Eurotunnel cab ride

A rare, if not unique, cab ride on a Eurotunnel Class 9 or Class 9000 loco heading a car shuttle from Coquelles to Folkestone before and after the Channel Tunnel. Includes two great runbys of the near half mile long train.

[@ulysses2162]

Legend says that David is still waiting for him to call back.

[@granetaurore1168]

´l’lmjk

[@jahidk123]

David understands cab discipline.

[@TheMissKittyStar]

😂

[@fatlad5090]

ha

[@dilly2408]

@@jahidk123 ...or no network in the tunnel :)))

[@soundseeker63]

The Le Shuttle locomotives have always been mysterious to me, probably because you see so little of them - they live most of their lives inside the tunnel and are not easily observed from most of the terminal area. That run by shot gave you a good sense of just how long the Shuttle trains really are and how powerful these locos must be to haul those long trains up and down the considerable gradients inside the tunnel at nearly 100mph! Unsung heros of the railway world for sure.

[@video125com]

To get that one runby took tremendous effort and procedure red tape with security checks etc. We were only there to film a Eurostar so filmed that for the archive.

[@reggiewest8975]

Thank the traction motor & wheels & low wheel friction for that much pulling power

[@raymondleggs5508]

They are basically the TGV power car on steroids in a way.

[@vze428s7]

The last British built locomotives, although i heard adtranz helped build these.

[@pata7003]

Used to work on the eurostar, the tunnel is a wonderful piece of engineering and had a great time.

[@tommasomartignago3978]

Are those random beep sounds related to ERTMS?

[@CedricGniewek]

@@tommasomartignago3978 Nope. TVM430.

[@frankdenardo8684]

That and the B.A.R.T. tunnel are pieces of engineering history.

[@KuromixLara]

I've taken that train probably about 300 times. It was wonderful in the late 90s ... you showed up to a desolate terminal, and they found you a train from somewhere. It's a lot busier and more efficiently run these days. The wonder and romance from 25 years ago no longer hangs over the place, but that's 2022 for you!

[@colinrunciman5166]

Correct pal!

[@johnturnbull7798]

The reason the Sangatte Terminal is bigger that the Folkstone Terminal is entirely due to geography. Sangatte is in the Pas De Calais which is a flat plain with plenty of room for a terminal of almost any size. The Folkstone terminal is squeezed in between the downs to the North and Folkstone to the south with ground that falls away to sea level and Romney Marsh. A quick glance at a contour Map shows how difficult it must have been to find a place for the UK terminal unless you moved it up to Ashford.

And to compensate, the british have actually dug more than the french under the channel.

[@karpizan]

I thought it was to accommodate all the illegals camping there

[@briannem.6787]

@@karpizan Bullshit, the government isn't housing people there deliberately. If countries GAVE A SHIT about people they'd have a real home, instead of travelling thousands of kilometres through the worst conditions imaginable just to be given nothing and to live next to a motorway in a tent city. It's a fucking shame.

[@UnitSe7en]

@@briannem.6787 You poor sod to think they're in Calais because they need to be. How many other countries have they come though? No. They are not escaping their home from necessity. They are not just looking for a safe place to live. Maybe if you had to drive trucks past them all while they pelted you with rocks and physically drag drivers from their cabs you'd understand. Get real.

[@aidenteszke9000]

@@karpizan I hope you have to flee your home one day It'd be very funny

[@gigteevee6118]

That tunnel shot at 5:17 is nuts! The sound of the air rush!

[@creativejamieplays7185]

I watched a video on the fans they have at each end. I think the wind rush is more likely from this than the trains.

[@theextreme1]

@@creativejamieplays7185 I have seen a documentary similar to that as well. Although it is definitely from the train. Since the train is travelling at such a high speed when it enters the tunnel it compresses all the air in front of the train and forcing it at high speed down the tunnel similarly as in the video I would recommend looking up the phenomenon it’s very interesting

[@tamar5261]

Like a near death experience 😊

[@the_bottomfragger]

Especially eyes closed it really feels so intense.. impossible to describe

[@BrianSu]

Would be even more intense if it was a Eurostar train as those travel at higher speeds

[@bruno84]

It's interesting looking backwards on things that are nowadays so "normal" and yet absolutely unimaginable a not so long time ago. Something like taking a train from France to the UK... I guess it's only looking backwards that one can appreciate the true magic of the present.

