The Front Page. - Copy 231 (Siberian Blast, Platform 1, DFDS/LDLines new service announcement, Olympic preparartions)
1 February 2012
PS:See more great pictures from our forumites on several threads in our Forum. Dont miss 'em.
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The new Dover-Calais route will start operation as from the 17 February.
Two ships flying the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait.
This statement just in...
As previously stated, DFDS and our partner LD Lines have been very committed to establishing a new joint passenger and freight ferry service between Dover and Calais.
We are very pleased to announce that we will start our new service on 17 February 2012. Initially we will operate the route with the NORMAN SPIRIT, which is flying the French flag. A further ferry under the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait as soon as we can be ready with a suitable ship.
As we have also previously announced, we will hire 300 staff at sea and ashore in addition to those we already employ. The process of hiring people, many of these being former SeaFrance staff, has already started.
DFDS and LDA are grateful for the support which we have received from the French Government, Chamber of Commerce, the local authorities and the ports, whose support have been important factors in being able to start already on 17 February. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation to the benefit of the future development of the route as well as employment.
We are confident that our customers and the many people and freight companies that travel between France and Dover will benefit from the flexibility we can now offer with both a northern leg on Dover-Dunkerque and a southern leg on Calais- Dover.
We therefore look very much forward to being able to welcome passengers as well as freight customers to our new Calais- Dover service, and, in cooperation with our new employees as well as our staff in Dover and Dunkerque, we look forward to providing an attractive and efficient customers service and a sustainable workplace.
Picture shows the ferry Norman Spirit with her new colours in Dover, pic taken recently.
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Deal rail service users will soon benefit from enhanced facilities with the introduction of a new café located within the station’s main buildings on the London-bound platform.
Operating under the trading name of Platform 1 the café will be offering an added value service for new and existing high speed and standard train customers. Creating and investing in this new business are Deal resident and journalist Andy Stevens and his brother Nick Stevens, who runs his own locally based travel, tourism and transport PR consultancy.
Commenting on the venture they said: “We’ve identified what we regard as an excellent investment opportunity which can play a significant role in increasing train passenger numbers via Deal, using the early morning high speed services for London-bound commuters and standard train passenger services. A further major incentive to provide this facility for Deal train users is that there is no on-board catering service on high speed trains while on standard trains a trolley service is only available from Ashford.
“Serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and selection of newspapers, Platform 1 will initially open Monday to Friday from 05.30am to 5.30pm, on Saturdays from 08.00am to 5.30pm and subject to demand we may extend opening periods in the future.” They added: “We are excited and confident in this new project and delighted to be contributing to the current business boom Deal is experiencing. It is recognised as an increasingly popular town to visit and reside in, with many new investors purchasing second or main home properties, linked to the added attraction of fast train services to and from the capital.
“We look forward to working together with the Trains4Deal group in their campaign to get additional high speed services introduced and the franchise extended, along with Deal’s growing number of independent traders and organisations such as Deal & Walmer Chamber of Trade, to help build Deal’s economy and attract continued investment.”
Opening in early Spring 2012, the Platform 1 café service is expected initially to create up to eight new jobs and is due to be transformed by Deal-based company Morgan Construction, who are well established in refurbishing many Deal town centre commercial premises and local residential properties.
Picture shows local PR guru Nick Stevens left with brother and local editor Andy Stevens enjoying a large cuppa under the Platform 1 banner at Deal Station. Good to see a new positive venture. Very best of luck to the guys!
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Dover Event to be Ticketed...?
A warm welcome is being prepared as Dover District Council continues to work with the local community and a range of agencies and partners to get ready for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. This follows exciting news that the Olympic Torch Relay is coming to Dover for a major Evening Celebration on Dover Seafront on Wednesday 18 July, as well as the Relay going to Deal, Sholden and Sandwich on Thursday 19 July.
Dover District Council has been pleased to work with Dover Town Council to make preparations for events in the town. This has included representatives attending a special meeting organised by Dover Town Council very recently.
Dover Seafront is one of 66 locations hosting an Evening Celebration as the Olympic Flame makes its way around the UK. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the three Olympic Torch Presenting Partners are staging the exciting entertainment shows. The celebrations will be free of charge, and will include a range of events involving the community.
As preparations continue for the Evening Celebration on Dover Seafront, DDC has confirmed it is looking to ticket this event, to ensure local people have priority to attend, and in anticipation of the large number of people expected. Tickets would be free and weighted to Dover District residents. Full details of any ticketing arrangements are currently being finalised, and further announcements will be made over the next month.
Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: “This is a great opportunity for people in the area to get involved in celebrations as the Olympic Flame comes to Dover District, and we continue to work closely with the community and partners to prepare a warm welcome. We have been pleased with Dover Town Council’s initiative of consulting with businesses and community groups to ensure an opportunity for all local people to participate in these events.”
Full details of the Evening Celebration are currently being finalised. More information will be available through www.london2012.com or for more information on celebrations being organised around the district, please see the DDC website at www.dover.go.uk or for more information on how you can get involved, please call DDC on 01304 872338.
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A Siberian Blast hits Dover.....
SNOW:
They promised it was coming and come it did. Heavy snow fell across the district over the weekend, trapping motorists in their cars. Many cars now abandoned. Vehicles generally could not negotiate the sideroads so were unusable, as the snow had drifted into deep piles in the strong winds. The main roads were well gritted and snow-ploughed every night, so some success there...but as ever the sideroads were a non-negotiable hazard. However as we can see from the picture above taken sunday afternoon...the ducks in Pencester carried on regardless, smug in the knowledge that it really was....weather for ducks! PB.PS:See more great pictures from our forumites on several threads in our Forum. Dont miss 'em.
