To ask of you're stuck at Dover?

User339406 · 02/04/2023 08:29

My friend got through after queueing for 2.5 hours yesterday evening. And there were extra ferries running last night i think to try to clear the backlog. It seems to be mainly coaches that are having huge delays.
I can't imagine much worse than being on a coach with a bunch of kids and limited toilet facilities. Nightmare.

Original poster

aholidaynotacarpark · 02/04/2023 08:36

I know, those poor kids and teachers! And as one parent said on Twitter, they were worried about how their kid's coach driver would cope with the onward journey after all that waiting :(

2.5hrs isn't too bad so that gives me hope, thanks.

OP posts:

Pinkandgreentrousers · 02/04/2023 08:57

My daughter is, was meant to get the 9pm ferry last night, not expected to leave before midday today, stuck on a coach little food or facilities, once they get to France can't go far as drivers over their hours.

ssd · 02/04/2023 09:04

This sounds an absolute nightmare

bellac11 · 02/04/2023 09:06

Whats the hold up?

Clymene · 02/04/2023 09:09

It's fine for cars: Dover ferry delays: Long waits persist despite extra overnight Channel crossings www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65151700

Roads are clear

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:10

bellac11 · 02/04/2023 09:06

Whats the hold up?

Brexit. Passports now have to be checked properly (every page looked at to look at all other stamps) and then each passport stamped out of the UK. On a coach of 60-70 people that takes time, then multiply those coaches by the many that are/were heading off on the first week of the Easter holidays and you get the gridlock that has happened this weekend. Port of Dover doesn't have the capacity for all these coaches waiting so they're shunted off to ill equipped services to wait. It's a fucking disgrace. But then this is what we wanted...

familyissues12345 · 02/04/2023 09:10

Our schools ski trip coach was stuck for 12 hours on Friday evening. The teachers need medals!

thegrain · 02/04/2023 09:11

aholidaynotacarpark · 02/04/2023 08:23

We're travelling tomorrow morning and I'm dreading it! The reports I'm reading mainly mention problems with coaches and we'll be in a car. It sounds seagull for al the school kids stuck there, I really feel for them.
I need to work out how much food and In car entertainment to pack!

Pack loads and then a bit more

bellac11 · 02/04/2023 09:16

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:10

Brexit. Passports now have to be checked properly (every page looked at to look at all other stamps) and then each passport stamped out of the UK. On a coach of 60-70 people that takes time, then multiply those coaches by the many that are/were heading off on the first week of the Easter holidays and you get the gridlock that has happened this weekend. Port of Dover doesn't have the capacity for all these coaches waiting so they're shunted off to ill equipped services to wait. It's a fucking disgrace. But then this is what we wanted...

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Yes. I cant help but smile. Apologies to people stuck but there we are.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 02/04/2023 09:20

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thegrain · 02/04/2023 09:21

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Oof

Yeah sure and risk dying..

IhearyouClemFandango · 02/04/2023 09:22

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Not cool dude

timetorefresh · 02/04/2023 09:31

Little rubber boats. Can I remind you of the photo of the body of 2 year old Alan Kurdi washed up on the beach? Not a subject for jokes, ever.

Aposterhasnoname · 02/04/2023 09:37

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:10

Brexit. Passports now have to be checked properly (every page looked at to look at all other stamps) and then each passport stamped out of the UK. On a coach of 60-70 people that takes time, then multiply those coaches by the many that are/were heading off on the first week of the Easter holidays and you get the gridlock that has happened this weekend. Port of Dover doesn't have the capacity for all these coaches waiting so they're shunted off to ill equipped services to wait. It's a fucking disgrace. But then this is what we wanted...

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Since when have passports been stamped going out of the UK?

OdeToBarney · 02/04/2023 09:39

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That's just gross. You are awful.

jayhoo · 02/04/2023 09:40

Umm, they're going into France.

Hoppinggreen · 02/04/2023 09:42

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Fucking hilarious 🙄

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:43

At French customs at the channel (Dover/Folkestone) they're now stamped. As the French customs are on the UK side, your passport is stamped leaving the UK. However if we're being pedantic, I can say you're correct that - accurately - they're stamped on entering France. But I think you know what I meant.

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:43

Above post in reply to @Aposterhasnoname

rileynexttime · 02/04/2023 09:44

Coach drivers having to stop because they've exceeded hours is a real complication.What on earth happens to passengers ?

Listening to radio yesterday ,heard youngish women saying she and whole coach load were dumped at service station ,miles out of Dover ,because driver out of hours .

Aposterhasnoname · 02/04/2023 09:47

Labtastic · 02/04/2023 09:43

At French customs at the channel (Dover/Folkestone) they're now stamped. As the French customs are on the UK side, your passport is stamped leaving the UK. However if we're being pedantic, I can say you're correct that - accurately - they're stamped on entering France. But I think you know what I meant.

Ah right, I never use ferries so I’ve learned something today. I was panicking that we might have to queue going out in airports.

Ifailed · 02/04/2023 09:47

Since when have passports been stamped going out of the UK?

Since we left the EU! If you enter/leave the Schengen area your passport is inspected and stamped. Later this year they are moving to a system where travellers to France have to register their name, travel document, fingerprints, facial images and the date and place of entry and exit. All done in little kiosks and it will take even longer than having a passport checked and stamped.

ozoruk1 · 02/04/2023 09:49

@Labtastic ”I can’t help but smile” - I voted remain but that smug sentence is uncalled for - I’m sure lots of the suffering didn’t vote for this either.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 02/04/2023 09:50

We got what we voted for. Hard on those of us who didn’t actually vote for Brexit but we have to presume that exactly this outcome is what those who voted Leave wanted to happen 🤷‍♀️ I’m sure at some point it will become clear to the rest of us why they wanted that and how it’s benefitting us…