True - Connex South Eastern in conjunction with "Le Shuttle" ran a bus service from Ashford International station to Calais. Well at least they did, up to the end of October 1998, sadly this service has now been discontinued due to problems with "Le Shuttle"\Euro Tunnel. Buses ran every hour from Ashford and the cost of the trip 14.50 per adult return, and you ccould travel from any station in the Connex South Eastern region by train to Ashford where you joined the bus. So what did this bus service offer.

First stop is the Duty Free at Sandgate (Folkestone) the English coast terminal for "Le Shuttle". Time was limited to visit the Duty Free, and a lot depend on the traffic from Ashford to Folkestone, we had 20 minutes, ample time. The coach then goes through the cursory Customs Control, and joins "Le Shuttle" for the 30 minute crossing. Time actually spent in the tunnel is only 20\25 minutes.

If you decide to stay on the coach, there is an unusual sense of movement, not unpleasant, just different, the carriage has it's own suspension movement, so does the coach, you have a feeling of forward motion, but as you can't see outside the carriage apart from blackness, you know by sense the coach isn't moving, surreal! Each shuttle has 28 carriages which can carry up to 180 cars (including caravans, camper vans, motorcycles and cycles) High-sided vehicles and coaches\bus travel in special, dedicated carriages in the front half of the shuttle. (Lorries\freight travel on a separate shuttle)

It's then off the shuttle at Coquelles\Calais terminal and on to Le Centre Commercial (Cite Europe) and only takes 5 minutes where you can then go into the shopping centre or you could have stayed in the bus for the 20 minute journey into Calais proper. The bus is only in Calais for a very short time, then it came back to Ashford via, Cite Europe, Coquelles, Le Shuttle, Sandgate and Ashford. What you also gain is multiple choice, so you could go into Calais first, spend an hour or so there, then get the next or following bus back to Cite Europe and spend some time there. Or get off at Cite Europe, shop, and then go on to Calais. There was also a short stop at the Duty Free at the Coquelles terminal before boarding the shuttle. Again you had the choice of a quick trip to the Duty Free and get the same coach back to Ashford, or you could stay in the terminal for 50 odd minutes, then get the next coach back to "blighty" Cite Europe itself, I suppose is like any other shopping complex, very modern architecture, but it is French none-the-less.
The range of goods available is staggering, there is a massive electrical store called Darty, and a Tesco's superstore that sells nothing but spirits\wine\beers (take your Clubcard with you) and a 50 check-out Carrefour hypermarket (plenty of P.C.'s on sale, but sadly no Atari's) The usual MacDonald's is there, but apart from these known stores, it's all French. There are 11 major stores, and 150 boutiques (shops) selling fashion, beauty, accessories, gifts etc. There is also a Walt Disney shop for the cuddly toy fans.

Roy Golding
[abridged - updated 1st Nov 98]

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