More time with your family while waiting for your ferry

Simple stupidity too. Why not make traffic for Dover go via the M2 and traffic for the Tunnel and Folkestone go via the M20. It might reduce to blockages somewhat.
hvm, that is a very a one sided view of the problem which is sad; had the booths all been in use all the time the problem would have been much reduced. And had the French not taken a bloody minded attitude to passport control, then much quicker.

I think you've been warned about this before. Can you please stop posting lucid and accurate rebuttals to the hysterical tripe put out by the Brexit/Tory.

If people wanted facts instead of prejudice they could enlighten themselves with a bit of effort. But that's boring compared to knee-jerk bigotry and tribal jingoism.

The traffic situation has been bad in Dover for a long time.. We have always used the M20/A20 to get to the tunnel but even that can't cope when the lorries are backed up throughout Kent. Lorry parks were supposed to be being built in time for the end of the transition period but they don't seem to have materialised.

Passport booths were fully operational by 9.45 on that morning. My experiences of the tunnel is that there are often logositical problems that occur that result in delays so to a certain degree this was inevitable. Of more concern is that even when they were fully operational theere were still delays. And yes, travelling at peak times is going to make that worse..but I assume no one actually chooses that unless they have no other options. 

I really don't know what you mean by the French taking a bloody minded attitude to passport control. Calais is a Schengen border with what is now a country outside the EU. People (especially many British people) were shouting about tightening up Schengen borders for years to ensure they are secure. Part of that requires all passports to be checked and stamped. The French border control are doing exactly what the rest of the EU asked them to do..which is tighten up security measures. This will get even tighter in October when ETIAS is introduced, although maybe that will result in speeding things up because a lot of it will be done automatically using the online databases. Passports need to stamped. This is the advice from the UK government..
"Passport stamping

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through France as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.



You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.



At French border control, you may need to:



show proof of where you intend to stay, for example, a booking confirmation or proof of address if visiting your own property (e.g. second home). Further information is detailed below

show proof of insurance for your trip. Please check the guidance on travel insurance here

show a return or onward ticket

prove that you have enough money for the duration of your stay. Further information is detailed below

France categorises possible accommodation arrangements for visitors as follows:



Staying with family, friends or third party - you may be asked to provide an ’attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) from your host if you are staying with friends or family. The French resident hosting you will need to obtain this attestation d’accueil from their local Mayor’s office, and send the original attestation before you enter France. You should also be prepared to show proof of funds of at least €32.50 per day, for the duration of your stay. If you do not have an ‘attestation d’accueil’ you should be ready to fulfil the requirements of option 4 below.



You have a second home in France - you will need to be able to prove ownership or tenancy of your property e.g. a tax or utility bill.



You are staying in a hotel or other commercially provided accommodation - you may be asked for confirmation of your reservation when entering France. You should also be prepared to show proof of funds of at least €65 per day for the duration of your stay.



You do not have an ‘attestation d’accueil’ or any pre-booked accommodation - in this instance, you may be asked to prove you have sufficient means for your visit, of at least €120 per day for the duration of your stay.

Link: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

To add: these requirements are not specific to British visitors but to all third country nationals arriving in France. Surely no one would expect France to treat British visitors differently to any one else would they?

I am a Remainer and always have been but I do not like the way that Europe is going. But unlike some I can understand why Brexit happened and prefer not to slag off those who voted Brexit.
I use the Tunnel frequently (Though now the ferries too) and must say that the only time I have been held up on either side has been because of the French passport control people who seem to have no idea how to respond to traffic needs or wilfully stick to their ancient and comfy work practices.

I can understand that it's easier for you to type ******* than risk talking it face to face. ☺