SeaFrance considers new ferry options

SeaFrance plans to increase capacity with a new ferry on the Dover-Calais route.

The move follows a 13% year on year increase in car traffic from January until the end of September, compared with market growth of 5.6%, according to the company.

The firm, which runs 30 crossings a day, achieved 5.5% growth in passenger traffic over the same nine month period, compared with an overall market increase of 3%.

The performance has enabled SeaFrance to continue with its fleet investment. The French operator is investigating shipyard availability in Europe for the construction of a new vessel with significantly increased garage space.

Managing director Robin Wilkins said: "The overall short sea route has done very well indeed this year, and I am very pleased to confirm that SeaFrance has consistently outperformed the market for both cars and passengers."

The figures emerged less than 24 hours before Channel Tunnel high speed passenger operator Eurostar switches services from Waterloo to St Pancras tonight (Tuesday) to cut journey times to France and Belgium.

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