Tunnel fire leads to 'significant increase' in Dover traffic

There has been a "significant increase" in the number of people catching ferries from Dover following the fire in the Channel Tunnel, an official has reported.

Keith Southey, public relations and marketing manager for the Port of Dover, said that the incident has also led to a boost in trade.

While he stressed that ferry crossings from Dover have always been in demand, Mr Southey said that the tunnel fire underlined the importance of alternatives to all methods of travel.

"Ferry travel between the UK and continental Europe has always been popular but the fire in the Channel Tunnel has highlighted the need for the Port of Dover to provide sufficient capacity to keep all the traffic moving," he said.

Figures from the Port of Dover show that there were 284,780 passengers in the week before the Channel Tunnel fire and 355,000 travellers in the first full week after the incident – an increase of 25 per cent.

A number of major ferry operators sail from the port, including Norfolkline, SeaFrance and P&O Ferries.

Dover - Calais

1 x Foot Passenger(s) Return

Travelling on:

03/06/2012 - 03/06/2012

£13

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Dunkerque - Dover

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on:

15/06/2012 - 15/06/2012

£19

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Dunkerque - Dover

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on:

14/06/2012 - 14/06/2012

£19

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