LD Lines axe ship on Boulogne Route

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Guest 640
- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 August 2010 16:5365699
#1 report
Was wondering what the ITV crew was doing below my window so have just got the news through that LD Lines are axing the Norman Bridge from the Dover- Boulogne route and there will almost certainly be job losses. The ship will resurface, if thats the appropriate word, on a France -Spain route later in the year. There have been rumblings and murmurings and some doubt now that the route will survive at all.

"There remains huge over capacity on the cross channel route" said Msr Santoni their Managing Director. Sad news.

But of course there was over-capacity on the cross channel route before they started up...the idea initially was that they would carve a niche out for themselves on the neglected Boulogne link. They had and still have much support from the town of Boulogne itself, as I remember, who welcomed the cross channel traffic, as they would.. its very good for business. Lots of UK traffic go that way not so much coming back , other than returnees.

Ive travelled with LD Lines myself on that route using the exciting Norman Arrow...took in Nausicaa with the offspring!
email: dover7@msn.com
Guest 640
- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 August 2010 18:2165710
#2 report
Here is a pic of the ship in question...the Norman Bridge

email: dover7@msn.com
howard mcsweeney1
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 August 2010 18:3465715
#3 report
the people in boulogne will be gutted if the service fails totally, a lot of investment has been made in the infrastrusture of the port and the town.
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
16 August 2010 20:1565745
#4 report
I am very sorry to see this.Later on tonight I am going to do a post on how I see things happing to the port in the years tocome.
Sid Perkins
- Location: Dover
16 August 2010 20:1765747
#5 report
Can't imagine what their market researchers found to convince them this was a good idea. P&O found it to be loss-maker back in the late 1980's early 1990's and axed the route. I'm not aware of significant changes in market demand or demographics to alter that view, so for me, this announcement has always been inevitable.
howard mcsweeney1
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 August 2010 20:2465751
#6 report
i seem to remember someone saying on here that it was a better port link for the french motorways.
Guest 658
- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
16 August 2010 20:4565753
#7 report
Maybe for cars but Calais is straight out the docks and onto the motorway ideal for lorries. Another important factor is that the freight prices are dropping through the floor.
beer the food of the gods
Guest 653
- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
17 August 2010 06:5565804
#8 report
There was a lot of investment on the Boulogne road infrastructure and all types of vehicles can now get out of Boulogne very quickly if they want to.

The Town of Boulogne is lovely, especially the Old Town; it's not too far a drive to Le Touquet
and other lovely French Town and Cities.

I believe it (Nord Pas de Calais and the Towns there) needs more pro-active marketing - letting us know what is there.

On the other side of the coin, giving the French people a good idea of what is here in Dover is also necessary, that's where the Discover Dover leaflet could have been so useful, but there was only me pushing it.
It was/is, a good leaflet, but like everything, it can't be as successful in isolation as it would/could have been, given more support.

Roger
Guest 640
- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
17 August 2010 07:1965808
#9 report
The road links coming out of the Port of Calais are exceptionally good. I dont think they can be faulted on any score, even oul geezers like me can follow it all easily and in moments you are whizzed onto the motorway system which can take you anywhere. Dont think Boulogne has anything like the same level of access, as Guzzler says, but as Roger says there, Boulogne old town is very very attractive as a destination in itself. One could sit there in the many restaurants all day, guzzling french wine al fresco and nibbling plates of frites...aah the simple life. So certainly worth a visit.

But its clear that Boulogne is struggling to ignite as a fast flow port.
email: dover7@msn.com
Guest 651
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
17 August 2010 13:5165885
#10 report
People shouldn't be surprised really, ever since the demise of the Hovercraft (which had the edge with the novelty, and the excellent speed) any new operation has suffered.

Hoverspeed Seacats, Speedferries and now LD lines....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 649
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
17 August 2010 13:5465888
#11 report
I think Paul is right on this one bring back the Hover or sea Ferries and that would help,but what would be the big help even with the ferrys is duty free lets get it back.
Guest 703
- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
17 August 2010 14:3865897
#12 report
Duty free - cheap booze to ruin your liver, cheap fags to ruin your lungs and all those scousers keeping the hovercraft running with endless there and back trips, dodgy deals in the seafront carparks, and shooting each other - such fond memories!
Guest 684
- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
17 August 2010 15:2965904
#13 report
Boulogne will find a way through this blip. It always does. There's been a lot of investment, It's the best town in the area, by far, and is actually nearer than Calais to drive from if you're heading south .
Guest 673
- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
23 August 2010 12:3966909
#14 report
23/08/10

LD LINES ANNOUNCE PASSENGER SERVICE TO CEASE BUT LOOK TO RETAIN FREIGHT ONLY OPTION

LD Lines has announced the ending of its Dover - Boulogne passenger service from 5 September 2010 but confirm they are considering options to continue the link with a freight only service from 6 September 2010 onwards.

