Taking Your Bike to Europe on Eurotunnel

I though it might be useful to pass on a few tips that I have learnt over the last few years when taking the bike across to Europe on the Eurotunnel.

Well why choose Eurotunnel over the many ferry services available, for me speed of crossing is paramount so there is just no comparison with the other services. Another problem you have if go by sea is that your bike could be damaged as a result of rough sea, not good. You don’t get this problem on a train going under the sea, the only movement you will feel is when the train gets about half way and crosses over a junction in the tracks – no bother!

With a crossing time of approximately 35 minutes, there is just enough time to reset your watch, clock on the bike, have a sandwich and stroll round and have a stretch and then you are on your way again.

I always book on line as it’s quick and easy and your confirmation arrives in minutes by e-mail. However, make sure you take the card you used to make the online booking with you when you go to the Eurotunnel.

If you are approaching along the M20, I would advise you turn off at the Ashford turn and follow the signs for the Superstore and fill up your tank there, fuel over here is a hell of a lot cheaper here than on mainland Europe.

When you leave the Superstore, get yourself back on the M20 and you only have about 10 miles to go before you turn off for the Eurotunnel.

Unless you have booked a Flexi pass head for one of the check in terminals with a green cross above it, all you need now is the card you used to make your reservation with, the automatic check in procedure is pretty painless, just follow the on screen prompts, insert your car and put it back in your wallet when its spat back out.

If you have arrived earlier than your reserved crossing, nine times out of ten you will be offered an earlier crossing at no charge, the same goes if you arrive late, in my experience there is a two hour window in operation, so you can either be up to 2 hours early or 2 hours late. I do not say this is standard Eurotunnel practice and should not be taken as gospel.

At the end of the check in process the machine will spit a Hanger (ticket) out for you, it will have a latter on it, remember this letter you will need it later, and then stuff the hanger in your pocket.

Your next stop will be the UK Border control, have your passport handy, makes life easier, once through there you will hit the French Border control, passport time again and then you are on your way. Keep an eye on the overhead signs and follow the motorcycle symbol. Eventually you will arrive at another checkpoint and they will ask you for your hanger letter, if you have remembered it so much the better as you won’t have to through your pockets to find it. You will then be told which lane to go and park in until called forward.

Now if it’s sunny, sit back on the grass and enjoy it, if it’s raining sit back and suffer it, you will soon be in the warm and dry of the train.

If you notice cars staring to move off from other lanes don’t worry, bikes are always loaded last.

Once you get called forward just follow the directions and green arrows and you won’t get lost, you will find yourself going down a steep ramp to the train, at this point you may be asked to wait to one side while they continue to load more cars, then you eventually you will be called forward.

If it’s wet take it easy as you ride onto the train, you are riding onto a metal ramp and it is slippery sometimes. You may also be asked to ride on either the left or right side of the train by the operative, head what he/she tells you.

While riding through the train keep your feet up as there are metal fixings sticking up that make your toes hurt of you smack into one, I know I did it on first trip – ouch!

When you get to your allotted space, usually the last one in a carriage you will either be asked to park at 45 degrees across the carriage with your front wheel against the kerb and in 1st gear, or you will be brought so you are parallel with the kerb and then asked to turn the wheel into the kerb and 1st gear again, personally I prefer the first method, leaves more room for your side stand and seems more secure when the train goes over the junction half way through the crossing.

If it’s been wet I put my helmet over the blowers at the side, you can see it in the picture and it helps to dry out those parts that have got wet.

Now you have some time to do whatever you want, there are toilets on the train in every third carriage. As I said earlier I use this time to have a bite to eat and a drink, change my clocks and GPS data card over.

When you get the other end get your gear back on and be ready because they don’t take their time when unloading, and don’t forget to engage NEUTRAL!! And very important, ride on the wrong side of the road, when overtaking check your left mirror! I find that drivers over there are very good at pulling back in after overtaking on the motorways, you won’t see a lot of outside lane hogging over there.

Coming back is a reverse of the process, but I have found of late the French Border Controls are paying particular attention to bikes for some reason, out of the last 3 trips I have been pulled over and searched twice.

Waiting to board on the French side, yes it had been raining!

Once you arrive back in the UK there is a petrol station on your right as you come down the ramp towards the M20.

So there you go it’s easy and quick and really is a good gateway to Europe.

Couple of other things: always carry your licence, insurance and log book with you and have a wadge of Euro’s in case you meet those nice police men.

Just came across this video of bikes goning on and off the Eurotunnel on Youtube posted by Advancedbiker back in 2008 - enjoy



Ride safe

Dave