Business Blog: Ferry service sinks
It was sad to see the last LD Lines ferry leave Dover for
Boulogne yesterday.
The Boulogne route is a special one for Kent people, with the
prospect of visiting a French town that is far more attractive than
Calais.
LD Lines brought a fresh approach to the operation, and in
Christophe Santoni, had a very personable managing director.
It's a shame that not enough passengers used the route, but LD
Lines could not have launched at a worse time.
Recession has damaged travel to France, with "staycations"
keeping people at home. The bigger players such as SeaFrance,
P&O and Eurotunnel had the muscle to launch a fierce price war.
But even they have felt the chill winds of recession, with
SeaFrance announcing redundancies and P&O warning staff to
expect cuts.
LD Lines deserve plaudits for having a go at the Boulogne route
for the past 18 months. It would be good if they can fulfil their
plan to launch a freight-only route.
Meanwhile, Norfolkline is preparing for a new life under the
DFDS Seaways banner. I noticed that the Norfolkline blue livery is
still around, but expect to see a change soon.