The Port of Dover says it has done everything possible to prepare for the summer travel rush, even as a £40 million processing facility for the EU's Entry Exit System remains idle because the necessary technology has not been activated. The system was fully rolled out in April 2026, yet the dedicated car-passenger building cannot yet be used.
Outbound traffic is expected to climb from roughly 7,500 cars on July 17 to nearly 10,000 the following day, peaking at about 10,500 on July 24 and 25. The port declared a critical incident during the May half-term when waits reached four-and-a-half hours.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met her French counterpart Phillippe Tabarot to urge a pragmatic approach to border checks. Meanwhile, the Department for Transport announced £20 million in new funding on July 13 to upgrade Kent infrastructure and ease congestion.