Day out from Ashford to Boulogne

TheJRB · 31 Mar 2015

Hi,

I've just received my passport after a long winded process including an interview! :lol:

Now I'm keen to make use of it. My grandfather and I have talked about taking a day out to Boulogne by train, ferry and train. I understand the fares going this way are much more reasonable (appears to be £14.70 Ashford to Calais return with a railcard) than trying to go via Eurostar when heading to Calais and Boulogne. I do realise the problem with lengthy waits owing to the ferries though!

My rough plan is as follows and would probably be on a Saturday:

Code:

Ashford International		07:15
Dover Priory		07:41	07:50
Port of Dover		07:55	09:25
Port of Calais		11:55	12:20
Calais-Ville		12:30	13:09
Boulogne-Tintelleries	13:44	
		
Boulogne-Tintelleries		16:53
Calais-Ville		17:24	17:55
Port of Calais		18:05	19:55
Port of Dover		20:25	20:35
Dover Priory		20:40	20:49
Ashford International	21:14

I do however have a couple of questions and worries that I'm hoping those with more experience will be able to address.

Are P&O very strict about foot passengers checking in 45 minutes before sailing? Would turning up any later result in having to wait for the next sailing?
Are there still buses from the port at Calais to Calais Ville station? Is the timetable still as it was last year?

RailUK Forums

Groningen · 31 Mar 2015

I do not want to get too personal, but an interview. Were they afraid that you were going to the Middle East. Hope for you that there is still bustransportation in France, because the harbo(u)r in Calais is large.

steevp · 31 Mar 2015

Groningen said:
I do not want to get too personal, but an interview. Were they afraid that you were going to the Middle East. Hope for you that there is still bustransportation in France, because the harbo(u)r in Calais is large.

An interview is common these days for a first passport - my son also had one last year.

I can't see a bus service shown on the plan that serves the port itself

http://www.calais.fr/bus/index_std.htm

though there are plenty of other sites that suggest that there is a bus shuttle. A taxi shouldn't cost the earth if all else fails.

RT4038 · 31 Mar 2015

Passengers are conveyed by bus from terminal to boat at both Dover and Calais, and vice versa. Miss the bus and you wait for the next ferry (or the next day if it is the last ferry that conveys foot passengers). You may get away with less than 45 mins. (as usually foot passenger traffic is very light), but I wouldn't bank on it! The reason for not carrying foot passengers at night is to save having to crew the buses and the foot passenger terminal, for what has become a trickle of passengers.

Groningen · 31 Mar 2015

10 years ago i decided to go walking from the harbor of Dover to the railwaystation. Apparently i went to South Military Road, Centre Road and North Military Road. Brrrrrr! Horrible mistake!

Mike395 · 31 Mar 2015

If you did want to walk from the port to Calais Ville station, it's a brisk 40minute walk into, then through, the town centre. There are buses, but they are infrequent and won't wait if the ferry's late for any reason.

Have fun though - I did this last year and had an enjoyable day out

TheJRB · 31 Mar 2015

Groningen said:
I do not want to get too personal, but an interview. Were they afraid that you were going to the Middle East. Hope for you that there is still bustransportation in France, because the harbo(u)r in Calais is large.

steevp said:
An interview is common these days for a first passport - my son also had one last year.

Indeed. I wasn't aware until I applied that it was commonplace but it is. Quite a laid back affair taken out at my nearest passport office in Maidstone by video link to Birmingham!

steevp said:
I can't see a bus service shown on the plan that serves the port itself

http://www.calais.fr/bus/index_std.htm

though there are plenty of other sites that suggest that there is a bus shuttle. A taxi shouldn't cost the earth if all else fails.

Yes. I'll certainly be considering taxis if the bus isn't apparent.

RT4038 said:
Passengers are conveyed by bus from terminal to boat at both Dover and Calais, and vice versa. Miss the bus and you wait for the next ferry (or the next day if it is the last ferry that conveys foot passengers). You may get away with less than 45 mins. (as usually foot passenger traffic is very light), but I wouldn't bank on it! The reason for not carrying foot passengers at night is to save having to crew the buses and the foot passenger terminal, for what has become a trickle of passengers.

All makes sense I suppose. Just a shame it isn't as "turn up and go" as the train is from Ashford.

Groningen said:
10 years ago i decided to go walking from the harbor of Dover to the railwaystation. Apparently i went to South Military Road, Centre Road and North Military Road. Brrrrrr! Horrible mistake!

Dover never seems to be particularly warm or welcoming! :lol:

Mike395 said:
If you did want to walk from the port to Calais Ville station, it's a brisk 40minute walk into, then through, the town centre. There are buses, but they are infrequent and won't wait if the ferry's late for any reason.

