 21 hours 45 minutes, despite challenging tides and a jellyfish sting.

American swimmer Sarah Thomas raised the bar in September , setting a world record by becoming the first person to swim across the Channel four times non-stop.

She completed her incredible swim in 54 hours and 10 minutes. On July 31 , Felix Baumgartner jumped from a plane 30, feet 9, meters above Dover wearing a carbon wing and flew for 22 miles Six minutes later he landed in France and became the first man to cross the channel in a wing suit.

He told the journalists shortly after landing "For the last 2, meters I could see the other side and I knew I was going to make it". Tim first attempted this incredible challenge in but was forced to abandon when he was caught in a storm with force 6 winds. Before attempting the crossing, Tim had to learn to row and trained with Britain's Olympic rowing team. Tim completed the grueling journey in nine hours and six minutes. On his arrival, he told journalists "You can't fake rowing; you can either do it or you can't.

It's exhausting. Because you're using so much energy, and every area of your body, your heart and lungs are working overtime. On March 12 , The One Show presenter Christine Bleakley water-skied across the English Channel and completed the mile 34 km stretch in just minutes.

Despite being terrified by water and admitting she wasn't a strong swimmer; she became the first person to water-ski across the world's busiest shipping lane.

She raised thousands of pounds for Sport Relief in the process and, after finishing the challenge, said "I can't believe I've actually done it. It was really tough. On May 28 , Jonathan Trappe crossed the Channel strapped to 54 industrial strength helium balloons.

Jonathan started his incredible journey from a field, near Ashford, and became the first cluster-balloonist to cross the English Channel. The year-old adventurer drifted in the air for four hours before landing in a French cabbage field narrowly escaping death after avoiding a power line. After landing Mr Trappe, said: "The flight was outstanding, but it was a hell of a landing.

I'm tremendously proud. It's an outstanding thing to do. On August 04 , Frenchman Franky Zapata became the first man to cross the Channel by jet-powered hoverboard. It was his second attempt at the journey — his first ended when he plunged into the sea while trying to land on a vessel to refuel mid-flight. Discover more. People who want to travel with their own vehicle or on a coach can use the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle between Folkestone and Calais. Before travelling with either Eurostar or Eurotunnel you will need to go through security, border and ticket checks before going through the Tunnel.

It took just under six years and 13, workers to build the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of miles per hour kph although when the train is outside the tunnel it reaches speed of miles per hour kph.