As Brits, we’re fortunate sufficient to have a direct route relating to travelling throughout the Channel Tunnel. This ease of motion turns into barely extra advanced when driving a van.
That will help you navigate the journey in your van, we’ve put collectively a information that will help you get your automobile throughout the Channel Tunnel as simply as attainable.
What’s the Channel Tunnel for?
Opening in 1994, the Channel Tunnel is an undersea railway line, round 50.46km in size, beneath the English Channel. It’s truly the one mounted hyperlink for travellers between Folkestone in Kent and Calais in France. You might also have heard it known as the Chunnel or Eurotunnel.
When travelling via the Channel Tunnel, you’d be taking LeShuttle, which is an underground railway shuttle service.
Can you are taking your van on LeShuttle?
Sure, vans are welcome on LeShuttle.
For every type of automobiles, LeShuttle is handy and straightforward to navigate. It’s much like the Eurostar however for smaller automobiles, transporting automobiles, vans, motorhomes, campervans, motorbikes and their passengers throughout to France.
How lengthy does the LeShuttle journey take?
LeShuttle can get you from Folkestone to Calais in round 35 minutes. You merely comply with the indicators to search out the proper entrance for you, drive in, and luxuriate in a fast and comfy journey. You possibly can even get out and stretch your legs.
Are there restrictions for vans travelling on LeShuttle?
In case your van is shorter than 1.85 metres, it should go within the single-deck carriage. Autos above 1.85 metres in top are allowed within the double-deck carriages and your ticket fare will depend upon the area your van takes up. The scale of your automobile may even have an effect on when you’ll be able to journey as you’ll must go when there’s sufficient area.
A van carrying industrial items, like a food truck, weighing as much as 3.5 tonnes, can journey on the passenger service however, you must ebook individually forward of time through the LeShuttle Freight service.
You must also observe that LeShuttle gained’t enable your van on board in case you are carrying LPG or an equal flammable gasoline. You additionally gained’t be allowed in case your automobile wants a gasoline container.
Can you are taking your van throughout the Channel Tunnel by ferry?
Though technically not via the Channel Tunnel, one other option to get from the UK to France in your van is by ferry. P&O Ferries, for instance, affords the Dover to Calais route which can get you there in below two hours.
For courier drivers or vans which are carrying industrial items, you merely must ebook via P&O Freight. Their freight companies are separate so could have a distinct schedule.
Vans which are smaller than seven metres could be booked in via their web site, simply be sure you know the measurements whenever you’re reserving. Additionally, you will want to tell them of the kind of cargo you’ll be carrying in case you are transporting industrial items.
In keeping with P&O, industrial items embody:
- Instruments
- Items on the market
- Removing companies
- Exhibition supplies
And private items (that you just wouldn’t must declare) embody:
- Commonplace baggage
- Furnishings
- Passion tools (e.g sports activities tools)
- Automotive or boat
What paperwork do you must cross the Channel in a van?
As with all long-haul journeys, you’ll want the proper paperwork whenever you journey via the Chunnel.
This can depend upon what methodology you choose, however normally, you have to to convey:
- A legitimate passport for you and any passenger in your automobile
- The Car Registration Doc (V5)
- Your driving licence (or the licence of who’s driving you)
- Proof of insurance coverage
- Ticket or reserving data
Insuring your van earlier than you journey
As a van proprietor, you’ll need the proper insurance coverage. At Adrian Flux, we might help you discover the suitable van insurance or commercial van insurance coverage based mostly in your wants, serving to you skip all of the fuss. Our cowl contains European cover as normal.
And in case you are heading to the Channel Tunnel for a vacation, we will additionally enable you discover flexible travel insurance.
Name us on 0800 369 8590 for a quote or book a callback at a time that fits you.