Have fun though - I did this last year and had an enjoyable day out

I don't think my grandad could walk it. I think it'll either be the bus or taxi.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to it even if it is a bit slow!

Sir Felix Pole · 1 Apr 2015

The dedicated P&O shuttle bus was between Dover Priory and the Eastern Docks was discontinued at the end of August last year - it is a taxi or miserable walk I'm afraid. They are quite strict with the check-in times as a bus is used to convey foot passengers from the ferry terminal through immigration along the quays to the ship - it departs promptly once everybody has loaded.
The bus from Calais Maritime to Ville still operates as per the times you have according to the latest 'European Rail Timetable' (former 'Thomas Cook TT').

Some more info:-

http://www.seat61.com/London-Paris-ferry.htm#.VRuy0PnF-So

Tetchytyke · 1 Apr 2015

As has been said elsewhere, there is no longer a bus from Priory to the port. It'll be a walk or a taxi- the taxi will cost about a fiver, and I'd highly recommend it over walking. P&O are strict about check-in times and will make you wait.

At Calais, there is a shuttle bus, it stops right outside the doors to the ferry terminal, the fare is EUR2 IIRC. It's about a 30-40 minute walk to Calais Ville station, about 50 minutes to the main part of the town centre.

I did it last summer, you'll enjoy it. If you can, try and get sailings with either of the Pride class ferries, they're lovely.

PhilipF · 3 Apr 2015

We traveled by rail from Bradford-on-Avon to Dover last year. We walked from the station to the Port. We'd booked a hotel in Calais, but there was no bus, so a fellow passenger got us a Taxi.

Easy to book in for the crossing, no fuss at all.

Don't intend to use this crossing ever again though. Far too expensive for us foot passengers. Will have to investigate other crossings. Pretty certain Poole/Cherbourg would be cheaper, main problem only one early crossing which would mean sleeping in Poole.
Should be cheaper options than Dover/Calais route, just requires handy rail terminals either side

47513 Severn · 4 Apr 2015

PhilipF said:
Don't intend to use this crossing ever again though. Far too expensive for us foot passengers.

How much did you pay? I don't think I've ever paid more than £10 which seems reasonable. That was booking in advance though, paying at the port can be expensive. It can't compare with Stena Hoek to Harwich where I once had to pay a 35 euro surcharge to book in person at the port following a weather related change of plan!

47513

Nicholas43 · 4 Apr 2015

Boulogne Tintelleries is an excellent choice: sweet little station. It's a short, but uphill, walk to a stop on the (free, I think) circular town navette.
https://www.marineo.fr/navette-centre-ville
I suggest arriving at Dover passenger terminal a good hour before your intended ferry departure. The shuttle bus to the boat is now rather annoying: you have to get out at a dismal shed to have your luggage and passport checked.
There's often a 10-minute wait after docking before they connect the gangway to let foot passengers off. At Dover, then allow another 10 minutes for the shuttle bus back to the passenger terminal. Might be an idea to book a taxi from the terminal to Priory, as you are entering the harbour.
Your grandad gets 25% off his Calais-Boulogne ticket.
http://www.sncf.com/en/reductions/seniors
Bon voyage, and do please post a trip report!

PhilipF · 4 Apr 2015

47513 Severn said:
How much did you pay?

47513

Think it was £70 for the two of us return.
Philip.

jopsuk · 5 Apr 2015

Did Boulogne ever get its shiny new ferry terminal? I know it was being talked about when Speed Ferries were running Dover-Boulogne (catamaran, no foot passengers or freight). Has it instead gone the same way as Folkestone ferry terminal?

radamfi · 5 Apr 2015

One alternative is to take your bike with you. Then you don't need to walk to/from the port and you are also able to use any sailing, including those unavailable to foot passengers, because you ride your bike straight onto the ferry. You could park the bike at Calais Ville until you go home.

Also, bike fares are often cheaper than foot passenger fares. However, are you able to use combined train/ferry fares with a bike on the Dover/Calais route?

eisenach · 9 Apr 2015

jopsuk said:
Did Boulogne ever get its shiny new ferry terminal? I know it was being talked about when Speed Ferries were running Dover-Boulogne (catamaran, no foot passengers or freight). Has it instead gone the same way as Folkestone ferry terminal?

Oh, yes, when Louis Dreyfus Lines started a service from Dover to Boulogne a few years ago. LDL abandoned the route (and us and a load of other booked passengers) at the end of August a few years ago (can't remember the year). We got there just in time to see the last ferry leave. Anyone booked on a later ferry had to drive to Calais to be put on another operator's service; not easy at the busy end of August peak.

LDL later got into bed with DFDS who had bought out Maersk's Norfolk Lines operation; they run the DFDS liveried Dover-Calais boats. The spanking new Boulogne facility has been empty ever since, I believe.

