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Dover ferry passengers warned of long delays as coaches queue up Dover ferry passengers delayed as coaches and cars queue up
(about 2 hours later)
A critical incident has been declared at Dover, as coach passengers face hours-long delays caused by long border processing times and bad weather. A critical incident has been declared at Dover, as car and coach passengers face lengthy delays due to long border processing times and bad weather.
On Saturday as the Easter getaway began, the port said around 70 coaches were waiting to be processed and that 400 were expected to arrive today. P&O Ferries reported coach delays of three hours this morning - and people in cars said they too were stuck.
Some coaches were stuck overnight and P&O Ferries reported delays of two to three hours for coaches this morning. Some coaches, including for school trips, had to wait at the port overnight and around 400 more were expected to arrive today.
The port apologised for the "prolonged delays".The port apologised for the "prolonged delays".
The port said car volumes had built through the morning and there was a one-hour wait for them to get through border controls.
P&O Ferries estimated one to two hour delays for cars trying to reach the port, and this morning it reported delays of two to three hours for coaches.
The port advised passengers to check with their ferry operator for updates, allow plenty of time for their journey and "ensure they have some food, drink and entertainment with them".
It was "deeply frustrated", particularly on behalf of ferry operators' coach passengers "who have had to endure such a long wait", a spokesperson said.It was "deeply frustrated", particularly on behalf of ferry operators' coach passengers "who have had to endure such a long wait", a spokesperson said.
Roads leading to the port are becoming gridlocked and the port said it was expecting 5,000 cars today - but it said cars were passing through without delays and that freight traffic was being processed steadily. Sara Miles from Tonbridge, who was travelling by car with her family to Normandy, said she was stuck for two hours in traffic outside the port, and that she was not sure when she would catch a ferry.
Coach traffic was slow because of lengthy French border processes at Dover and sheer volume, the port spokesperson said. Ms Miles, who is going with her husband and two young daughters to visit her parents, told the BBC: "It's all a bit chaotic. People are turning off their cars and getting out, police are directing traffic.
"The girls are very excited about the holiday and it'd be too difficult to turn back now."
Photos showed long queues at the port on Friday evening
Another car passenger told the BBC that "the whole of Dover is practically gridlocked."
They said passengers were very calm but that frustrations were building. "More and more people are getting out of their cars to try and find toilets - there are five portaloos from what I can see near the border control facilities."
P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways have both reported disruption to Channel ferry crossings - with DFDS saying strong winds were adding to the problem.P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways have both reported disruption to Channel ferry crossings - with DFDS saying strong winds were adding to the problem.
In a statement to the BBC, the regional prefecture in Northern France said that there were "no difficulties that we know of", but that lots of coaches had arrived at the border in Dover at around the same time.
All border checkpoints were operational and border police had changed some car checkpoints into slots for coaches, it added.
A UK government spokesperson said it remained in close contact with ferry operators and authorities. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government needed to "get a grip" of the situation at Dover.
No repeat of Easter airport chaos, industry says
Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independent, said processing times since leaving the EU had increased sharply "and that would seem to explain the delays".Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independent, said processing times since leaving the EU had increased sharply "and that would seem to explain the delays".
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said that each individual passport must now be inspected and stamped - and that having an EU border at Dover meant things were "gumming up".Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said that each individual passport must now be inspected and stamped - and that having an EU border at Dover meant things were "gumming up".
He said delays were likely to reach a peak later in the morning. Last year a critical incident in Dover was blamed on bad weather and a shortage of ferries at Easter.
No repeat of Easter airport chaos, industry says The port said on Saturday that despite considerable pre-planning for this year, the additional coach bookings taken by ferry operators for Easter has impacted operations.
Last year a critical incident in Dover was blamed on bad weather and a shortage of ferries at Easter. The port said on Saturday that despite considerable pre-planning for this year, the additional coach bookings taken by ferry operators for Easter has impacted operations.
Food and drink had been provided to coach passengers caught up in the queues, the port said.Food and drink had been provided to coach passengers caught up in the queues, the port said.
It was working to get "all passengers on their way as quickly as possible".It was working to get "all passengers on their way as quickly as possible".
Traffic on the A20 to get to the Port of Dover on Saturday
At 04:00 BST, the port reported delays of five to six hours for coaches - it later said that coach delays were still several hours long.At 04:00 BST, the port reported delays of five to six hours for coaches - it later said that coach delays were still several hours long.
A coach of school children traveling to France had been given bags of crisps, some chocolate and water to see them through.A coach of school children traveling to France had been given bags of crisps, some chocolate and water to see them through.
And a group of university students on a coach travelling to France arrived last night at 20:00 GMT after huge delays on the roads. They were kept in the cruise terminal at Dover and expected they would be waiting another 10 hours before they caught a ferry.And a group of university students on a coach travelling to France arrived last night at 20:00 GMT after huge delays on the roads. They were kept in the cruise terminal at Dover and expected they would be waiting another 10 hours before they caught a ferry.
DFDS that it was expecting a busy weekend and asked customers to allow extra time to complete border and check-in controls on arrival.
Photos showed long queues at the port on Friday evening
Student Oliver Quigley-Brown, who was travelling to France for a university ski trip, told the BBC he had been warned he faced a 14-hour delay.Student Oliver Quigley-Brown, who was travelling to France for a university ski trip, told the BBC he had been warned he faced a 14-hour delay.
He said he had seen "a lot of stressed teachers" at the port, estimating there could be "thousands" of people from school and university groups stuck there.He said he had seen "a lot of stressed teachers" at the port, estimating there could be "thousands" of people from school and university groups stuck there.
Authorities had provided them with snacks and water, Mr Quigley-Brown said, but he added: "I don't think they'd anticipated the kind of delays we're seeing."
Ferry operators have been sending coach traffic to alternative waiting areas in order to clear the backlog of vehicles within the port.Ferry operators have been sending coach traffic to alternative waiting areas in order to clear the backlog of vehicles within the port.
DFDS UK tweeted early on Saturday that services to France were running with delays of up to 2.5 hours.DFDS UK tweeted early on Saturday that services to France were running with delays of up to 2.5 hours.
A spokesperson for DFDS earlier apologised for the wait times, which were blamed on bad weather delaying sailings as well as "high volumes of traffic... particularly coach groups".A spokesperson for DFDS earlier apologised for the wait times, which were blamed on bad weather delaying sailings as well as "high volumes of traffic... particularly coach groups".
In its own Twitter update, P&O Ferries stressed that it had "no control" over the border checks, but that coaches would be on "the next crossing to Calais after clearing check-in".In its own Twitter update, P&O Ferries stressed that it had "no control" over the border checks, but that coaches would be on "the next crossing to Calais after clearing check-in".
As well as the situation at Dover, there are fears of disrupted Easter getaways due to strikes affecting London's Heathrow Airport.As well as the situation at Dover, there are fears of disrupted Easter getaways due to strikes affecting London's Heathrow Airport.
Hundreds of security officers in the Unite union have begun 10 days of industrial action over pay - though the airport said it was operating "as normal" on Friday.Hundreds of security officers in the Unite union have begun 10 days of industrial action over pay - though the airport said it was operating "as normal" on Friday.
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