Key facts
- Queues of up to an hour are reported at the Port of Dover.
- The start of the peak summer season is expected to be the busiest for domestic leisure trips since Covid.
- New EU border controls, the Entry-Exit System (EES), are causing concerns about traffic chaos.
- Software problems with the automated EES facility in France mean manual registration for non-EU travellers at Dover.
- Approximately 7,500 cars are expected at Dover on Friday and 10,000 on Saturday.
- The RAC and Inrix predict severe traffic on the M25 around London.
The Port of Dover is experiencing queues of up to an hour as the peak summer travel season begins, with concerns mounting over potential chaos due to new EU border controls. Thousands of holidaymakers and lorries are expected to converge on Britain's main Channel ferry crossing.
The implementation of the EU's Entry-Exit System (EES), which requires biometric registration for non-EU travellers, is a primary cause for concern. Software issues with the automated facility in France mean that French border police will have to manually register visitors at Dover, a process that is expected to significantly slow down border crossings. Despite the port's investment in an automated facility, it cannot be brought into service due to technology problems in France.
Authorities at the Port of Dover anticipate nearly 40,000 cars this weekend and over 270,000 in the next six weeks. The port has advised holidaymakers to use main roads and arrive no more than two hours before their booked sailing to mitigate delays.
Motoring organisations like the RAC and Inrix predict significant traffic congestion on major routes, particularly the M25 around London, as millions of drivers embark on domestic leisure trips. This surge in domestic travel is partly attributed to concerns over flight cancellations, higher air fares, and potential EU border delays, leading many to opt for staycations.
Eurotunnel, operator of the Channel tunnel, stated it does not anticipate similar delays as it will not be registering biometric information from its car passengers this summer, despite also having invested in automated processing kiosks that are not yet operational.
Ryanair has warned that UK passengers could be subjected to 'testing ground for unfinished border infrastructure' and advised customers to prepare for long queues at popular holiday airports.