Driving from UK to Switzerland between 18-20th December?

Sapin · #1 06.12.2011, 22:28

Is anyone here planning on driving from UK to Switzerland any time between the 18th and 20th December?
I have a flight booked, but past experiences of flying in winter make me feel nervous that I won't be back when I need to be back.
If anyone is doing that trip, and wouldn't mind being a back-up plan incase of cancellations, then please get in touch. I would of course be happy to share fuel costs et cetera.

TonyBhoy · #2 07.12.2011, 00:31

i would collect you in dover for 500.-

Tom1234 · #3 07.12.2011, 08:57

	Quote:	Sapin
	Is anyone here planning on driving from UK to Switzerland any time between the 18th and 20th December? I have a flight booked, but past experiences of flying in winter make me feel nervous that I won't be back when I need to be back. If anyone is doing that trip, and wouldn't mind being a back-up plan incase of cancellations, then please get in touch. I would of course be happy to share fuel costs et cetera.

Some family of ours were going to fly over for Christmas a few years ago,

They got to the airport (London City) and were told all the flights were cancelled.

They asked my advice and I told them to get the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV to Zurich (two trains in total).

They got here only a couple of hours later than if they had flown.

If you want a back-up plan for flying in case of bad weather then I would suggest the train and not the road.

tom tulpe · #4 07.12.2011, 09:24

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Some family of ours were going to fly over for Christmas a few years ago, They got to the airport (London City) and were told all the flights were cancelled. They asked my advice and I told them to get the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV to Zurich (two trains in total). They got here only a couple of hours later than if they had flown. If you want a back-up plan for flying in case of bad weather then I would suggest the train and not the road.

To be fail in case of snow, Eurostar has a certain history of going t!ts up as well. Something to do with the design of the motor cars, they're more likely to pack up than other French, German, Swiss, or even UK, trainsets in dry and cold conditions when there's snow.

Tom1234 · #5 07.12.2011, 09:55

	Quote:	tom tulpe
	To be fail in case of snow, Eurostar has a certain history of going t!ts up as well. Something to do with the design of the motor cars, they're more likely to pack up than other French, German, Swiss, or even UK, trainsets in dry and cold conditions when there's snow.

Fair enough but the most common cause of flight delays at this time of year, in my experience, is heavy fog. This stops planes, makes driving unpleasant but does not affect trains as much (do they slow down?)

gourmet · #6 07.12.2011, 10:10

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Fair enough but the most common cause of flight delays at this time of year, in my experience, is heavy fog. This stops planes, makes driving unpleasant but does not affect trains as much (do they slow down?)

in UK? Definitely, any excuse!

tom tulpe · #7 07.12.2011, 10:36

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Fair enough but the most common cause of flight delays at this time of year, in my experience, is heavy fog. This stops planes, makes driving unpleasant but does not affect trains as much (do they slow down?)

Not Eurostar on high-speed lines, they have in-cab signalling. On traditional lines without in-cab signalling, trains slow down to a speed where they can see the signals properly. Still not as much as cars, because as long as you obey the signals, the risk of running into a train ahead of you on the line is pretty small, fog or not.