Brexit: Eurotunnel ‘ready’ for October 31

Eurotunnel is prepared for Brexit “no matter the outcome” on October 31, the company said on September 2.

The company said there would be no change to immigration formalities for the 22 million passengers per year who use the Eurostar or Shuttle services.

For goods, there will be new regulations in the event of a no deal, with a system of predeclaration in the customs systems on each side of the Channel before trucks arrive on the terminals in Folkestone and Coquelles.

Eurotunnel has made invested in the creation of two pit stops in Folkestone and Coquelles, which regroup all the checks and controls already conducted by Eurotunnel before boarding.

These pit stops and their specially trained operators will check 20 trucks at a time in just a few minutes. Trucks which are declared ‘Green Route’ by customs officials will cross exactly as they do today.

For trucks that the authorities want to check in more detail (Orange Route), Eurotunnel has invested in a new Customs and Sanitary/Phytosanitary control zone at the Coquelles terminal.

Nine inspection bays and 100 parking places are available for French authorities to check goods coming from the UK, without disrupting through traffic.

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Also, Eurotunnel has invested in the construction of a 240-space secure parking zone for trucks heading for the UK, and the construction of new Eurotunnel Customs Support jobs to help drivers get their paperwork in order for the controls.

Eurotunnel said £130bn of goods passes through the Channel Tunnel each year, equivalent to 26% of trade between the UK and the EU.