Cancelled Tunnel Shuttles complaint

WE often cross the Channel and, in the early 90s, used the Portsmouth-Cherbourg ferry where we preferred the catamaran. Often, it was cancelled and we were transferred to the boat.

Since the Channel Tunnel opened we became enthusiastic users – but we soon got the impression that if there were only a small number of passengers booked they were told there was a “technical problem” and put on the next crossing. Does it save money not to run a scheduled train? Is it to save electricity?

Even if so, the effect on passengers can be significant. We, and others, time our crossings to miss the M25 rush-hour but a one-hour delay with “technical problems” put us on the M25 at the worst time and cost an extra two-and-a-half hours. It seems the schedule does not apply if they can cut the power bill!