Eurotunnel to buy old SeaFrance ferries

Three ferries that ceased operating when SeaFrance went bust are set to sail again after a deal with Eurotunnel.

The Channel Tunnel operator is to buy the trio of vessels for €65 million (£52.4 million) and will the lease them back to a co-operative of former 560 SeaFrance employees, who will resume sailings of the ferries from Dover to Calais.

No date has yet been set for the resumption of services, but the Berlioz, Rodin and Nord Pas de Calais will be able to offer cheap berths for coaches, something Eurotunnel cannot do with its Eurostar rail service.

It will mean ferry passengers can enjoy more choice when it comes to cross-channel services, not least as LD Lines and DFDS launched a joint operation on the Dover to Calais route in the wake of SeaFrance's bankruptcy in January this year.

A survey by Sainsbury's Travel Money recently found that tourists are increasingly seeking ways to cut down on costs due to the rising expense of flying.

It found 12 per cent will now avoid flying altogether, some of whom will use ferries to get overseas.

Posted by Andrew Smith

Folkestone - Calais

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on: 30/07/2013 - 31/07/2013

£46

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Folkestone - Calais

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on: 03/07/2013 - 04/07/2013

£46

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