New Access Lanes and Shuttles for Freight Trucks at Channel Tunnel

UK – FRANCE – In a bid to speed more freight vehicles through Eurotunnel has added five new access lanes and a new check-in facility for trucks at its terminal in Folkestone, increasing traffic flow through the terminal up to 300 vehicles per hour. The terminal, and its continental sibling in Coquelles, are both seeing expansion as part of the company’s Terminal 2015 project. Eurotunnel is planning for a 30% + increase in vehicle traffic in the next decade.

The purpose of this improvement is to speed up flow rates and with the purchase of three new freight shuttles should mean an increase in carrying capacity. Five new access lanes will speed traffic off the M20 at junction 11A and lead to improved motoring conditions for local communities. The new check-in facility and freight access lanes opened this week and will enable Eurotunnel to process enough trucks to fill a shuttle departure every seven and a half minutes, once the new shuttles come into service from later in 2016. Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SE observed:

“The UK economy continues to grow and trade with Europe is a huge part of that. This new access and check-in facility for trucks will ensure that Eurotunnel is in good shape to carry the commercial loads that the UK economy generates and will help keep traffic flowing in Kent.”