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Travellers crossing Channel from UK told to prepare for long delays Travellers crossing Channel from UK told to prepare for long delays
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Ferry operators expect bank holiday weekend to be busy with ‘large queues’ at the entrance to Dover port Ferry operators expect bank holiday weekend to be busy with ‘large queues’ at entrance to Dover port
People trying to cross the Channel for the bank holiday weekend from the UK have been told to bring supplies and be prepared for long waits. Holidaymakers are facing up to 90-minute waits at the Port of Dover as the Easter getaway kicks off with congestion on the motorways and disruption on the rail network likely to deepen the chaos across the country.
Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the long weekend at the Port of Dover, with drivers already taking about 90 minutes just to get through passport control. As the long holiday weekend began on Good Friday morning, large numbers of cars were arriving at the Kent port, but traffic was moving and ferries were sailing well.
P&O Ferries and operator DFDS were reporting delays of about 60 minutes to the port’s entrance.
Drivers have been advised to bring supplies in case they are left waiting for hours.
Delays are also expected to popular road, rail and air travel routes, because of high levels of traffic. A general strike in France over pension reforms is also expected to affect travellers.Delays are also expected to popular road, rail and air travel routes, because of high levels of traffic. A general strike in France over pension reforms is also expected to affect travellers.
Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “First of all, the weather’s clear, the ferries are sailing well. This weekend was always scheduled to be about 30% lighter than last weekend, today being the busier day.
“What we did is we worked with our ferry operators to try and spread the demand across the three days rather than all on this day.
“I know that that’s challenging for the coach industry because they have itineraries that they want to maintain, but they’ve worked with the ferry operators to be able to do that, and that’s been successful.
“We’ve also installed a new facility to expand our processing at the borders for coaches, that’s operational, I just saw one goes through in just shy of 10 minutes.
“It’s going to be a busy day, we’re running probably about an hour to an hour and a half to get through border controls at the moment, and we will peak through probably early afternoon, and then it will start to slow down after that.”
He said holidaymakers should bring drinks, food and entertainment for children if they are arriving at the port from 10am.
There have been concerns of a repeat of last weekend, when thousands of people faced waits of up to 14 hours to cross the Channel. The delays have been blamed on French border officials carrying out extra checks and stamping UK passports after Brexit.There have been concerns of a repeat of last weekend, when thousands of people faced waits of up to 14 hours to cross the Channel. The delays have been blamed on French border officials carrying out extra checks and stamping UK passports after Brexit.
P&O Ferries told passengers to allow extra time for the journey, warning them on Friday of “large queues” at the entrance to Dover’s port and “extremely busy” roads leading to it. DFDS warned there was a wait of about two hours for coaches to complete checks, because of the high volume of traffic.
Port officials said they held an “urgent review” with ferry operators and the French authorities in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the chaos of last weekend.Port officials said they held an “urgent review” with ferry operators and the French authorities in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the chaos of last weekend.
Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, said on Friday morning it was taking drivers about an hour and a half to get through border controls but that clear weather meant the ferries were sailing well. Lorry drivers have been advised to bring supplies in case of long queues at the port. Nichola Mallon of Logistics UK told Sky News: “If they’re waiting considerable periods of time, that becomes a driver welfare issue and so that’s why we’re working very closely with the Kent resilience forum and to make sure that we can minimise delays.
Bannister said it was “going to be a busy day,” but that ferry operators had been asked to try to spread the demand across the three days rather than all the traffic being focused on Good Friday. “I know that that’s challenging for the coach industry because they have itineraries that they want to maintain, but they’ve worked with the ferry operators to be able to do that, and that’s been successful,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. “Our message to our members would be to check with your ferry operator to make sure that you’re aware of the latest guidance, make sure that you’ve completed all your paperwork before you head there and have supplies there, just in case, and make sure that you leave enough time to accommodate any delays.”
He added: “It’s going to be a busy day, we’re running probably about an hour to an hour and a half to get through border controls at the moment, and we will peak through probably early afternoon, and then it will start to slow down after that.” Sign up to First Edition
Lorry drivers have been advised to bring supplies in case of long queues at the port. Nichola Mallon, of Logistics UK, told Sky News: “If they’re waiting considerable periods of time, that becomes a driver welfare issue and so that’s why we’re working very closely with the Kent resilience forum and to make sure that we can minimise delays. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning
She added: “Our message to our members would be to check with your ferry operator to make sure that you’re aware of the latest guidance, make sure that you’ve completed all your paperwork before you head there and have supplies there, just in case, and make sure that you leave enough time to accommodate any delays.” after newsletter promotion
British drivers have been warned to expect long delays on popular routes over the bank holiday, with the RAC predicting particular delays on the M5, M6 and M25. They estimate that up to 17m leisure trips by car will take place between Good Friday and Easter Monday. Congestion has been reported on the M1, M4, M5, M6, M11, M20, M25, M27, M40, M56 and M61, as well as obstructions on M1, M3, M6, M11, M23 and M25, according to Highways England data.
Emmanuel Macron’s bid to raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 has prompted days of unrest in the country, with 400,000 attending a protest in Paris on Thursday. Several fights to, from and over France have been grounded after air traffic controllers joined the walkout. Traffic is expected to peak on Saturday, with at least 15m car journeys expected to take place, the AA said.
British Airways cancelled at least 20 flights which would have used French airspace on Thursday and Eurostar cancelled a train in both directions between London and Paris. Significant engineering work will be taking place on the rail network from Good Friday to Easter Monday as Network Rail is carrying out essential improvement and engineering work.
No trains will run to or from Euston at Easter and the west coast mainline will be closed between Euston and Milton Keynes Central.
The only line open between Birmingham and London over the Easter weekend is the Chiltern Railways line between Birmingham Moor Street and Marylebone, which is expected to be especially busy and is also the only route available between Oxford and London.
Some services cannot call at London Victoria, and may be diverted to London Bridge instead. In addition, there is no Gatwick Express service over Easter.
The Hastings line between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings stations will be closed throughout the Easter weekend. Southeastern services will also be disrupted on Saturday and Sunday as Charing Cross and Waterloo East will be closed.
Long-term improvement work at Carstairs will disrupt Easter journeys between Carlisle and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh, information from the Rail Delivery Group said.
More than 10,200 flights are expected to depart from UK airports across the weekend, with Good Friday expected to be the busiest day.