[@ChristopherWoods]

I remember being a kid, ill in bed, when mum dragged their small telly into my room so I could watch the Queen inaugurating the Channel Tunnel. The two trains parked nose to nose, all very excellent. From then I was hooked and the occasional trips to France on the Chunnel were a real treat. Always wondered if I'd ever see a drivers' eye view. And now I have, cheers V125!

[@cockneyb2k]

The sound of a train on the track’s. When I was a child I used to lay there at night when I was meant to be sleeping listening to the trains in the distance. They stopped using the tracks for years but every now and then you would hear the sounds of a train. Idk how but yeah.

[@markylon]

Why did you feel the need to add an apostrophe to track? It's Tracks not Track's always amazes me why people add them to plurals - Egg's Tea's Coffee's, Sandwiche's you don't add apostrophes to plurals.

[@peteasmr2952]

This is exactly the kind of video I have wanted to see since I learned about this Tunnel. Loved seeing the actual journey and how its setup. I didn't know they always entered the same direction. And loved the extra bit that was never intended to be show that was a very cool aspect I didn't even know about.

[@JamesW81]

Putting a coach into one of those carriages was an interesting feat. You have to almost drive off the other side before you start to turn in. The mirrors get very close to the frame and walls of the carriages.

[@senseofthecommonman]

Been there done that, and totally agree.

[@fetchstixRHD]

If you can manage that, I'm very jealous of you as I don't think that could ever be me! Such a tight fit to get in those, it's nuts...

[@nutsnproud6932]

I have driven coaches onto the carriage many times. Yes you have to be careful if you have rabbits ear mirrors. We carried spares in case but you had a second driver to help when you were new to the route. First few times I took a reverse shunt and a second go. Now I just know where to go and hard lock and straight in the carriage. It is tight! Just like reverse shunting the coaches in the yard you get a feel for it with experience.

[@jamesboulton9632]

Went through the tunnel 7yrs ago whilst on holidays .Have a DVD of its construction and it certainly is a incredible engineering piece of work ,loved this video .

[@zalmaflash]

I was amazed at how clean the tunnel was - - but then it is electric. Eye opener.

[@owenbutcher]

This was great, thanks for uploading it. These rare videos are very worth the watch

[@video125com]

Glad you think so!

[@jsma9999]

@@video125com Thank you Very much for this Video.

[@mobiletransportvideo]

Hi Video 125, Maybe your next feature can be an extra’s series and include this.

[@centralscrutinizer6108]

I dunno why but I caught Half Life 2 vibes from those train cars going by. Reminded me of those trains heading into Nova Prospekt. I could just hear that bleak music playing in my mind as the train went by into the tunnel.

[@peterhonig4954]

Stunning footage!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@iiExplosionz12]

Thanks for covering this video! I've been on the Channel Tunnel multiple times by Eurostar and by the Shuttle Locomotives too, it's great to see what this long stretch of tunnel with you providing some background and context in this video

[@Morcaiden]

So good to be able to watch this from the wilds of North America. Excellent job!

[@bettycurry6752]

Thank you for this especially for those of us who may never have the opportunity of travelling the Chunnel…👍💝

[@mr.boobania]

Its traveling very fast, but its so smooth, it doesn't even feel fast.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@trainsoftheworld1]

Great ride! Thanks for sharing this

[@number8485]

Chemin de fer extroadinaire! Amazing footage and incredible engineering.

[@tonymartin9118]

Thank you for a very interesting behind the scenes peek at the Chunnel.

[@andrewthacker114]

Very nice to see. Amazing clip thanks.

[@ianhenson724]

that was brilliant guys and thank you, you do a great job.

[@claudevieaul1465]

I've been on the Eurostar often (I do prefer it over flying to London) and it just never seizes to amaze me.

[@sparklesparklesparkle6318]

I wish the border was as secure as this railway.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Thank you for uploading this. Personally I found the return loop on the UK side the most interesting bit of the video.