TheJRB · 22 Apr 2015

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

The trip is now planned for Saturday and my gran is coming along too!

Nicholas43 said:
Boulogne Tintelleries is an excellent choice: sweet little station. It's a short, but uphill, walk to a stop on the (free, I think) circular town navette.
https://www.marineo.fr/navette-centre-ville
I suggest arriving at Dover passenger terminal a good hour before your intended ferry departure. The shuttle bus to the boat is now rather annoying: you have to get out at a dismal shed to have your luggage and passport checked.
There's often a 10-minute wait after docking before they connect the gangway to let foot passengers off. At Dover, then allow another 10 minutes for the shuttle bus back to the passenger terminal. Might be an idea to book a taxi from the terminal to Priory, as you are entering the harbour.
Your grandad gets 25% off his Calais-Boulogne ticket.
http://www.sncf.com/en/reductions/seniors
Bon voyage, and do please post a trip report!

Thanks for this. Is there anyway of finding out what the SNCF fare will be on the day from the station? Do they offer return fares?

30907 · 22 Apr 2015

Look on the sncf website already linked for a specific train on the route and it will give you fares including discounts. Return is twice single.

radamfi · 22 Apr 2015

TheJRB said:
Thanks for this. Is there anyway of finding out what the SNCF fare will be on the day from the station? Do they offer return fares?

Seat 61 explains the various options. I prefer the Capitaine site and app:

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm

That is giving a normal fare of 8.80 each way between Calais Ville and Boulogne-sur-Mer Ville. To make a return trip you get a single each way. You can, however, ask for a return at the machine at Calais Ville and you get both tickets at the same time. Don't forget to stamp your ticket before getting on the train.

TheJRB · 22 Apr 2015

30907 said:
Look on the sncf website already linked for a specific train on the route and it will give you fares including discounts. Return is twice single.

radamfi said:
Seat 61 explains the various options. I prefer the Capitaine site and app:

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm

That is giving a normal fare of 8.80 each way between Calais Ville and Boulogne-sur-Mer Ville. To make a return trip you get a single each way. You can, however, ask for a return at the machine at Calais Ville and you get both tickets at the same time. Don't forget to stamp your ticket before getting on the train.

Thanks to both of you. It also seems that découverte fares are available for the return journey only as a little research shows that 08:00 to 14:00 is considered peak time on Saturday 25th April. So 8.50 going and 6.40 return making the total price for the return trip from Calais to Boulogne 14.90.

steevp · 23 Apr 2015

TheJRB said:
The trip is now planned for Saturday and my gran is coming along too!

So now both of you will have to be on your best behaviour!

Nicholas43 · 23 Apr 2015

For the tarif découverte senior

En Nord-Pas de Calais, cest 25 % tous les jours, toute lannée et à bord de tous les TER.

In [the region] Nord - Pas de Calais, it's 25% [discount] every day all year and on board every TER [regional express train].
(The blue period stuff only applies to TGVs and Intercity trains; the algorithms which calculate the fares on websites are badly programmed.)
https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/offres/produits/billets-decouverte
In my experience, the contrôleuses/contrôleurs on the Calais - Boulogne trains are particularly friendly. They won't ask for them, but will be dead impressed if your grandparents offer their passports to prove their age, and will love to hear where you've come from, what you think of the train, what you plan to do in Boulogne, etc! Do remember to stamp your tickets before you get on. (But if you forget, just find the contrôleuse/contrôleur and confess. Then it will again be all smiles.)

TheJRB · 27 Apr 2015

steevp said:
So now both of you will have to be on your best behaviour!

Yep!

Nicholas43 said:
For the tarif découverte senior

In [the region] Nord - Pas de Calais, it's 25% [discount] every day all year and on board every TER [regional express train].
(The blue period stuff only applies to TGVs and Intercity trains; the algorithms which calculate the fares on websites are badly programmed.)
https://www.ter.sncf.com/nord-pas-de-calais/offres/produits/billets-decouverte
In my experience, the contrôleuses/contrôleurs on the Calais - Boulogne trains are particularly friendly. They won't ask for them, but will be dead impressed if your grandparents offer their passports to prove their age, and will love to hear where you've come from, what you think of the train, what you plan to do in Boulogne, etc! Do remember to stamp your tickets before you get on. (But if you forget, just find the contrôleuse/contrôleur and confess. Then it will again be all smiles.)

Ah that makes sense then. Good so we're all valid for a discount then (I'm 19). Nice to hear that they're a friendly bunch. It will be interesting in many ways for me in that it will be my first time abroad and therefore also my first international train journey.

All set for tomorrow morning now!

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
My trip report is over here for those interested: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115123

Day out from Ashford to Boulogne

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