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DUBLIN, Dec 21 (Reuters) – Ferry firm Stena Line has brought forward a planned doubling of its direct Ireland to France freight service in response to “huge demand” from Irish hauliers hit by the closure of the French border to arrivals from Britain.
While freight services were exempt from Ireland’s ban on Sunday on travel to Britain over fears of a new coronavirus strain, around 3,000 lorries take the shorter route to mainland Europe via the so-called British “land-bridge” each week.
Stena had planned to add a second ship to its service from Ireland’s Rosslare harbour to the French port of Cherbourg from Jan. 4, doubling the number of weekly sailings to six as Britain’s Brexit transition period came to an end.
Transport crisis - DHL services in Ireland will not suffer major impact due to disruption
A minimum of two consular flights from Great Britain will be chartered by government to get Irish residents home to Ireland.
DHL Express delivery services connecting Ireland to Europe and the rest of the world will also be continuing as normal.
Mon, 21 Dec, 2020 - 21:03
Michelle McGlynn
DHL services in Ireland will not suffer any major impact as a result of the disruption in Great Britain.
This afternoon, the company announced a temporary suspension of their road-based services to and from mainland Europe.
This is as a result of the closure of the Eurotunnel and the ferry ports connecting the UK to France. Road services to and from the UK are not impacted.
Stena Line fast tracks direct ferry service from Ireland to France amid UK travel ban
Hauliers are being told not to leave Ireland unless they have a confirmed booking to travel directly to continental Europe. By Cónal Thomas Monday 21 Dec 2020, 1:40 PM Dec 21st 2020, 8:31 AM 45,614 Views 46 Comments
Updated Dec 21st 2020, 1:40 PM The Stena Foreteller will begin operating tomorrow.
STENA LINE IS adding a second ferry on its Rosslare to Cherbourg route ahead of schedule amid significant disruption to freight deliveries because of the UK travel ban.
The freight-only Stena Foreteller will commence crossings tomorrow, having originally been scheduled to begin sailing on 4 January.
Stena Line introducing second vessel on French route
Updated / Monday, 21 Dec 2020
15:51
The Stena Foreteller will offer an additional 3,000 lane metres of freight capacity per trip
Stena Line is introducing a second vessel on its Rosslare/Cherbourg route ahead of schedule due to confusion and disruption in the southeast of England after France closed its border to freight from the UK yesterday.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said around 250 Irish hauliers who would ordinarily be using the landbridge to the continent are affected by the border closures.
Under the ban freight transport across the Irish Sea is allowed, but the only passengers allowed are essential supply chain workers.