The company is currently examining commercial opportunities to operate a reduced frequency, primarily unaccompanied freight only service and expect to make a decision and announcement in due course.
An ongoing review of a possible re-structuring of the service, follows a previous announcement of the transfer of one of its two ships from the Dover - Boulogne route, Norman Bridge, to open a new link between Saint Nazaire (Nantes) in North West France and Gijon in Northern Spain from 7 September.

LD Lines' Managing Director, Christophe Santoni, said :
"Whilst we are disappointed to have to announce the ending of a tourist passenger service between Dover and Boulogne, as the addition of a second ship has not generated the extra traffic volumes we had hoped for, we will continue to explore every option to try and maintain some form of ferry service to Boulogne."
He added : "A return to profitability can only be achieved for the ferry industry by adjusting supply to demand, increasing prices and market consolidation. Whilst there remains huge over capacity on the Dover Strait, we are addressing this issue now by looking to see if such a revamped service is economically sustainable, despite a continually difficult trading climate."

Both Norman Bridge and Norman Trader will remain operating a combined passenger and freight Dover - Boulogne service until 5 September inclusive and all passengers booked up to this date will be unaffected.
Passengers booked to travel after this date will be provided with alternatives, including the company's other routes, and compensated with travel offers for future channel crossings.

LD Lines' three other cross channel ferry routes ; Portsmouth - Le Havre, Newhaven - Dieppe and Ramsgate - Ostend, are all operating normal sailing schedules as advertised.

For more information : www.ldlines.com

Issued 23 August 2010
UK press contact : Nick Stevens - 07768 832899
Guest 673
- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
23 August 2010 13:0366914
#15 report
The background to the above announcement is that carryings on the route have been dire. LD introduced the Norman Bridge but she was initially plagued with technical problems. She had to go away to drydock to have one of her rudders fixed after the bearing at the top of the rudder stock failed. No sooner had she got back than the same thing happened to the other rudder and she had to go away again.

This may have led to a loss of confidence amongst freight companies who require a service to be reliable, and LD were already struggling with a poor image after several other false starts (Norman Spirit coming and going, Cote d'Albatre not fitting in Dover or Boulogne, Norman Arrow not living up to expectations, Dover-Dieppe being closed in short order, Newhaven-Dieppe being reduced to one ship, etc). This may have been the reason why, on introducing the Norman Trader to run in tandem with Norman Bridge on a two ship service to Boulogne, the total carryings were less than those previously carried by Norman Bridge on her own!

Norman Bridge will now operate a new service between Saint Nazaire and Gijon. This is a joint venture with Italian shipowner Grimaldi Lines under the banner GLD Atlantique. It will be subsidised as part of the EU "Motorways of the Sea" project, quote "The service will benefit from a €30 million (US$39.5m) subsidy over a four-year period, as well an additional €4 million grant spread over seven years, from the EU within the framework of its Marco Polo II funding programme for projects that shift freight from roads to sea, rail and inland waterways."
Guest 640
- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
23 August 2010 16:3066929
#16 report
Well done Ed yer a star. Thanks for keeping us up to speed on the changing situation. Very interesting stuff there. Yes what you say is true about reliability and indeed the false starts and the dithering were very bad for image. I suspect the writing is on the wall for the route in general. But its both sad and unfortunate as nobody wins. It all started off with such promise as well, like so many things around here.

The town of Boulogne must be fairly devastated as I think they were holding out for a tourist influx. I bet they have lost considerably.
email: dover7@msn.com
Guest 656
- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
23 August 2010 17:5166934
#17 report
Sad news indeed I love Boulogne, especially the Old Town and of course Nausicaa, so will miss the convenience of just popping over and disembarking right in the centre of town.
howard mcsweeney1
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 August 2010 18:1666938
#18 report
they used to charge 16 quid i think for a foot passenger day trip.

p & o you can get the same but to calais for 3 quid, sometimes just a quid, ok booulogne is a lot nicer but if a family on a limited budget wanted a day out they would have not chosen l.d.lines.
Guest 656
- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
23 August 2010 18:4866940
#19 report
Well Howard, the price varies a great deal depending on what time one is travelling and what day etc. Briony got on line on Thursday to book the P&O ferry for her and five of her Uni friends who came to Dover to stay with us at the weekend. She had an email about the £3 fare but alas no she couldn't get it any cheaper than £20 each to go to Calais on Saturday morning. They went anyway and all had a great time.

They spent Friday night in Dover clubbing it down at Funky Monkey and Sunday up at the Castle and down at the seafront. They had a great time in Dover as all of them said they had only ever passed through it. They all liked it here and will definitely be coming back for more. Hopefully the weather will be kinder next time
howard mcsweeney1
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 August 2010 18:5466943
#20 report
colette
saturday is a no no.
any other time just log on to the stagecoach buses website and book in a matter of seconds for 3 quid.

interesting that the girls from outside had no idea of what we have to offer here.

i understand that the "funky monkey" is a great establishment for all ages and has good security to stop any potential trouble.

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