Eurotunnel fire leads to increased ferry service demand

English Channel ferry companies are increasing services to meet the demands of traffic across the Channel following the fire last week that has greatly restricted Eurotunnel capacity.

The brunt of the diverted traffic is being borne by the docks, where truckers are queued waiting to cross into France. As truck traffic and many rail passengers are looking to the ferries to make the crossing, they’re finding that many of the ferries departing Dover are full.

SeaFrance announced on Wednesday that it increased capacity to accommodate passengers affected by the Eurotunnel service reductions.

Just after the fire, the French operator of the Dover-Calais ferry increased the number of sailings it offered and also organised additional bus service to handle the Eurostar passengers who were being diverted via Calais.

The operator has said that it is getting ready for another busy weekend, and that it will have “ample space” to handle the increased passenger volume.

The SeaFrance Managing Director, Robin Wilkins, said: “Our booking systems and operations are coping well with the current surge in volumes of people travelling via the port. We have increased our space to cope with current demand, and have spare capacity available to meet any further increases this weekend and in the coming months, if necessary.”

Wilkins added: “Added to the Channel Tunnel situation, the recent turmoil in the travel industry has led people to book directly with operators, rather than go via third party agents whose stability may be in question. Our booking systems are robust and coping well with the current increased levels of demand.”

www.eurotunnel.com