As much as we love a good travel story, it seems there’s been a fair bit of confusion in recent coverage regarding our beloved Channel Tunnel and the services that run through it. We’ve noticed that some travel articles (and a few headlines!) have been mixing up LeShuttle, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar—and we thought we’d clear things up to avoid any mix-ups.
Here’s the lowdown:
- LeShuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle until the 2023 rebrand) is our service—the one for cars, lorries, and even campervans. We operate the vehicle-carrying shuttles through the Channel Tunnel. And yes, it’s owned by Getlink, the public company which owns and operates the Channel Tunnel itself. If you’re driving across the Channel, you’re hopping on LeShuttle.
- Eurotunnel doesn’t refer to any specific service but rather to the infrastructure itself: the Channel Tunnel. It’s the amazing feat of engineering that connects the UK and France, not a mode of transport. Also owned by Getlink.
- Eurostar is a completely separate company. They run the passenger trains through the tunnel, using the same tracks as LeShuttle, but catering to folks travelling without vehicles. They’re a customer of Getlink who use Eurotunnel, not part of our operation.
So, to sum it up:
- LeShuttle = the service for vehicles (that’s us).
- Eurotunnel = the tunnel itself.
- Eurostar = the train service for passengers, a separate company entirely.
