LD LINES given go ahead for new Dover-Boulogne Service.
- 6 October 2008 08:517047**** Press Release info:
NEWS RELEASE 6th October 2008 ........
LD LINES GRANTED PORT APPROVAL FOR NEW DOVER - BOULOGNE SERVICE IN 2009.
LD Lines has received full approval from the Port of Dover for the introduction of its new Dover - Boulogne freight and passenger service in 2009.
Scheduled to start from 1st July 2009, the new service will provide four return sailings daily with a crossing time of one hour 45 minutes and proposed sailing schedule of ;
(Local times):
Dep. Boulogne Arr. Dover Dep. Dover Arr. Boulogne
05.00 05.45 06.45 09.30
10.30 11.15 12.15 15.00
16.00 16.45 17.45 20.30
21.30 22.15 23.15 03.00
Freight and tourist traffic, including coaches, cars and additionally foot passengers will be carried. The vessel "Norman Spirit", which currently operates on LD Lines' Portsmouth - Le Havre service, will be replaced on the Western Channel and is then expected to be transferred to operate the new Dover - Boulogne route.
The ship has capacity for 1850 passengers, 700 cars and 110 freight vehicles.
"We are delighted to have now received confirmation from the Port of Dover that our new Dover - Boulogne route has official approval and we look forward to a very positive, long-term working relationship with the Port Authority, " says LD Lines' Directeur Général, Christophe Santoni.
"Our entry into the highly competitive short sea cross channel ferry business is a major development for LD Lines. We are convinced that the service will undoubtedly attract new freight and tourist customers, which will benefit both Dover and Boulogne as departure and destination ports."
In the first year of operation the company expects to carry in the region of 120,000 freight vehicles, 133,000 cars and 400,000 passengers.
Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, Port of Dover said, "The Port of Dover welcomes the additional capacity at a time when it is planning a second ferry terminal to meet forecasts in traffic growth."
Fares and reservation information for tourist passengers will be published in due course - visit : www.ldlines.comemail: dover7@msn.com - 6 October 2008 09:007048THis is very exciting news. A new large ferry capable of carrying quite a payload whisking us all to Boulogne. I feel sure there is a huge untapped market for Boulogne and many people will feel as Bob Goldfield does and will be glad to see this service.email: dover7@msn.com
- 6 October 2008 10:127050I see a forumites fun day in Boulogne fast approaching.
Boulogne council have spent thousands in an attempt to woo back visitors to their town.Lets hope the above proposal comes to fruition.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 6 October 2008 10:467051Great news, as I have said before on here and I'll say it again I love Boulogne
so I will be using this service for sure and a forumites fun day Marek sounds just the ticket - 6 October 2008 12:257058This is another positive move forward which should fill the void caused by the loss of the Hovercraft traffic which of course was quite a long time ago now.
- 6 October 2008 17:527076Really good news on that so glad to see the service to Boulogne come back
- 6 October 2008 17:597078i thought that they were going to operate to calais.
i am very surprised that a vessel that can take so many vehicles would be able to use boulogne. - 6 October 2008 18:397082I would think a lot of people would already have seen this vessel. She was built in 1991 and was first named the Prins Philip operating between Dover and Ostend, she was thwensold to Stena and operated between Dover and Calais.
She was subsequently acquired by P & O and renamed the Pride of Aquitaine.
Incidentally she can indeed carry 700 cars Howard. - 6 October 2008 18:397083I would think a lot of people would already have seen this vessel. She was built in 1991 and was first named the Prins Philip operating between Dover and Ostend, she was thwensold to Stena and operated between Dover and Calais.
She was subsequently acquired by P & O and renamed the Pride of Aquitaine.
Incidentally she can indeed carry 700 cars Howard. - 6 October 2008 18:417084Sorry about the double posting, seems to be a bit slow tonight, thought it hadn't posted.
- 6 October 2008 18:437085Have now added a picture of the vessel to the top post, so as you can see its a substantial ship and could really spark some serious life back into the 'Trip to Boulogne' market. It is well known that for some long time now Boulogne has been economically saddened at the loss of the connection to Dover...so were keen to see something like this happen.email: dover7@msn.com
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
6 October 2008 20:347101all we need know is for someone to open the ostend and zeebruge routes so we can have a full house again. - Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
6 October 2008 22:177119If only...
Would love to see the Ostend route open again"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi - 7 October 2008 08:067144One thing Im wondering about..wasnt there some talk of this ship operating from the Western Docks or am I going dullaly here. I seem to remember some talk of this. It would be good if this could happen as it would bring much needed life to that end of the harbour.
The other end, the Eastern Docks, are obviously very busy and look very stretched as it is...so how its all going to fit into place is, I would imagine, a slight problem. But clearly they will have looked at all this before giving the service the thumbsup. But has anyone else heard that they may operate from the Western Docks??email: dover7@msn.com - 7 October 2008 12:347154Referring to Howard's earlier query regarding the feasibility of such a large ship going into Boulogne: the port of Boulogne is building a major new ro-ro berth and port hub served by road and rail, alongside the fishing docks and the old chemical works near the existing ferry port.
Hope that clears it up. - 7 October 2008 12:387156Boulogne's the place! Always has been far classier and superior to Calais and these days it's positively buzzing with civic pride, life and initiative again.
Hey, even their football club are top of the French Second Division, unbeaten and pushing hard for a place in the top flight.
Allez Douvres, Allez Boulogne! - 7 October 2008 13:587158"But has anyone else heard that they may operate from the Western Docks??"
There are no suitable ro-ro berths in the Western Docks (well not until the new docks are built there!)Been nice knowing you :) - 7 October 2008 14:117159Berth 2 or 3, Dover Eastern Docks. It's a done deal.
Don't panic everyone, it's good news for a change! - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 October 2008 14:377160boulogne nice little port but i find it a bit more expencive than calias but saying france is getting dearer by the day compared to its niegboring countrys. - 7 October 2008 15:507162Thanks for that berthing clarification chaps..must have got the wrong end of the stick. While we speak of Boulogne this is it yesterday as seen from Boland Towers. Shure..ahem..I could swim that..and twice on thursdays!!
Seriously though am looking forward to the arrival of LD Lines. Great boost and as we can see from the posts above Boulogne is a popular place.email: dover7@msn.com
