1995: BBC “Channel Wars” documentary

[jamesontheroad]

Another gem from the BBC Archive on YouTube, this time a doc from 1995 and the period when Eurotunnel were operating truck shuttles but still waiting for approvals to start car shuttles.

For me, notable for the rare chance to see inside the rather unusual single passenger carriages that carry truck drivers during the short journey. In the early moments of the video, you can see drivers complaining about the poor quality of the airline-style food trays served versus the full kitchens and buffets of the ferries.

As the battle hots up between Eurotunnel and P&O Ferries for cross-Channel business, Modern Times takes a look behind the scenes.

The cola war is nothing compared to the Channel Wars. This candid documentary traces the intense rivalry between Eurotunnel and the ferry companies in the run-up to Eurotunnel's application for a car passenger licence. There's certainly no love lost between the bosses - one P&O executive dismisses Eurotunnel's amenties as a "lightbulb and loo," while Eurotunnel maintains that passengers want speed rather than luxurious surroundings. Both P&O and Eurotunnel have enlisted advertising agencies to agressively battle for the hearts and minds of channel crossers - be that by extolling their own virtues, or mocking their rivals weaknesses.

It's not just the executives who have their say: opinion is also canvassed from tunnel staff and passengers, including disgruntled lorry drivers complaining about rubbery omelettes and rock-hard croissants, and ferry passengers considering whether to try the train for their cross-channel booze run.


Clip taken from Modern Times: Channel War, originally broadcast on BBC Two, 26 April, 1995.

 

[stadler]

Another gem from the BBC Archive on YouTube, this time a doc from 1995 and the period when Eurotunnel were operating truck shuttles but still waiting for approvals to start car shuttles.

For me, notable for the rare chance to see inside the rather unusual single passenger carriages that carry truck drivers during the short journey. In the early moments of the video you can see drivers complaining about the poor quality of the airline-style food trays served versus the full kitchens and buffets of the ferries.

Excellent find there. Thank you for sharing this. I must say that i am amazed that Eurotunnel even served food on the journey. It is such a short journey of just over thirty minutes. It seems utterly bonkers to offer catering on something that short. Also i have always found it odd that ordinary drivers remain in their vehicles but commercial lorry drivers leave their vehicle and sit in a proper passenger carriage.

 

[Teebs]

Excellent find there. Thank you for sharing this. I must say that i am amazed that Eurotunnel even served food on the journey. It is such a short journey of just over thirty minutes. It seems utterly bonkers to offer catering on something that short. Also i have always found it odd that ordinary drivers remain in their vehicles but commercial lorry drivers leave their vehicle and sit in a proper passenger carriage.

I wonder if that's because commercial drivers in their vehicles would count against working hours limits, while getting in a passenger carriage would allow them to take a mandated break?

 

[AdamWW]

I wonder if that's because commercial drivers in their vehicles would count against working hours limits, while getting in a passenger carriage would allow them to take a mandated break?

I think fire safety may also come into it - for various reasons the balance between providing separate seated accommodation for all passengers and getting them into and out of is vs making the whole train meet fire safety requirements for accompanied vehicles is probably different for the two types of train.

 

[jamesontheroad]

The freight trains indeed don’t have the same fire suppression systems. The single passenger carriages on the freight trains are really obscure - not an off the shelf UK design, possibly French or German?

The problem for EuroTunnel is that the ferry companies have always had the upper hand offering truckers a place away from the vehicle for a legitimate and sufficiently long rest break. The kitchens on the ferries can also cater much better to their tastes than EuroTunnel with airline-style plated and reheated meals.

 

[AdamWW]

The freight trains indeed don’t have the same fire suppression systems. The single passenger carriages on the freight trains are really obscure - not an off the shelf UK design, possibly French or German?

They always looked like a fairly standard contintental design to me but I'm not all that clued up on such things.

It would have been more fun if they'd built a passenger carriage to use the full loading gauge though.

 

[Steddenm]

The coaches look like original Eurostar/Enterprise style with different branding.