The Truck Shuttle business for which time is money, is part of the Eurotunnel’s group core business and establishes the company as the world number-one in piggyback transport.

Truck Shuttle traffic held up well over 2009, coming in higher than could have been expected in view of the consequences of the September 2008 fire and the downturn in economic activity due to the general environment.

Worldwide rail-road transport leader

Since the opening of the service in 1994, Eurotunnel has transported more than 15 million trucks on its Shuttles, a performance which position the group as the world leader for piggy-back transport.

Eurotunnel offers its freight customers unrivalled speed, fluidity, flexibility and reliability for crossing the Channel. The Shuttles dedicated to HGVs can transport up to 30 trucks in semi-enclosed wagons. The drivers do not remain in their vehicles, but travel comfortably in an amenity Club car, which offers catering facilities. The advantages of the service are:

• Its speed: trucks cross the Channel in 90 minutes (on average) from motorway to motorway
• Its fluidity: a Shuttle leaves every 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the volume of traffic, with no need to book
• Its flexibility: reducing or increasing the number of wagons for each Shuttle makes it possible to optimise operating costs without compromising on quality of service
• Its reliability: whether it is windy out at sea or snowing on the motorways, the Channel Tunnel remains operational 24 hours a day, all year round.

Sales teams have established a system for real-time communication with hauliers on the traffic’s status, which allow them to get in advance an accurate information on departure time for the next available Shuttle. The group has also ramped up its commercial approach, organising numerous visits around its facilities for hauliers and major carriers.

Hauliers are also increasingly taking environment concerns into consideration. According to a recent study, crossing with a truck on Eurotunnel Shuttles emits 20 times less CO₂ than on board a ferry. Eurotunnel’s Truck Shuttles, powered by electricity, are sheltered from the risks of sharp rises in hydrocarbon prices and increases in taxes penalising polluters, and do not require the major investments which will be necessary in order to adapt to the tightening up of environmental protection standards.

To find out more information on the Truck Shuttle business, please refer to the 2009 Annual review, and in particular to pages 42 & 43.