P&O may quit Dieppe route
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by David Craik • The future of P&O Stena Line's financially troubled Newhaven to Dieppe ferry route is to be decided later this month. A series of meetings last week between management and employees discussed the business performance of the route, which has been losing money and passengers since the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994.
Chris Lamming, director of communications for P&O Stena Line, says the company expects the performance of the route will worsen next year with the withdrawal of duty-free shopping. A consultation of staff will therefore be held over the next 30 days to decide on the route's future, he says.
A spokesman for Sea Containers, the route's owner, says that if P&O does pull out it will be prepared to set up its own temporary freight service.
One local haulier who uses the route regularly says he is confident that another user for the route will come forward, even though he admits that the number of passengers has fallen in recent years.
"If there are no buyers, then obviously it will be financially damaging for us and other hauliers who use Newhaven," he says. "It will be another nuisance for us, along with fuel and low rates, if we have to travel to Portsmouth or Dover. It is not fair, but what is fair in haulage?"