Ferries slam Chunnel pricing
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by Karen Miles • Ferry operators now claim to have hard evidence that hauliers are only increasing their use of the Channel Tunnel because of price-slashing by Eurotunnel.
Both Stella Sealink and P&O European Ferries allege that Eurotunnel is implementing a wide-ranging 20% price-cutting exercise. Stena goes further,
accusing Eurotunnel of "massive discounting" after reducing prices by 25% with a promotion offering four crossings for the price of three.
The allegations are denied by Eurotunnel, which says it is simply giving special offers "at certain times to boost business". John Chapman, the company's UK and Eire freight sales manager. says prices are generally pitched around 5% above those of the ferries.
Amid the war of words, all three of the cross-Channel operators are claiming record freight traffic.
F:urotunnel, which opened for freight six months ago, says it took 1,000 trucks on 7 December, representing 25% of the Dover/ Calais market.
The Dover Har bour Board, which collates figures for Stena and MO between Dover/Calais and Dover/ Zeebrugge and Dunkerque, says 99,245 trucks were carried in October; up 7.8% on the same period last year. For the first 10 months of 1994 the overall figure was 967,164; a 5.2% increase over the same period last year.