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Cross-Channel travel: information and advice

Information and links for anyone who may be affected by travel disruption to cross-Channel services.

From:
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, Department for Transport, Highways England, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office and Border Force
Published
26 June 2015
Last updated
23 March 2016 — See all updates
This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government
Cross-Channel map.

In the event of disruption, cross-Channel passengers are advised to check online with their travel operator.

Travel disruption

There is a possibility of disruption to cross-Channel services.

Should this occur, you are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey. Keep vehicle doors locked in slow moving traffic and secure your vehicle when it is left unattended.

Check online with your chosen operator and plan your journey

If you are in the UK and have a booking, check online with your operator for more information before you leave and, if necessary, consider making alternative arrangements.

If you are in returning to the UK from abroad and you have a booking, check online with your operator for more information. You may also wish to consider alternative routes for returning to the UK but check availability and book ahead before you consider travelling to another port of exit.

General travel advice

Cross-Channel passengers travelling are advised to check online with their chosen operator and plan their journey to avoid disruption. You may also want to follow local radio for travel updates.

Further details of how freight will be routed to reduce pressure on the M20 in Kent when there is disruption to cross-Channel services have been published by Highways England, in partnership with Kent County Council and Kent Police. Road users are urged to look out for local signs and electronic message boards and follow the directions.

Contacts for cross-Channel operators

Dover/Folkestone – Calais/Coquelles cross-Channel operators

DFDS Seaways also operates out of Amsterdam, Dieppe and Dunkirk:

  • Twitter @DFDSUKUpdates
  • telephone:
    • Calais, Dunkirk and Amsterdam +44 (0) 344 902 0265 and +44 (0) 871 882 1777 for sailing information
    • Dieppe +44 (0) 844 576 8836, INT 0800 650 100 and +44 (0) 844 576 8836 for sailing information

P&O Ferries also operates out of Rotterdam and Zeebrugge:

  • Twitter @POferries for ferry updates
  • telephone +44 (0) 800 13 0030

Eurotunnel operates from Coquelles:

  • Twitter @LeShuttle
  • telephone: +44 (0) 8444 63 0000 (24 hour pre-recorded travel information), +44 (0) 8443 35 35 35, +33 (0) 810 63 03 04

Other cross-Channel operators and routes

Check availability and book ahead before considering travelling to another port of exit.

Brittany Ferries operates out of Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Roscoff, St Malo, Bilbao and Santander:

Condor Ferries operates out of St Malo and Cherbourg:

  • Twitter @CF_Travel_News
  • telephone +44 (0) 1202 207 216, St Malo +44 (0) 825 165 463, Cherbourg +33 (0) 233 88 44 88

Stena operates out of Hook of Holland:

Road traffic information

UK road traffic

France road traffic

Updates to this page

Published 26 June 2015
Last updated 23 March 2016 + show all updates

  1. Updates to travel advice.

  2. Added further information for travellers returning to the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend.

  3. Links to leaflets and maps in 6 languages that explain how freight and tourist traffic will be routed when Operation Stack is operational.

  4. Added a link to further details of how freight will be routed, published by Highways England and explained that road users should look out for local signs and electronic message boards.

  5. Added link to information about temporary use of Manston Airfield to provide additional short-term capacity and explained there are new arrangements to prioritise freight vehicles carrying 'quick to market goods'

  6. Added link to a statement announcing additional measures to strengthen security at Coquelles and alleviate pressure on the road network in Kent caused by Operation Stack.

  7. The latest on what the government is doing about the disruption to cross-Channel services through the Port of Calais.

  8. Announcement of a new secure area for freight at Calais port.

  9. Added the fact there is an ongoing possibility of disruption to cross-Channel services.

  10. There is ongoing possibility of disruption to cross-Channel services as a result of industrial action.

  11. Update on the disruption to cross-Channel services through the Port of Calais.

  12. Update on the disruption to cross-Channel services through the Port of Calais.

  13. Notification of disruption to MyFerryLink sailings on 29 June 2015.

  14. First published.