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added my experience of crossing
The '''Channel Tunnel''' is the tunnel that connects [[France]] with [[England]] going beneath the English Channel.
As of 2011 there have been reports of the eurotunnel company refusing people who are identified as hitchhikers by the drivers. '''Tell your driver to not mention that you're hitchhiking'''.
== Direction [[France]], ([[Calais]]) ==
The entrance of the tunnel is directly situated along the M20 at exit 11a just North of [[Folkestone]]. It can also be accessed by the A20 (Ashford Road) which join the M20 at exit 11 and exit 12. This would the solution if you wish to join the tunnel by foot.
Bear in mind that even if some people might seem resistant to the idea of helping someone to cross the Channel into [[France]], many others won't be stressed with that idea, which is not exactly the case on the reverse journey. The crossing into the tunnel is paid per car, so a hitch-hiker does not incur any extra cost to the driver. The check-in is mostly electronic, so the driver doesn't need to speak with any ticket collectors or such who might conceivably ask questions re: about hitch-hikers.
There are many possibilities to try, what worked for me best was the last petrol station just before the port. It is just next to a traffic light and everybody comes pass here and might have to slow down or even wait for a minute at the traffic light...
:I stood just next to the street, a few meters from the traffic light and the road going left away. I had a sign (a4 )stating "Ferry?". I had once to wait around 30 min and once just 5 min, in order to get a lift on the ferry, over the channel. Normally, people pay for whole cars, so it does not matter when they are more then stated on their booked ticket (the amount on their is more for safety reasons). If you are once on the ferry, you can try and ask around in order to find somebody who goes in the direction you want to travel on. Good luck with that! I have not succeeded in this, yet... If you know good strategies, please let me know about them. If you have to hitchhike on in Calais, check out the Calais entry here.
The crossing takes about 40 minutes, once in the train it is possible to simply walk along the carriage to other cars and spot a car that might go direct to your direction and simply ask the drivers. Then you can catch a ride further into [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], the [[Netherlands]] just by swapping cars. Just avoid the security guards..best to wait until they've done their checks. Drivers are completely surprised when you approach them, be friendly and they can't have many excuses.
==== Hitching to ====
[[Maidstone Services]] is the only services a good service station located along the M20, at exit 8, it however, there is most likely also a large service station just before the spot to reach when hitching towards exit for the M20tunnel, called "Stop 24", at J11.[[User: Theinefficienthitchhiker| Theinefficenthitchhiker]] had success here twice with people going across the channel. From there, If you can show get a sign or ask van/ truck going across you avoid most of the peopleproblems concerning cars taking hitchhikers across as well. Remind them that the Tunnel crossing is paid per car.
At the tunnel entrance directly, of course logic would show that if you try to hitch at the booth itself it is more likely that they will boot you out of there. So keep discrete discreet and away of any of this potential trouble. The best spot seems to be at the exit 11a, coming from the Ashford Road on-ramp and standing along the road just before being beneath the viaduct. There is a wide shoulder and with a sign, you can be seen by the cars coming from the highway motorway and they can pull aside if they wish.
Of course, it might end up being a jeopardy and what works quickly for some might not for others. Belgians seems more keen on picking people over the tunnel, so if you show a big sign marked 'B' you might get more lucky than simply ''Calais''.
===== Outside the Tunnel =====
Upon arrival in [[France]] while leaving the tunnel, there is a Shell petrol station located right at the exit before cars reach the motorway. This place could be the right place to find another ride further if you didn't manage to find the right one inside the train, though it can be a bit complicated in some cases because few cars stop here (there is only traffic of the Eurotunnel personnel and the cars leaving the Eurotunnel) and it can be quite complicated if you are going in the direction of Belgium for example.
== Direction [[England]], ([[Folkestone]]) ==
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