The vehicle shuttle service through the Channel Tunnel — Getlink's drive-on, drive-off product between Folkestone and Coquelles. What to expect, how to book, and when it beats a ferry or the passenger trains.
LeShuttle is the vehicle shuttle service through the Channel Tunnel — the way to get a car, van, motorbike, or bicycle across the Channel by rail. It's operated by Getlink (formerly Eurotunnel), the company that also owns and runs the Channel Tunnel itself.
LeShuttle runs between two dedicated terminals: Folkestone in Kent and Coquelles, just outside Calais in northern France. You drive your vehicle onto a specially-designed rail carriage, stay with the vehicle for the 35-minute crossing, and drive off at the other end straight onto the motorway network. There's no check-in, no boarding, no disembarking in the conventional sense — you and the car travel together, as if the Tunnel were a moving road.
The shuttle's carriages are enclosed — you're inside the carriage, not in the open. Air-conditioned, lit. You can get out of your car if you want (most people stretch, use the carriage's small WC), but there's no café, no shop, no seating beyond your own vehicle's seats. You stay with your car. The crossing takes about 35 minutes terminal-to-terminal, of which roughly 25 minutes is spent underground.
The reverse journey works the same way but with UK border control at the Coquelles terminal before boarding.
Most vehicles up to 1.85m in height travel on the Standard service. Taller vehicles (vans, caravans, motorhomes, minibuses) travel on a Large vehicle service with a small surcharge. Motorbikes and cyclists have dedicated services — bikes carried on a rack, motorbikes ridden on and parked.
Almost no luggage restrictions, since the car travels with you. You can bring full-size suitcases, bicycles on the roof, pets in carriers or in the cabin, and anything else you'd take in a car. Alcohol allowances follow the standard UK/France customs rules — generous, but check current thresholds if you're planning a wine-buying trip.
LeShuttle prices vary by time of day, day of the week, time of year, and how far in advance you book. A typical range:
Book directly at leshuttle.com, or through affiliated retailers. Like most travel pricing, fares are cheapest 2–3 months out and rise as the crossing date approaches.
LeShuttle and the high-speed passenger services (Eurostar) are two separate products using the same Channel Tunnel. They differ in almost every other respect:
LeShuttle if you need your car at the other end — for driving holidays, moving house, carrying large luggage, travelling with pets (other than assistance dogs), or accessing parts of Europe not served by direct rail.
Eurostar if you're going city-centre to city-centre (London to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam), don't need a car at the destination, and want to avoid the Folkestone/Coquelles drive.
For car traffic between the UK and France, LeShuttle's main competition is the short-sea ferries — Dover to Calais (P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries) and the longer Dover–Dunkirk crossing. The trade-offs:
LeShuttle: 35 minutes tunnel-to-tunnel, so roughly 1½ hours Dover motorway to Calais motorway including boarding and disembarking. Ferries: 90 minutes crossing plus loading/unloading — typically 2½–3 hours door-to-door. LeShuttle is roughly half the time.
The Tunnel is immune to weather. Ferries get cancelled or disrupted in high winds, storms, and fog. In winter this is a real factor — if you're crossing in December or January and the weather is uncertain, the Tunnel is the safer bet.
Ferries are often £20–£50 cheaper than LeShuttle for the same crossing, especially on less popular sailings. For budget-conscious travellers with flexible time, ferries can win on price.
Ferries offer a proper walk-around crossing with restaurants, bars, duty-free, and lounge seating. For some travellers this is a pleasant break; for others it's wasted time. LeShuttle is efficient and anonymous — you don't leave your car.
Self-evident. If anyone in the car is prone to seasickness, the Tunnel removes the issue entirely.
LeShuttle is by far the most popular route for pet travel between the UK and mainland Europe, because pets stay with you in the car throughout — no separate pet hold, no cage. The UK Pet Travel Scheme applies:
Full current requirements are on the UK government's pet travel page. Rules change periodically, especially around Brexit-era transitions, so check close to your travel date.