Gardian Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 We're booked on TGV / Eurostar to return to the UK on Weds 23rd: looks decidedly iffy, with no announcement as yet from the latter. Doesn't augur well.So, we're pretty much resigned to the probability of having to drive back [:@], but needs must. Anyway, may I call on some advice from you 'Western Channel' regulars? I never take much notice of the ups and downs of the current situation there (LD Lines, etc).Preferred option would be in to Pompey rather than Dover (destination is Berkshire). Forgive me, but I could trawl the websites, but quick feedback on the options would be really helpful. I may need to move fast if Eurostar knock everything on the head. Not bothered whether Caen / Le Havre / Cherbourg as point of dep.Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Looks as if BF have availability.....might not be the cheapest though - why not give them a ring ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I assume you want to go feet rather than car. Caen might be best as the town and terminal facilities are a bit better for hanging around in the event of delays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 On http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Eurostar confirms there will be no passenger services on MondayNo news about later in the week yet..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 Thanks Gay - I saw it just after they posted it. Next announcement 18.00 tomorrow.Trouble of course is that you have to start thinking about your alternatives, hence the thread. You can't book the alternative, till you know that they're definitely not going to run a service and hence that you're going to get a refund. (not insignificant from all this way)I've sent them a snottogram (for what it's worth), just to say "These things happen, but would you kindly make a decision", (or something along those lines) but of course I was wasting my time. I can understand the difficulty: Engineering vs Commercial decisions. Doesn't help us though.Current view from OH though is BF ex Caen. The way I feel at the moment, probably won't wait for them to make up their mind and I'll just book it anyway and fight it out afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 The 10.00 news has just said that Eurostar realise they will not be able to deal with those that have booked for the next few days plus the back log.......I'm with Mrs Gardian, Caen would be my choice too, just under £300 as far as I could see but that didn't include a cabin - main roads in Berkshire are clear, its just side roads that are treacherous.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 When the BBC interviewed the CEO of Eurostar on Sunday he seemed very nervous - plus I do not think he should have been smiling whilst apologising.The Daily Mail was reporting that Claudia Shiffer, who was on one of the trains got special treatment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 [quote user="P2"]The Daily Mail was reporting that Claudia Shiffer, who was on one of the trains got special treatment![/quote]Maybe she organised to have a car collect her? I'm sure she can afford it... [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Booked BF Caen - Pompey. £349 round trip incl cabins, so could have been worse.Not looking forward to (a) the drive and (b) the ruck with Eurostar in the New Year[blink]Thanks to all for advice & suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Good luck with your trip, hope all works out well for you. Berkshire is experiencing heavy snow, as other places probably are - take care! [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 A34 is sleety at the moment rather than snowy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Glad you have booked, even Eurotunnel is currently closed to new arrivals due to sheer volume.Heavy snow here, a 25 minute journey just stretched to 90 mins.....not sure I hit 3rd gear the whole way........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 [quote user="Russethouse"]Glad you have booked, even Eurotunnel is currently closed to new arrivals due to sheer volume.[/quote]Yes, I decided early on to avoid the Tunnel.Still, we'll battle on with that intrepid British spirit, maintaining a totally rigid stiff upper lip. What with the blankets, spade, thermos flask and the wine (that we wouldn't have been able to bring, but sons now see this as an opportunity), OH may have to travel on the roof.[:-))]Not off till Weds, so plenty of time to savour the rain & cold down here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 It's probably worth packing a few bottles of intrepid French spirit as well ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 We've 3 weather warnings on accuweather for here in Berkshire just now; snow, rain and wind. We'll hope that by the time you're at this end it'll have cleared up ;o) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Nothing wrong with the drive, it will be comfortable and easy-going......until you get to England! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8424646.stmIt looks as if Gardian could possibly be offered a Thursday trip I hope they don't use this to get out of refunding the money..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Let's hope not; a spokesperson was saying yesterday that anyone with a booking up to Christmas Eve who wanted to cancel would get a full refund. They have to contact Eurostar to cancel, not just not turn up. Surely they must honour such promises. They'll have a long hard task to remove these events from the collective memory; they sell themselves as being the no-fus way to travel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 [quote user="Gardian"] What with the blankets, spade, thermos flask and the wine [/quote]Don't forget a torch, Swiss army knife, and Port-a-Loo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Amazed at the B.F. price. Booked Cherbourg-Poole car+3 23rd return30th Dec Car+2 free cabin each way £154.Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 let the coach take the strain[8-|]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/6860990/National-Express-seizes-on-travel-chaos-with-extra-coaches.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I think its prety fair to say that Berkshire is a mess this morning with abandoned cars where people just couldn't get any further. We still have a great deal of ice under the snow and several routes are closed. If your end location is on a hill be prepared !The best update I found last night was www.rac.co.uk/traffic-information/ ( My son took thre and a half hours to get from Bracknell to Reading, normally 20 - 25 minutes max !, arrived home at 12.30 am this morning ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 [quote user="gardengirl "]They have to contact Eurostar to cancel, not just not turn up. Surely they must honour such promises. [/quote]Thanks for the warning GG. As a result, I just rang Eurostar (got through pretty quickly in the circs) and was assured that there was no need to cancel. Refund applications can be made up to two months after due date of travel. So, sounds OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 [quote user="Gastines"]Amazed at the B.F. price. Booked Cherbourg-Poole car+3 23rd return30th Dec Car+2 free cabin each way £154. Regards,[/quote]It's probably the free cabins that makes most of the diff. Ours are £70 each way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 [quote user="Mel"]Nothing wrong with the drive, it will be comfortable and easy-going... ...until you get to England![/quote]England was the easy bit.We naively thought that the motorways in France would be busy, but ......... well, alright. The plan was to get to Caen early evening and enjoy a pleasant dinner somewhere before embarkation. We got to Lyon around 11.30 and hit gridlock. Broken down lorry in one of the tunnels: nearly 2hr crawl. Then 2 lots of emergency roadworks (snow & ice damage to the roadsurface) after Beaune. We didn't clear Paris till 20.30, with check-in due no later than 22.15. It's around 230kms from there to Caen, with another 15min further on to Ouistreham!Let's just say that I took more than a few liberties with the speed limits and leave it at that. I got my just deserts by getting 'pinged' by a camera just outside Caen, but we made it with literally one minute to spare. The speeding ticket (€45) was here to welcome us on our return yesterday.The rest of the journey was uneventful, including the return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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