How will I get from Calais to Paris?

Question

I will be arriving in Calais by Sea France ferry that I have pre-booked and will be travelling from Calais to Paris with SNCF (French rail service) also pre-booked. As this is my first time travelling in France, I would welcome info on what to expect travel wise regarding getting from the Calais Port to Calais Station. Is the train Station close to the port, do I get a taxi etc? Also, as I will be travelling on a tourist visa, how do the customs procedures work at Dover and Calais? I'm trying to figure out how long it will take to get through at Calais.

Basically I have 45 mins to get from Calais Port to Calais station to make the train. I have taken into concideration the time differences between UK & France (france is 1 hr ahead of UK, right)

Answer 1

A free bus service connects the train station in Calais with the ferry port. There are signs prominently displayed directing you.

Passport control is very lax. When I've gone thru Calais after the ferry over I was simply waved thru and no one official seemed even slightly interested in who I was.

Mind you, that was some years ago before Eurostar (which is what I take these days) and before the recent terrorist commotion.

Answer 2

There is a fleet of buses called Karryane waiting for passengers at Calais maritime that carry foot passengers directly to the station free of charge. It should take less than 45 minutes, but you are cutting it a bit fine, especially if the ferry is delayed for any reason or the crossing is rough and will therefore take longer.

Checks at Dover are just a formality though they may be stricter since abuse has taken place and suspected terrorists have left Britain too easily. In Calais if you have a British passport, the checks are very speedy. Any other nationality than EU members  takes a little longer. If you already have a visa then you will be let through promptly but there are queues as you get out of the boat through immigration before you catch the shuttle buses. You are also dependent on the speed that the luggage trolleys on which you have to deposit your luggage in Dover take to come out of the boat on to the quayside for collection, though as a rule they are taken off the ferry before they start unloading cars.

I take it that you have investigated Euro-star that spares you all this hassle and takes you directly from Waterloo to Paris-nord.

I hope this clarifies things for you. Details about Calais shuttle herewith.

http://calais.ports-guides.com/ferry_tra...