[@vasilicastoica6785]

Salutări din România 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🇹🇩🇹🇩

[@richarddx22]

Cool train. I went on this once when I came back from a school trip on a coach.

[@searleflesher6689]

It is intriguing for me I have travelled on the shuttle train 13times it is fun to see what goes on outside the train

[@jakobfromthefence]

Very cool. I had the opportunity to ride in the cabin of a freight train through the Karawankentunnel between Austria and Slovenia (8km)Also have it on camera. That thing is just cut into rock. Very exciting.

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

Absolutely lovely footage! And that run by was as the french say Magnifque!

[@vegfed]

Awesome footage!

[@Marcel-vv2ft]

Man man man, what an amazing speed...i felt asleep, so thanks!

[@gvbalajee]

Awesome train journey

[@DKS225]

Those were some very interesting facts included in this clip thank you for sharing this.

[@video125com]

Glad you found it interesting. Seeing it again after 12 years we also found it interesting and hadn't realised (due to the heavy security) how unique it was. We are even considering doing another 'Tracks' this time TGV Tracks using outtakes from 5 different DEVs (2 Eurostar and 3 TGV).

[@DKS225]

@@video125com I for one would look forward to seeing it if you do decide on making a fourth Tracks title after your last three. The HST one i found the most interesting in fact all three of them.

[@Explorizm]

This was awesome!!!

[@sajjadasvlogger6972]

very beautiful train

[@gregodessite]

Very nice video, I rode there, namely in May 2009. On Eurostar Class 373

[@eurostar3739]

VIDEO 125 I am eternally thankful to you for releasing this !

[@kevinwhiteland904]

I commissioned all of the air conditioning unit on every drivers cab that was interesting at the time kev

[@DrNagi]

Interesting, I do have the Blu-Ray of the mentioned film and had no idea the tunnel section was filmed from a different train!

[@rennaaa6667]

I wish Europe would once again take on huge construction projects such as this one to bring people together.

[@joepatroni8777]

Umm Fehmer tunnel. Denmark Germany?? Longest combined rail and ROAD tunnel in the world.

[@ocaphoenix5347]

Amazing! Thx 4 sharing!

[@kjellesperas5132]

Great video. Thanks alot.

[@transittown7891]

Wow scenic views 😊👍

[@RobRob5656]

beautiful!

[@boweandrew3]

It would be great if the whole Eurostar Run from Brussels to Saint Pancreas was uploaded to This great channel for the whole world to watch especially here in the USA

[@Randallator966]

Or just order the dvd...

[@AndrewTheRadarMan]

That loading guage is insane

[@yvesd_fr1810]

Interesting video. Thank you. These class 9000 engines are beautiful loks. They are very powerfull, having undergone a retrofit to 9000 hp if I am not mistaken. The other side of the coin is the weight, hence their BBB axle setting. Unrelated I am surprised to see that the french signaling system is in use on the other side of the "Manche". I saw the typical HS line panel, plus a few "sectionnement" and "sifflez" signals ! Thanks again for the video !

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

The whole high speed line is signalled with the French High speed rail signalling, all the way to the London terminus. The UK has a rule that the fastest trains can go under conventional British signalling is 125 mph, any faster and trains go too fast for the driver to see the line-side signals. At the time the UK didn't have it's own high speed system and decided to just use the French one for simplicity.

[@domingos123456789]

@@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 Wow. that’s a nice thing to know. Thanks

[@auricstorm]

Something I've wondered is why they don't have a shroud or deflector to smooth the air between the 9k and the cargo cars... One would think that without it there's more drag and turbulence due to the vertical flat surface

[@6058jeremysmith]

Amazing piece of engineering…

[@simonbrown140]

Very interesting :) Im heading on the Eurotunnel on my bike in July, first time using it, I'm looking forward to it :)

[@xnopyt13]

9:30 that looks so cool

[@LaHaSi4208]

Awesome Video! 👍👍👍

[@xhetoomni8134]

It is like taking the BART Bay Area Rapid Transit under the San Francisco Bay.

