Not as punctual as it could be (Euro Tunnel)

Member Name: NFH.

Product:	Euro Tunnel
Date:	09/10/02 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fastest way across the Channel, Not subject to adverse weather, Clear immigration/customs before boarding

Disadvantages: Can be subject to unreasonable delays, Poor value for money

I've used Eurotunnel a few times, and considering Eurotunnel run the whole Channel Tunnel, they're not as punctual as they should or could be. I get the impression that they let third parties through the tunnel first when there's any kind of delay, which includes the likes of Eurostar and freight trains. Eurotunnel probably do this because their contractual obligations with third parties would incur greater losses than any compensation they might pay to individual travellers using Eurotunnel's own service.

On 14th August, we were delayed over two hours because of illegal immigrants in the Channel Tunnel. Even after clandestines had been removed from the tunnel, Eurotunnel did not clear the backlog of cars waiting to board trains. It was very very slow and I'm sure that they let through a few Eurostar passenger trains first.

All of this is speculation, but I really don't get the impression that Eurotunnel put their personal customers first. Their large corporate customers (Eurostar, EWS etc) are far more important to them.

It is also high time that Eurotunnel introduced a simple toll system rather than its current complex fare structure. A simple toll of GBP 20 or EUR 30 each way would be fair for such a distance. Some fares are currently quite a bit less than this and some are vastly more.

Summary: