Another cross-channel ferry comes to Hampshire (From Daily Echo)

Another cross-channel ferry comes to Hampshire

5:30am Tuesday 22nd December 2009

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CROSS-CHANNEL ferry passengers in Hampshire are to get more choice after Brittany Ferries announced it is pulling its routes from Dorset to France.

The Poole to Cherbourg route is to be axed in the spring, with services instead moved down the coast to Portsmouth.

The Barfleur, which can carry 1,212 passengers and 519 cars, has been crossing the Channel for the last 17 years, but the firm said it had been forced to act because it was “haemorrhaging” money.

It has been operating at a loss since 2003.

“We’re trying to stem the losses by withdrawing it from service,” said Brittany Ferries spokesman, Steve Tuckwell.

Once the Poole service is removed in March, a new £75m ferry will be used to take passengers between northern France and Hampshire.

“Although the Barfleur is being taken out of service we are going to be offering more crossings from Portsmouth,”

said Mr Tuckwell.

“The new ship will operate three days a week to Cherbourg.”

Although Brittany already runs other routes from Portsmouth to St Malo and Caen in France, the new service will provide an alternative to P&O’s crossing for passengers wanting to travel to Cherbourg.

P&O also runs a service between Portsmouth and Southampton’s French twin city, Le Havre.

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