Transmanche services

[MarkyT]

There are no passengers wandering about the vast windswept docks. They are bussed from Terminal to Ferry and vice versa, no doubt at great cost.
They only offer foot passengers on a time span of day sailings which covers a P&O port shunt (terminal to boat) bus drivers and terminal staff shift. In my experience there are so few foot passengers [often less than 10 on a sailing] that even this service can't be economic. DFDS do not offer foot passenger service at all. Can't see any money to be made out of a bus service. One look at the coach prices for a tunnel transit ......
Both ports are set up for vehicle traffic, which is the overwhelming majority, and why wouldn't it be? There is so little demand for foot passengers. Passengers from East Kent can board a few Eurostars that stop at Ashford and again, from my observation, the current service is more than adequate for the number of passengers travelling.

Ashford is useless for getting to Calais. There are no trains at all that stop at both this year. I fully understand what you're saying economically and practically, but it does seem discriminatory towards those who can't or prefer not to drive or simply haven't got access to a motor vehicle. I.e. if you have the oldest, hardly roadworthy car or white van you have a huge panoply of competitive possibilities for getting your fags and booze back 'for personal consumption', but on foot it's a take it or leave it set of inferior options, yet all taking place at one of the busiest international borders in the world. It was much easier for local travellers to pop over in the days before the tunnel on foot. Can't see it getting any better in the future. There'll be no political will to incentivise easier cross border travel post Brexit I think. A potent symbol of how car culture is utterly embedded in society. Is the foot passenger service actually mandated in any way or could P&O unilaterally withdraw it if they wanted?

 

[anme]

As much as I like the idea of a cheaper, slower alternative to the Eurostar, I can't see it happening. At the moment, the cheap alternative is the coach - Flixbus and Ouibus tickets start around 15 euros each way for London to Brussels, for example. This could actually be a reasonable option, but the buses are horribly slowed down by inefficient border controls and security at the tunnel.

 

[Peter Kelford]

How does no brexit sound? If the UK went the opposite way (Schengen Membership), these services might become a reality. Trains from Glasgow through Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Peterborough, London and to Lille, Paris, Lyon and Marseille. 11 hours plus 1 hour time difference. Maybe a sleeper train?

 

[MarkyT]

How does no brexit sound? If the UK went the opposite way (Schengen Membership), these services might become a reality. Trains from Glasgow through Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Peterborough, London and to Lille, Paris, Lyon and Marseille. 11 hours plus 1 hour time difference. Maybe a sleeper train?

On the other hand, when, after Brexit, Scotland inevitably gains its independence and rejoins the EU they could operate sealed corridor sleeper trains right across the Disunited Kingdom to the continent. Still wouldn't help Kent residents getting to northern France without a motor vehicle though.

 

[Peter Kelford]

On the other hand, when, after Brexit, Scotland inevitably gains its independence and rejoins the EU they could operate sealed corridor sleeper trains right across the Disunited Kingdom to the continent. Still wouldn't help Kent residents getting to northern France without a motor vehicle though.

It probably will happen. It's just a loss for we Englishmen.