Cross-channel coach operations involving the route between Dover and Calais are seeing further stress because of customs delays before embarking on return ferry departures, one operator has said. The extent of the problems experienced by its coaches means that the business is finding it “almost impossible” to deal with current conditions on the route.
Growing ferry-related concerns have been highlighted by Parrys International Managing Director Dave Parry. The Cheslyn Hay business was first hit in May when Eurotunnel introduced drastic changes to its approach to coach bookings that reduced capacity, withdrew the online reservation process, and increased the cost of those coach slots that it said remained available.
Eurotunnel cited longer processing times for coaches post-Brexit and pressures on capacity and its own staff resource as reasons for the change to policy, but one industry figure quickly pointed out that the carrier had almost six years to prepare for Brexit.
Parrys’ crossings have now thus largely been moved to ferry, but Mr Parry says that “slow and time-consuming” practices by French custom officials at Calais are causing those slots to be missed even after arrival in good time. That is causing difficulties with drivers’ hours, he adds.
Coach check-in for channel ferry crossing in Calais difficult
Mr Parry adds that check-in at Calais is slow and that if another coach – particularly one making a scheduled journey – is ahead, the process is further elongated. During the first week of July, a Parrys coach was transferred onto a ferry leaving 90 minutes after its booked slot as early as an hour before the originally scheduled departure time because of delays in Calais.
On another occasion that week, when a Parrys coach was the only one present, customs officers required that all pieces of luggage were removed and scanned, which caused “quite a delay,” adds Mr Parry. At the time of writing, P&O had not responded to enquiries about coach processing in Calais.
Meanwhile, Eurotunnel recently said that its online booking facility for coaches will be reinstated from 1 September. That aside, it is understood that the carrier has shown little interest in rebuilding its relationships with coach operators.
In a letter to trade bodies in May, Commercial Director (Passenger) Mathew Wyatt said that there was a “high likelihood” that some of the restrictions introduced at that time by Eurotunnel would need to be extended “for the foreseeable future.” Mr Wyatt also highlighted how strengthening of border controls scheduled for 2023 and 2025 will “place further pressure on our operation.”
At the same time, Mr Wyatt added that in June, Eurotunnel would “reassess the situation and determine whether there is any further space that can be released” for coaches. routeone has asked Eurotunnel whether that task has been carried out, and if so, what has been decided, but has not yet received an answer.
Data being collected on Eurotunnel impact on coaches
In June, Parrys attempted to secure cross-channel coach bookings for July via Eurotunnel using the given email address, but it was told that there was no availability. “This is very annoying,” adds Mr Parry, who says that a lack of clarity over crossings can cause great difficulty with long-standing hotel bookings.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport will soon survey its coach operator members that work into Europe with the aim of collecting data on the impact of Eurotunnel’s current policy. Results will be presented to the carrier, but Coaching Manager Phil Smith says that the Confederation is now “reaching out to form strategic partnerships with ferry companies.”
