Hi I have been reading in the news about new passport checks which are coming into force on the 8th April 2015 for all passengers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31619058
We may need to give ourselves extra time when going abroad, it will apply to Ferry crossings was well.
Rob and Karen
On a slightly different subject that could cause delays do we have any info about the Dartford crossings and the pre payment of the tolls.Do we have to pre register or are there bike only lanes?
Celia
Hi Rob,just checked the official QE bridge site and Motorcycles are still free. Hope that helps
Neale
Hi I use the crossing on a regular basis. No specific lanes for bikes, just get in where you can and watch for idiots changing lanes. Strict 50mph limit dropping to 30mph as you reach the bottom of the QE2 bridge with active spped cameras. Going into Kent is very easy. All toll booths now removed. Going into Essex toll booths still in place. Tolls no longer taken but you have to wait for the barriers to raise. Can sometimes be a tailback.
Celia
Thanks Neale, very useful information, I was wondering how they had it working
Gren
EUROTUNNEL PROCEDURE.
Just received this re our Trip away from the Caravan Club, but all relevant and certainly for September.
The UK government is introducing Exit Checks at all UK ports from Wednesday 8th April in an effort to more closely monitor immigration abuses.
This means that the passports or national identity cards of each individual traveller will have to be checked by the ferry or tunnel operator prior to departure and the data passed to the UK authorities. This is similar to the current process at UK airports for International flight departures.
Whilst the ferry companies are simply checking these details at port, Eurotunnel has decided to collect the required information PRIOR to travel.
Eurotunnel have decided to adopt this approach because of the higher frequency of scheduled train departures and the need to keep their check-in process as quick and efficient as possible. They don`t have sufficient space at Folkestone for vehicles to wait should a delay occur in checking the passport or national identity card for every single traveller.
ACTION REQUIRED BEFORE ARRIVAL AT FOLKESTONE
All Eurotunnel passengers need to register the following details for each of the passengers travelling in your vehicle:
· Name
· Surname
· Gender
· Date of birth
· Nationality
· Document type
· Document number
· Issuing state
· Expiry date
You can do this by calling the Eurotunnel Contact Centre on 0330 1233207.
You may have seen that it is possible to register your details on the Eurotunnel website but we do not advise that you do this as there is currently a technical fault affecting bookings made via agents. As you have booked via The Caravan Club there is an issue when you input your own e-mail address on the form because the confirmation of your booking has been sent to a Caravan Club e-mail address. Eurotunnel have confirmed that all the Advanced Passenger Information already submitted via their website is being manually processed but they will not have the manpower to process them in future and this could mean that you are delayed at check-in.
The Caravan Club, like other travel agents, cannot collect the passport details at time of booking as we are not equipped to store this sensitive data nor to transmit it via a secure link to the Eurotunnel database.
More information about the introduction of Exit Checks can be found at the gov.uk website. Should you have any difficulties or queries about your Overseas booking please do not hesitate to contact us.
Carole Evans
Contact Centre Manager – Travel
THE CARAVAN CLUB
East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, RH19 1UA
+44 (0)1342 316101
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk
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