Channel crossings

Over from Dover

From this month Dominique’s Villas clients heading to southwest of France can save up to 250 kilometres on their journey by using a new ferry route between Dover and Dieppe run by Louis Dreyfus (LD) Lines.  Starting on 12 February with one daily service in each direction, it has a journey time of 4 hours 15 minutes, ample for a meal and a rest, particularly attractive for those whose journey from home begins outside the south of England.

From the same date LD Lines will bring forward its Dover-Boulogne service, which had been scheduled to start on 1 July. Initially offering two sailings in each direction per day, LD will operate six services daily during the peak summer months. This will provide intense competition for the traditional Dover Straits operators, P&O and SeaFrance, and should result in some reductions in prices, especially in high season.

In Boulogne, LD Lines will use the berth previously allocated to the fast ferry operator, SpeedFerries, which has gone into administration. Last November its only vessel, SpeedOne, was seized in Boulogne harbour because of its failure to meet port duties and taxes. SpeedFerries blamed its demise on increasingly low charges on the short cross-channel routes: its own fares began at £27 for a car and five passengers.

LD is switching the ‘Seven Sister's and the ‘Côte d’Albatre’ from the Newhaven-Dieppe run to become the mainstay of its Dover services. These sister ships, each completed in 2007, offer excellent modern facilities, with room for up to 600 passengers and 300 cars. The number of cars that can be carried on any individual sailing, however, depends on the more profitable demands of freight: the ships can each carry 300 cars or 50 lorries but not both, so early booking is strongly recommended during the peak summer months.

For more information:
www.ldlines.com

From our February 2009 e-newsletter