[@milankanka5329]

Veľmi prekrásne natočené video 😇😇😇😇. Srdečne pozdravujem zo Slovenska 😇😇😇😇🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰.

[@Thomas1980]

Excellent Video............. ................Like & Thumbs Up!👍👍

[@alessandrovisconi1079]

Finally a cabride of the Class 9000

[@johnknight7296]

That was an interesting experience.

[@johnboughton7451]

The film shot within the tunnel reminds me of the THUNDERBIRDS movie where Lady Penelope is held hostage hanging over the tracks of the mono train

[@hobog]

12:42 makes me imagine replacing freeways with these trains... Vehicle throughput would be better than on a freeway if train frequency was maxxed out. Main detractor is fire and etc materials safety, oh, and stops along a route

[@richardmillhousenixon]

@@will123134 Upfront cost, but not cost over time

[@joekauffman9690]

Thanks for uploading this

[@hobog]

4:30 that loading gauge is enormous!

[@mgk920]

One could almost run North American equipment (double-stacked containers, tri-level auto racks and Amtrak Superliners, mplete with 'knuckle' couplers, through it!

[@manuheber9011]

I passed the tunnel four times (2 trips / each way) by "Eurostar" in 1997 & 1998. The tunnel was 3-4 years old (complete construction) after opening.

[@oakwood6922]

A new house? Shift work job?? And there was all of us thinking you were sat watching ITV's 'This Morning' 😉 , instead of slicing up 8mm film for the next installment of UKDC.... 😜😁 (Good luck with the house, keep up the hard work, appreciate your videos and thanks for this weeks! 👍)

[@nickwalters5380]

That's engineering folks. Wonderful.

[@andyclark1426]

Excellent

[@captainchaos3667]

Fascinating!

[@randomtrainfan6501]

My grandfather was one of the many people who built the tunnel

[@user-wp6eh1gi4z]

I worked on the Folkestone site as a Shuttle Bus driver at the start, ferrying the tunnel workers on double decker buses from the on site village, where hundreds of workers lived, down to the "Hole" for a twelve hour shift (6am to 6pm and 6pm to 6am) and back again. It was 24 hours non stop working and a dangerous environment for them. I managed a few months working there before I was burnt out and left. Sadly, some died and a lot got injured. May they RIP

[@TheMisterB2u]

So many block markers(stop signals),when departing Calais !

[@alexnelson9512]

Typically French?

[@LucyCotterell-lc8hs]

I really like the Eurostar train going under the Eurotunnel

[@TrainDriverM]

Very nice video 🙂

[@petes48]

Marvellous, thanks.

[@video125com]

Just one of those things in the archive that we noticed was possibly unique due to impossible access. It makes us realise that we could do a TGV Tracks (all types of TGVs and Eurostars and Thalys from our large archive). Do you think that would be popular?

[@SeanCrabtree]

Yeh it would be

[@troutbhoy1]

I would love to see TGV tracks, the TGV & Eurostar routes are my absolute favourites, I would love to know if you plan to cover anymore of the TGV routes in the future

[@MisatoBestWoman]

*Truly an amazing incredible marvel of human engineering the channel tunnel!*

[@AnitaDil]

Went on one in the 2000s, we were on a coach on our way to Amsterdam. Ironically some people including me felt sick with the motion of the coach, so got off it. Very strange experience, but we got there safely.

[@juviko]

Amazing

[@yflow5337]

Nice train! The best style 70-80 like Delorean from Back To The Future!

[@mgk920]

I'd love to see a live webcam of the French portals!

[@tobytwirl04]

Most interesting..Thank you...

[@ewoodrailway]

Really interesting, I was lucky enough to get a behind the scenes tour in 2003, sadly with the current climate I don't think I'll get another

[@sparklesparklesparkle6318]

If only the UK border were as secure as this railway.

[@holger_p]

How does the climate interfere with tunnel tours ? Do visitors bring to much humidity or what ?

[@ewoodrailway]

@@holger_p yes hot air , it’s popular

[@alaeriia01]

​@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 The problem is that no matter how secure you make the border, wankers like Boris Johnson will somehow still get in.

[@runlarryrun77]

@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 UKIP Gammon alert.

