London Banter - View Single Post - London to Cite Europe

Arthur Figgis · May 2nd 04, 11:29 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Sun, 2 May 2004 10:20:39 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

Does anybody know of a firm doing regular trips to Cite Europe (Calais),
via the Euroshuttle from London or the Croydon area (or perhaps regularly
from Ashford?).

A few years ago there used to be an excellent, little publicised, turn up
and go service from Charing Cross station and other places. You got the
ticket from the station, travelled to Ashford, and there was a regular
coach service on the hour for most of the day to/from Cite Europe and
Calais. Unfortunately the rail company stopped these "due to lack of
interest"!

I suspect it would have helped if it had been advertised!

In theory fairly cheap rail-sea-rail trips to Calais and beyond exist,
though Connex/SC/SET/NRES/P&O have denied all knowledge when I've
tried to buy one.

I realise that a car trip is the best way, but I've never bothered to take
my driving test, so that is out of the question. I would prefer the
shuttle to the ferry, because it is quicker, but the ferry could be a last
resort. The only other way is getting the Eurostar to Paris to do some
shopping, but that is rather extreme :-)

Some Eurostars stop at Calais Frethun station which is somewhere
outside Calais, but how useful that is I don't know.

It might be worth trying some local coach holiday companies, who might
do semi-regular "carry as much booze as you can back on to the bus"
style day trips. I used one from Hull to do the Chunnel just after it
opened.
--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK