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| Coach firms try Eurotunnel after Dover ferry delays | Coach firms try Eurotunnel after Dover ferry delays |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Eurotunnel has had a sharp rise in enquiries from coach operators seeking to avoid a repeat of the weekend ferry delays at Dover. | |
| It comes as ferry firms are in talks with port authorities after a critical incident was declared when travellers faced more than 12-hour waits. | It comes as ferry firms are in talks with port authorities after a critical incident was declared when travellers faced more than 12-hour waits. |
| However, Eurotunnel said it was unlikely to have availability as bookings were made in advance. | However, Eurotunnel said it was unlikely to have availability as bookings were made in advance. |
| The government said new Brexit processes played a role in the queues. | The government said new Brexit processes played a role in the queues. |
| Extra ferries laid on over the weekend were not enough to prevent the queues, some of which left schoolchildren in coaches overnight. | Extra ferries laid on over the weekend were not enough to prevent the queues, some of which left schoolchildren in coaches overnight. |
| The cross-Channel rail operator said Easter was a "really busy time" but that its contacts had reported an increase in enquiries "over the last few days" as a result of what had happened in Dover. | The cross-Channel rail operator said Easter was a "really busy time" but that its contacts had reported an increase in enquiries "over the last few days" as a result of what had happened in Dover. |
| Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said the service, which experienced no delays last weekend, was already running at maximum capacity. | Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said the service, which experienced no delays last weekend, was already running at maximum capacity. |
| "We have a limited number of trains and four is the maximum we can operate per hour. Also we have truck shuttles, Eurostar and freight trains. It's a very intense environment," he said. | "We have a limited number of trains and four is the maximum we can operate per hour. Also we have truck shuttles, Eurostar and freight trains. It's a very intense environment," he said. |
| Dover delays clear after 'buffer zone' empties | Dover delays clear after 'buffer zone' empties |
| Post-Brexit checks factor in Dover delay, says No 10 | Post-Brexit checks factor in Dover delay, says No 10 |
| Long delays at Dover persist for coach passengers | Long delays at Dover persist for coach passengers |
| The rise in enquiries comes as ferry companies take part in talks with the Port of Dover on how to regulate coach numbers ahead of a second wave of holidaymakers preparing to travel to France. | The rise in enquiries comes as ferry companies take part in talks with the Port of Dover on how to regulate coach numbers ahead of a second wave of holidaymakers preparing to travel to France. |
| P&O Ferries, one of the three firms that sails from Dover along with DFDS and Irish Ferries, said the discussions were "ongoing and dynamic". | P&O Ferries, one of the three firms that sails from Dover along with DFDS and Irish Ferries, said the discussions were "ongoing and dynamic". |
| "We're working as closely as possible to minimise disruption and working through a number of options," a P&O spokesman said. | "We're working as closely as possible to minimise disruption and working through a number of options," a P&O spokesman said. |
| There was no comment about reports of plans to cap the number of coaches going through the port at traditionally busy times, such as school holidays. | There was no comment about reports of plans to cap the number of coaches going through the port at traditionally busy times, such as school holidays. |
| The Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade body which represents coach companies, said it had approached the Port of Dover about taking part in the talks but received no response. | The Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade body which represents coach companies, said it had approached the Port of Dover about taking part in the talks but received no response. |
| "We did flag this problem in February and Maundy Thursday [6 April] is traditionally a busy day for coach travel," a spokesman said. | "We did flag this problem in February and Maundy Thursday [6 April] is traditionally a busy day for coach travel," a spokesman said. |
| The Department for Transport said it remained in "close contact" with all parties regarding the delays but would not say if it was taking part in the talks. | The Department for Transport said it remained in "close contact" with all parties regarding the delays but would not say if it was taking part in the talks. |
| The Port of Dover said it would be releasing a statement in the "coming days". | The Port of Dover said it would be releasing a statement in the "coming days". |
| The BBC has approached Irish Ferries and DFDS for comment. | The BBC has approached Irish Ferries and DFDS for comment. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| English Channel | English Channel |
| Channel Tunnel | Channel Tunnel |
| Ferries | Ferries |
| P&O ferries | P&O ferries |
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