LD Lines’ Dover – Dieppe ferry axed

FERRY company LD Lines is ending its Dover to Dieppe service today because it is under used.

A spokesman for the company said that the service, launched in February, had not generated enough volume both in passengers and, particularly, in freight to make it viable.

He said: “The decision was purely for commercial reasons. It is disappointing because we thought that it would appeal to hauliers and tourists by cutting the journey times to western France.”

The conventional ferry Côte d'Albâtre (pictured) was being used for a return trip once a day, as well as two return trips from Dover to Boulogne. The Boulogne service will continue, as will the recently-launched four return trips a day on the fast ferry Norman Arrow.

The spokesman added: “Dover to Boulogne is a shorter crossing – just one hour on the fast ferry and an hour and forty five minutes on the other, while it was four and a quarter hours Dover to Dieppe and Boulogne is a popular short break destination. The ferries to Boulogne have been running very well, particularly since the launch of the fast ferry. It’s a different market.”

Photo: LD Lines