chunnel.co.uk › Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel: your complete guide to crossing by car
Eurotunnel, LeShuttle, Chunnel, Eurostar, so many names for the same crossing. Here is what they all mean, where the terminals are, and how to take your car under the Channel in just 35 minutes.
The Channel Tunnel is the rail tunnel under the English Channel that links England and France. People use many names for it, which can be confusing, so let us clear it up and guide you to the right terminal, the right service, and your onward journey into Europe with confidence.
Chunnel, Eurotunnel, LeShuttle or Eurostar?
These names are often mixed up, but they mean different things. Here is the simple version.
You are looking for LeShuttle, the Eurotunnel car train. Eurostar does not carry cars. To take your vehicle across, you use LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais. See our full car guide or the Eurostar guide if you are travelling as a foot passenger.
How the Channel Tunnel crossing works
The tunnel links two terminals: Folkestone in Kent and Coquelles near Calais. Your car is loaded onto the LeShuttle train, and you cross under the sea in 35 minutes.
The Channel Tunnel runs between the UK terminal at Folkestone and the French terminal at Coquelles, near Calais, a 35-minute crossing on the LeShuttle car train.
The two terminals
The Channel Tunnel has one terminal on each side. Here are the addresses, postcodes and motorway access for both.
🇬🇧 Folkestone (UK)
- Address
- Ashford Road, Folkestone, Kent
- Postcode
- CT18 8XX
- Motorway
- Junction 11A of the M20
- Nearby
- Dover 7 miles, Ashford 10 miles, Canterbury 18 miles
🇫🇷 Coquelles (France)
- Address
- Rue des Garennes, 62231 Coquelles
- Postcode
- 62231
- Motorway
- Direct link to the A16 and E40
- Nearby
- Calais 3 miles, Dunkirk 24 miles, Lille 70 miles, Paris 185 miles
For full details on the UK terminal, including check-in, facilities, parking and live queues, see our Folkestone terminal guide.
Getting to the tunnel
The Folkestone terminal is easiest to reach by car via the M20. From London it is about 70 miles, usually around 1 hour 30 minutes. Drivers from the north and midlands typically take the M25, then join the M20 towards Dover and Folkestone, exiting at Junction 11A.
Where can you go from the Channel Tunnel?
The tunnel is your gateway to northern Europe. From the Calais terminal, the A16 motorway gives fast access towards France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Here are our detailed route guides, each with distances, driving times and directions.
Who can travel through the tunnel?
LeShuttle carries vehicles of almost every kind from Folkestone to Calais. You board with your vehicle and stay with it for the crossing.
- Cars are the most common, see our car guide.
- Motorcycles travel at a lower fare, see the motorcycle guide.
- Motorhomes and campers are welcome, see the motorhome guide.
- Caravans and trailers too, see the caravan guide.
- Coaches, vans and freight have their own services, see coaches and freight.
- Bicycles can travel with a slightly different approach, see the bicycle guide.
Pedestrians cannot travel on LeShuttle, foot passengers use Eurostar instead. You can also bring pets, who stay in the car with you throughout.
How much does the Channel Tunnel cost?
LeShuttle fares are per vehicle, not per person, and cover up to nine passengers for the same price. A standard car starts from around £69 for a short-stay return, rising with vehicle size, travel date and time, and how far ahead you book. For the full breakdown of every ticket type, see our tickets and prices page, and use the booking module above to check live fares for your dates.
Channel Tunnel facts
The Channel Tunnel is one of the great engineering achievements of the modern age. Here are the key facts.
| Length | 50.45 km (31.35 miles), of which 37.9 km runs under the seabed, the longest undersea section of any tunnel in the world. |
| Structure | Three parallel tubes: two rail tunnels (one each direction) and a central service tunnel for maintenance and emergencies. |
| Depth | At its deepest, around 75 metres (246 feet) of ground sits above the tunnel before the seabed. |
| Speed | Trains reach 160 km/h (about 100 mph), crossing in 35 minutes. |
| Built | Construction began in 1988 and took six years; the tunnel opened in May 1994. |
| Traffic (2024) | LeShuttle carried 2.2 million passenger vehicles, with a 55% share of the Short Straits car market. |
The central service tunnel is separately pressurised with its own ventilation, and cross-passages connect it to the rail tunnels at regular intervals, a key part of what makes the crossing so safe. Read more on our safety page.
Eurotunnel or the Dover ferry?
The Folkestone terminal is separate from Dover port, and the two are often confused. LeShuttle is the tunnel train from Folkestone to Coquelles; the ferries sail from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk.
- From Eurotunnel Folkestone: you reach the A16 near Calais after a 35-minute train crossing.
- From Dover port: you reach the A16 near Calais after about 90 minutes at sea, plus port time.
The tunnel is faster and unaffected by the weather, while a ferry can be cheaper on some dates and offers a break out of the car. Compare them fully in our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Eurotunnel and Eurostar?
Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) is the car train from Folkestone to Calais, for drivers and their vehicles. Eurostar is a passenger train with no cars, from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Both use the same tunnel but are separate services.
Can you take a car through the Channel Tunnel?
Yes. That is exactly what LeShuttle is for: you drive your car onto the train at Folkestone, stay with it for the 35-minute crossing, and drive off at Calais. See our car guide.
Is there a “car train to France”?
Yes, that is LeShuttle (Eurotunnel), which carries your car from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes. If you searched for “Eurostar with a car” or “train to France with a car”, LeShuttle is the service you want.
Where is the Channel Tunnel in England?
The UK terminal is at Folkestone in Kent, Ashford Road, postcode CT18 8XX, just off the M20 at Junction 11A. From London it is about 70 miles, around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Where does the Channel Tunnel come out in France?
At Coquelles, near Calais (Rue des Garennes, 62231), with a direct link to the A16 motorway towards Paris, Belgium and the Netherlands.
How long is the Channel Tunnel and how deep?
It is 50.45 km long, of which 37.9 km runs under the sea, and around 75 metres deep at its lowest point. It is the longest undersea tunnel section in the world.
Can foot passengers use the Channel Tunnel?
Not on LeShuttle, which only carries vehicles. Foot passengers travel on Eurostar from London St Pancras instead. See our Eurostar guide.
The Channel Tunnel links Folkestone with Coquelles and remains the fastest way to reach mainland Europe by car: a 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle, up to four departures an hour, from around £69 per car. Use postcode CT18 8XX for the UK terminal and 62231 for the French terminal, and from Calais the A16 takes you on to Paris, Amsterdam, Germany or Disneyland Paris with ease. Use the price checker above to compare live fares and book your crossing.