[@stebishopnomad1838]

Very interesting video

[@petermiller9712]

I'm Australian that was a fantastic video how close are those carriages to the tunnel walls wow!

[@ramblingrob4693]

Too close

[@memediatek]

​@@ramblingrob4693you've never seen the tube then

[@five-o5362]

Now, for the question that nobody seems to have asked... why didn't you include the money shot aka cab footage of you entering the tunnel? The cut from 3:47 to 4:44 is odd, to say the least.

[@joeyknight8272]

Im guessing focus issues

[@M_Jaggard]

Yes, that's really annoying

[@epender]

They already made a reply for this (basically things got far too dark so they had to change the lens filter and increase the exposure) "As explained before, we never intended to produce a Channel Tunnel Shuttle Driver's eye view. Therefore we never took any shots of the train. It just so happened that we filmed one entering the tunnel while waiting for a Eurostar we used that. Entering the dark tunnel it just went black until the cameraman opened up the iris and switched out the ND filters so there was nothing to see. Of course there is much more footage inside the tunnel in the film it was made for: Eurostar Brussels to St Pancras."

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

The car carriers made the locomotive look tiny! Those little locomotives have impressive pulling power to move that many carriers.

[@kenbearsley8322]

Great video. I live in New Zealand, heard a lot about the eurotunnel. Great feet of engineering. Just wish we would get a tunnel like that between the north and south islands here in New Zealand (nz). Our government here is useless for things like that. And too many people claim it can't be done.

[@video125com]

Feat? 😂

[@kenbearsley8322]

@@video125com ah, so my spelling aint that good. Ya knew what i ment 😀

[@video125com]

@@kenbearsley8322 You're forgiven.

[@jonathonblacker299]

My understanding of NZ, is soon as you leave the coast, the ocean floor drops by thousands of feet, the Channel is only 207 feet in average.

[@noelht1]

5:45 This is the exact place I hide when I am on a five star wanted level

[@jsma9999]

thank you for this history. Will ever do Extra Cuts of Driver Eye View

[@video125com]

Our TRACKS series is just that. Take a look at our website.

[@ferroviedeltrentino2300]

nice video!

[@chrismcconnell4336]

Just been on Le Shuttle, went googling to see if it was points I went over in the Tunnel as I always thought it was one line in the tunnel. Glad found this video now which clearly showed the points at both ends. Now just need to work out what that first set go to as that wall didn't look moveable.

[@video125com]

The two mid-channel cross overs have massive fire doors that also control the airflow important for ventilation at all times but also if there is a lot of smoke from a fire. The undersea crossovers required the boring/construction of a couple of the largest undersea caverns every built.

[@chrismcconnell4336]

@@video125com Thanks!! Off to see if a video of those caverns exists.

[@ansosboy8687]

Nice video

[@jamestoyn9755]

i do like seeing the catenary hanging from the tunnel roof

[@millomweb]

Pretty much the best place for it ;)

[@LucaZone]

Awesome thanks for sharing. I know the route hasnt changed much since filming, but both DEVs 125 have done are coming into the UK, what about a DEV departing from the UK?

[@video125com]

Not viable due to the sloping windscreen and direction of the sun I am afraid.

[@mancubwwa]

@@video125com how about different time of the day?

[@LucaZone]

@@video125com That's a fascinating insight no one would ever consider! Amazing. Thanks for the response.

[@timosha21]

I'm a train and I approve this video :O !

[@ocsrc]

Look at how well the tracks are maintained and the track beds are maintained We don't have anything even close to this nice in America

[@jkeelsnc]

Of course not because we expect to get everything we feel entitled to from the world without having to pay or sacrifice much for it. Its the "ME ME ME" culture (hits key on piano and sings it). The same holds true for corporations that own the railroads now. Most of it is freight and safety "regulated" by the FRA but nothing to the degree of these european rail systems (or asian). As long as the freight gets through and they don't want to have to share with passenger service money will not be spent that way here. It would take a massive sea change in culture in the US to value, use, BUILD, and maintain such HSR infrastructure and I don't think Americans have enough of a collective mindset to carry it out. It would require a change in culture, thinking, development, and economics that Americans are too selfish to accommodate. A new yacht, TV, car, ridiculous mansions, executive jets, play toys, electronics, clothes, fancy dishes, furniture, executive golden parachutes, political lies and campaign contributions, etc are more important in our "ME ME ME" (plays piano key and sings again) culture.

