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Channel Tunnel status: is the Eurotunnel open today?
Check whether the Channel Tunnel is running, see the official live status, and find out what to do if your crossing is delayed or disrupted.
The Channel Tunnel runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so on almost every day the answer is simply yes, it is open. Disruptions are rare, but weather, strikes, motorway congestion or technical issues can occasionally cause delays. Always check the live timetable before you set off.
The status shown here is the normal running position. For the real-time picture on the day you travel, use our live timetable linked above.
Want to know if you are still on time for your booked crossing? Check the current timetable and live departures. If the delay has made you rethink your plans or you need a new crossing, compare the latest fares on our tickets page.
Is the Channel Tunnel open today? How to check
The tunnel itself is almost always open. The terminals at Folkestone and Calais operate around the clock, every day of the year, with LeShuttle departures running through the night. When people search for “Eurotunnel status” or “Channel Tunnel disruptions today”, it is usually because of a delay at the terminal rather than a full closure. To see the real-time situation, check these:
- Our live timetable and departures, for the current status and next crossings.
- National Highways traffic (Traffic England), for the M20 and any Operation Brock queue management on the approach.
- The LeShuttle app or the digital boards at the terminal, once you are on your way.
What to do if there are delays or disruption
If you hit a delay, do not panic. LeShuttle is built to get you on the next available shuttle. Here is a sensible order of things to do.
- Check the official live status above to see whether the issue is at the tunnel, at the border, or on the approach roads.
- Check the M20 traffic. Motorway congestion and Operation Brock are the most common cause of delay, not the tunnel itself.
- Keep going to the terminal if you can. If you arrive within two hours either side of your booked departure, LeShuttle will normally put you on the next available shuttle at no extra cost. If motorway traffic makes you later than that, they will still get you on the next available one.
- If the disruption is serious, consider the ferry as a backup. Dover to Calais or Dunkirk sails frequently, and it can be a good alternative when the tunnel is busy. See our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
- Keep some snacks, water and patience in the car, and watch the live updates for the all-clear.
Common causes of Channel Tunnel disruption
When the crossing is delayed, it is usually one of these, and most clear within a few hours:
- Motorway congestion: heavy traffic on the M20 and Operation Brock queue management can slow arrivals at Folkestone.
- Border control queues: busy periods and passport or EES checks can add waiting time before boarding.
- Technical incidents: occasional faults on a shuttle or in the tunnel, usually resolved quickly.
- Weather: severe weather rarely closes the tunnel, but it can affect the approach roads and the ferries.
- Strikes in France: border or port strikes on the French side can cause delays at busy times.
Does a rail strike affect the Channel Tunnel?
No. LeShuttle is a separate transport provider and is not part of the UK National Rail network, so national rail strikes do not affect it. Eurostar, the passenger train, and LeShuttle, the car train, both run through the tunnel but operate independently of the wider rail network. French border or port strikes are a different matter and can occasionally cause delays.
What about Eurostar disruption?
It is worth knowing the difference, because Eurostar is disrupted more often than LeShuttle. Eurostar is the passenger train between London St Pancras and cities such as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, and it runs on the wider high-speed rail network. That makes it more exposed to delays and cancellations from signalling faults, severe weather at the stations, security alerts and strikes. LeShuttle, the car train from Folkestone, keeps running through most of these.
If you are travelling by train rather than by car and want to check for Eurostar delays to or from London, see Eurostar's own travel updates, and read our Eurostar guide for how the service works.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Channel Tunnel open today?
Almost certainly yes. The Channel Tunnel and LeShuttle run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Full closures are very rare. For the real-time position on your travel day, check our live timetable.
How do I check Eurotunnel delays today?
Use our live timetable for the current status and next crossings, and National Highways (Traffic England) for the M20 and Operation Brock. The digital boards at the terminal and the LeShuttle app also show live updates.
What happens if I miss my LeShuttle?
If you arrive within two hours either side of your booked departure, LeShuttle will normally put you on the next available shuttle at no extra cost. If motorway traffic delays you beyond that window, they will still aim to get you on the next available shuttle.
Do strikes affect the Channel Tunnel?
UK national rail strikes do not affect LeShuttle, as it is not part of the rail network. Strikes on the French side, such as border or port strikes, can occasionally cause delays at busy periods.
Is Eurostar to London affected today?
Eurostar, the passenger train, runs on the wider rail network and sees delays and cancellations more often than the LeShuttle car train, for example from weather, strikes or signalling faults. Check Eurostar's own travel updates for live information, and see our Eurostar guide for how the service works.
Is the tunnel ever closed by weather?
Very rarely. Severe weather is more likely to disrupt the ferries than the tunnel, though it can affect the M20 and the approach roads. When ferries are affected by high winds, the tunnel often keeps running.
On almost any day, the Channel Tunnel is open and LeShuttle is running as normal. If you are travelling, check the official live status and the M20 before you leave, allow a little extra time at busy periods, and keep the ferry in mind as a backup. Use the price checker above to compare fares and book your crossing.