"Seafrance to quit taking foot passengers" say Dover Express.
- 24 September 2009 09:5429322I saw this item in the Dover Express today and was surprised and more than a tad horrified. Almost all my journeys over to France are as a foot passenger on those lovely clean Seafrance ferries...so what now, am I to be abandoned? Is my money no good? I do go further afield at times, but often for a short couple of days out.. you can have a great jolly time as a foot passenger, its relatively hassle free if you dont take much luggage. Yes its all footloose and fancy free!
But in all seriousness I did often wonder how it pays for them to do it. The foot passenger market is small and getting smaller and the costs I would imagine are barely covered if at all. Coaches are needed, drivers are needed, terminal staff are needed, further staff are needed to check this and that ...however shouldnt it be part of the core service offered by any company? to carry the humble foot passenger?
But Seafrance are seeking to shed 550 jobs says Terry Sutton. So there we are. A much loved service is about to be axed.
That old maxim kicks in again, use it or lose it. it applies to everything even Doverforum...heavens!
Picture shows Seafrance being dive bomber by an aggrieved foot passenger!!
email: dover7@msn.com - 24 September 2009 11:0929326my understanding is that they will still take block bookings for foot passengers.
no idea how many constitute a block booking though. - 24 September 2009 11:5829329Well even if thats true Howard re the block bookings, it still in effect rules out completely the casual foot passenger which in effect is almost everybody. The great advantage of the foot passenger system is that you can virtually just turn up and go at fairly low cost. On some sailings though there could be just a very few foot passengers...hence the problem.
LD Lines, the new service to Boulogne, only take foot passengers as I understand it twice daily. Once both ways. So the foot passenger is limited in choice but maybe it pays off for the company finance-wise.email: dover7@msn.com - 24 September 2009 12:1829331I use to go over every week, that would be a big loss to me
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 September 2009 15:4729337another nail in the coffin for sure.thats leaves p and o to carry on,i wander how much longer they will foot passengers. - 24 September 2009 16:4929343This could work two ways Brian...either P & O could make it pay by picking up the Seafrance foot passenger traffic overflow, or it could be the thin end of the wedge and P&O will do the same thing and cancel it as a dead loss.
However even if they do carry on, there will be only one operator doing it and they would have a monopoly and could increase fares at will. No matter how you look at it...well its not good news for the occasional or accidental traveller.
email: dover7@msn.com - 24 September 2009 17:0729344i think that the former is correct, p and o will benefit by picking up the sea france passengers.
the coaches that run from the terminal to the ship are usually full, three quarters empty when it is a sea france ferry.
don't forget p and o were charging 2 quid return through august and september for foot passengers so they must be making enough from the shops and bars. - 25 September 2009 07:1029363I mentioned SeaFrance not taking foot-passengers, apart from large groups, in my posting on the 18th. of September at 07.30, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise to read it in the paper.
Roger - 25 September 2009 07:4229367Gosh I missed that one Roger - what thread was that in?? or was it one of your mailings.
Just to add this bit - the report in the paper said it was an "Exclusive by Terry Sutton"email: dover7@msn.com - 25 September 2009 10:3729379On the Calais Harbour Development thread, Paul.
Terry was there (at the Port Consultative Committee meeting at the Ark on the 16th. of September), as Dover Society representative, not as a Dover Express reporter; Yam was there as the Dover Express reporter.
Roger - 25 September 2009 11:0429384Shame, we will certainly miss the foot passenger service on Seafrance. We use it quite frequently for a hassle free day out, have a nice meal, a walk along the beautiful Calais sandy beach and perhaps purchase some nice cheese, wine and maybe some fine chocolates. At £6 return, it was a bargain, P&O is £9 return.
- 28 September 2009 19:3029480For footies, always try:
http://www.poferries.com/dailymail OR
http://www.poferries.com/thesun
One of other is likely to be running for £1 or so....Been nice knowing you :) - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
28 September 2009 19:4629481allso notised that seafrance have revised there sailing scheduel. - 28 September 2009 21:0329484read paul's post(no.12) i have rarely paid more than 2 quid for a return footie to calais with peninsula and oriental.
just quote a promotion reference book online and hey presto.
i remember once even getting a free bottle of wine with my 1 pound fare from them.
