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Newhaven doubles number of passengers
Newhaven is bucking the trend of dwindling sea passengers as the number of people passing through the port almost doubled in two years.
Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that the port handled 329,000 passengers last year - up 97% on the 167,000 who used the route two years earlier.
Nationally over the past ten years, sea passenger numbers have dropped from 36 million to 23 million and in 2005 Newhaven suffered its worst 12 months in the past ten years.
But the port enjoyed the third largest increase in actual passengers from 2006 to 2007, behind only Holyhead and Dover.
James Howe Davies, marketing director of Transmanche Ferries UK, said improved reliability in its ferries along with port improvements have been central to the increasing passenger numbers.
He said: "We've invested in new technology so customers can book online and we've been working hard in getting operational reliability right. We've enabled the trade to come back to us where travel agencies are selling us where before they weren't."
Recent improvements at the port have included revamping the terminal building with the addition of the Haven Café and the inclusion of a new freight lounge for drivers, including showers and toilets.
Future improvements include plans to resurface the port area.
An extra crossing to Dieppe was introduced in January which the company hopes will attract yet more passengers.
There are now three daily Dieppe crossings with another to Le Havre which started in April last year.
Running between April and September, the service attracted 61,000 passengers last year, according to the DfT's figures, while the Dieppe service attracted 268,000 passengers.
But the total number of UK passengers using the port is still well below the 750,000 it recorded in 1997.
The increase in cheap air fares for passengers, the abolition of duty-free and increased competition from the Channel Tunnel have all contributed to a decline in sea passengers, according to the DfT report.
Newhaven Chamber of Commerce president John Whitehead said: "We are delighted with anything that brings success and people to Newhaven and we look forward to the port's continuing prosperity."
Port manager Captain Francois Jean said: "The traffic increase is very important and good news for us."
Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that the port handled 329,000 passengers last year - up 97% on the 167,000 who used the route two years earlier.
Nationally over the past ten years, sea passenger numbers have dropped from 36 million to 23 million and in 2005 Newhaven suffered its worst 12 months in the past ten years.
But the port enjoyed the third largest increase in actual passengers from 2006 to 2007, behind only Holyhead and Dover.
James Howe Davies, marketing director of Transmanche Ferries UK, said improved reliability in its ferries along with port improvements have been central to the increasing passenger numbers.
He said: "We've invested in new technology so customers can book online and we've been working hard in getting operational reliability right. We've enabled the trade to come back to us where travel agencies are selling us where before they weren't."
Recent improvements at the port have included revamping the terminal building with the addition of the Haven Café and the inclusion of a new freight lounge for drivers, including showers and toilets.
Future improvements include plans to resurface the port area.
An extra crossing to Dieppe was introduced in January which the company hopes will attract yet more passengers.
There are now three daily Dieppe crossings with another to Le Havre which started in April last year.
Running between April and September, the service attracted 61,000 passengers last year, according to the DfT's figures, while the Dieppe service attracted 268,000 passengers.
But the total number of UK passengers using the port is still well below the 750,000 it recorded in 1997.
The increase in cheap air fares for passengers, the abolition of duty-free and increased competition from the Channel Tunnel have all contributed to a decline in sea passengers, according to the DfT report.
Newhaven Chamber of Commerce president John Whitehead said: "We are delighted with anything that brings success and people to Newhaven and we look forward to the port's continuing prosperity."
Port manager Captain Francois Jean said: "The traffic increase is very important and good news for us."
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