Stena Line to end popular France-Ireland ferry crossing
Rival operators will continue to serve Cherbourg port as passenger numbers on route increase
It is the only France-Ireland service offered by the company
VanderWolf Images/Shutterstock
A key ferry route between Normandy and the Republic of Ireland will be axed after the summer season, reducing the number of services between the two EU states.
The Stena Line route between Cherbourg (Manche) and Rosslare (County Wexford) currently runs three times per week but will make its final voyage at the end of September.
The decision comes “after an extensive review with the intention of strengthening the company’s investment in the Irish Sea,” according to Stena Line.
Passengers who have booked tickets up until the end of September will still be able to use them. The company added that it will assist anyone who has already booked a ticket for a date after this period.
The route has seen several changes in recent years.
The company cancelled its dedicated passenger service between the ports in October 2024, leaving only a cargo-passenger hybrid in operation.
Between summer 2023 and October 2024, the Stena Vision ship was also assigned to the route, providing up to 12 passenger services per week between the ports.
Ireland-France ferry links remain strong
Stena Line will now focus on routes between the UK and Ireland, particularly from Liverpool and Belfast, where it has invested a cumulative €46 million.
A direct route between Cherbourg and Rosslare will still be served by rival operator Brittany Ferries, which provides five crossings per week.
In addition, Irish Ferries offers a passenger service between Cherbourg and Dublin.
Operators have seen good returns on France-Ireland services, with a 6% increase in passenger numbers in 2024 (carrying 345,000 travellers) and a 2.5% increase in cross-Channel cargo between the Republic of Ireland and France.
Rosslare Europort has seen a 400% increase in traffic in recent years, according to local Irish politicians, largely as a result of Brexit and the requirement to open new routes direct to the EU.
For its part, Cherbourg will see a new daily route to the UK open in winter, connecting the Normandy port city with Poole.