[@Trainviking]

Wbow, so cool!

[@markbenge7288]

Brilliant, thanks 🇳🇿NZ

[@PaulFisher]

Absolutely cool as hell. Though coming from the United States, a train that is half a mile long is like a little baby compared to a typical freight train here ;)

[@robertsmith3672]

Sure everything is bigger in the US mainly Americans waist line .

[@Pribumi1]

But does they carries passangers?

[@robertsmith3672]

One passenger called trump.

[@user2C47]

@@Pribumi1 Passenger rail in the US is mostly limited to commuter trains within cities. Amtrak does exist, but isn't economical and has few dedicated lines. Freight, however is very common, with the longest trains being about 3 miles long.

[@doct0rnic]

Went through as a kid, my ears couldn't pop the whole time I was in London

[@ocsrc]

Very impressive. I wish America could have high speed rail, but the airlines will never allow it

[@FannyLerouxTime]

Well that and America isn't good at keeping its infrastructure in a good state of repair.

[@jkeelsnc]

Good luck. America doesn't invest in infrastructure on that scale anymore (and hasn't in decades). And where it does it quickly gets out of control, over cost, and over budget in a hurry. Apparently, we don't know what we are doing anymore. We also don't like to spend money on repairs and maintenance either. Unfortunately, we cannot buy a new section of Chinese road at Dollar Tree which is what we really expect.. It costs real money and a lot of people either don't care or are not willing to pay for it anyway even after they whine continuously about falling bridges and giant potholes, etc. If we want to build HSR 1) we will have to rethink our car dependent culture and the way we develop our land and cities for transit not only for long distance travel but also local travel to integrate with long distance HSR 2) We will have to spend multiple 100's of Billions or even Trillions of dollars to connect all of the major cities and 3) because we are clueless morons who like to focus on arguments and "getting-one-over" on the other regarding fantasy tribal god images and ideological foolishness we need to hire someone from OUTSIDE the country who actually knows WHAT THEY ARE DOING like France, Germany, Japan, and probably even China who builds excellent HSR lines at costs far below anyone else in the world. Flag waving and "god bless the USA" nationalism won't change the fact that blind pride won't build HSR lines under budget and on time.

[@ocsrc]

@@jkeelsnc With the fact that every airline has a hub and it is usually nowhere near anything else, and they fly to it instead of the destination you need to go, it typically takes me 2 hours to drive to the airport where the airlines go, then an hour to park and get the shuttle, then 4 hours in TSA, then the delays, usually another 4 hours, 2 hours flying to Atlanta, 6 hour layover, another hour in the air, an hour renting a car, and 2 more hours driving to where I actually need to go. 22 to 24 hours, and I can drive it at the speed limit in 13 hours. Amtrak is even worse, typically 48 hours to get from Penn Station to Savannah Georgia. Half that Time is spent on sidings because the railroads have only 1 track, to save money, and give their trains priority and Amtrak the least priority. CP Rail is the only exception. They give Amtrak priority on their line from Ballston Spa to Plattsburgh. It costs about 400 dollars to fly, 1 way. Amtrak is about the same cost, 1 way. I watch a lot of C-SPAN,2 and 3, and I watched the heads of the airlines tell Congress they would stop flying anywhere a high speed rail line was put in, because they could never compete. Imagine getting on the train in Allentown and 4 hours later getting off in Savannah. If we were China or Japan we would already have it. I don't know what happened to America. If we had to fight WW2 today, we would be defeated in 6 months. It breaks my heart.

[@jkeelsnc]

@@ocsrc it’s all about making money the fastest for the fewest at the lowest possible cost. America is too much of a “me” culture. It is our undoing.

[@biscuit715]

Its insane to me that the Eurotunnel is such a fenced off fortified area. Cross border rail in Europe you don't even notice! One day I hope we'll join Schengen, freedom of movement is so liberating.