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DFDS/LD Lines ready to start new Calais-Dover route
The new Dover-Calais route will start operation as from the 17 February.
Two ships flying the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait.
This statement just in...
As previously stated, DFDS and our partner LD Lines have been very committed to establishing a new joint passenger and freight ferry service between Dover and Calais.
We are very pleased to announce that we will start our new service on 17 February 2012. Initially we will operate the route with the NORMAN SPIRIT, which is flying the French flag. A further ferry under the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait as soon as we can be ready with a suitable ship. As we have also previously announced, we will hire 300 staff at sea and ashore in addition to those we already employ. The process of hiring people, many of these being former SeaFrance staff, has already started.
DFDS and LDA are grateful for the support which we have received from the French Government, Chamber of Commerce, the local authorities and the ports, whose support have been important factors in being able to start already on 17 February. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation to the benefit of the future development of the route as well as employment.
We are confident that our customers and the many people and freight companies that travel between France and Dover will benefit from the flexibility we can now offer with both a northern leg on Dover-Dunkerque and a southern leg on Calais- Dover.
We therefore look very much forward to being able to welcome passengers as well as freight customers to our new Calais- Dover service, and, in cooperation with our new employees as well as our staff in Dover and Dunkerque, we look forward to providing an attractive and efficient customers service and a sustainable workplace.
Picture shows the ferry Norman Spirit with her new colours in Dover, pic taken recently.
*******************************************************************************************************
MAJOR BOOST FOR DEAL RAIL SERVICE USERS
Deal rail service users will soon benefit from enhanced facilities with the introduction of a new café located within the station’s main buildings on the London-bound platform.
Operating under the trading name of Platform 1 the café will be offering an added value service for new and existing high speed and standard train customers. Creating and investing in this new business are Deal resident and journalist Andy Stevens and his brother Nick Stevens, who runs his own locally based travel, tourism and transport PR consultancy.
Commenting on the venture they said: “We’ve identified what we regard as an excellent investment opportunity which can play a significant role in increasing train passenger numbers via Deal, using the early morning high speed services for London-bound commuters and standard train passenger services. A further major incentive to provide this facility for Deal train users is that there is no on-board catering service on high speed trains while on standard trains a trolley service is only available from Ashford.
“Serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and selection of newspapers, Platform 1 will initially open Monday to Friday from 05.30am to 5.30pm, on Saturdays from 08.00am to 5.30pm and subject to demand we may extend opening periods in the future.” They added: “We are excited and confident in this new project and delighted to be contributing to the current business boom Deal is experiencing. It is recognised as an increasingly popular town to visit and reside in, with many new investors purchasing second or main home properties, linked to the added attraction of fast train services to and from the capital.
“We look forward to working together with the Trains4Deal group in their campaign to get additional high speed services introduced and the franchise extended, along with Deal’s growing number of independent traders and organisations such as Deal & Walmer Chamber of Trade, to help build Deal’s economy and attract continued investment.”
Opening in early Spring 2012, the Platform 1 café service is expected initially to create up to eight new jobs and is due to be transformed by Deal-based company Morgan Construction, who are well established in refurbishing many Deal town centre commercial premises and local residential properties.
Picture shows local PR guru Nick Stevens left with brother and local editor Andy Stevens enjoying a large cuppa under the Platform 1 banner at Deal Station. Good to see a new positive venture. Very best of luck to the guys!
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PREPARING A WELCOME FOR THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY AND EVENING CELEBRATION
Dover Event to be Ticketed...?
DTC gets a thumbsup from DDC....
A warm welcome is being prepared as Dover District Council continues to work with the local community and a range of agencies and partners to get ready for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. This follows exciting news that the Olympic Torch Relay is coming to Dover for a major Evening Celebration on Dover Seafront on Wednesday 18 July, as well as the Relay going to Deal, Sholden and Sandwich on Thursday 19 July.
Dover District Council has been pleased to work with Dover Town Council to make preparations for events in the town. This has included representatives attending a special meeting organised by Dover Town Council very recently.
Dover Seafront is one of 66 locations hosting an Evening Celebration as the Olympic Flame makes its way around the UK. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the three Olympic Torch Presenting Partners are staging the exciting entertainment shows. The celebrations will be free of charge, and will include a range of events involving the community.
As preparations continue for the Evening Celebration on Dover Seafront, DDC has confirmed it is looking to ticket this event, to ensure local people have priority to attend, and in anticipation of the large number of people expected. Tickets would be free and weighted to Dover District residents. Full details of any ticketing arrangements are currently being finalised, and further announcements will be made over the next month.Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: “This is a great opportunity for people in the area to get involved in celebrations as the Olympic Flame comes to Dover District, and we continue to work closely with the community and partners to prepare a warm welcome. We have been pleased with Dover Town Council’s initiative of consulting with businesses and community groups to ensure an opportunity for all local people to participate in these events.”
Full details of the Evening Celebration are currently being finalised. More information will be available through www.london2012.com or for more information on celebrations being organised around the district, please see the DDC website at www.dover.go.uk or for more information on how you can get involved, please call DDC on 01304 872338.
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Previous features can now be found in All Recent Features...see menu left.