Hauliers desert Chunnel
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• Eurotunnel is refusing to lower its freight prices despite the gravest indica• tions so far that the haulage industry is deserting the Channel Tunnel for cheaper ferry crossings.
Last week one of the largest crossChannel operators, Danzas (UK) announced it was going back to the ferries. And giant French operator Norbert Dentressangle said the tunnel has no guarantee of keeping its business after ND has finished trials with the rail link.
Both companies had used the Chunnel when the trial .£75 each way crossings were offered. But they say Eurotunnel cannot compete with the deals offered by P&O European Ferries and Stena Sealink.
Eurotunnel admits it has lost two thirds of the freight it was carrying on an invitation basis, but says it would be the "most stupid thing we could do is to get drawn into a price war". It claims that over the past three months one of the short-sea ferry operators has slashed its prices—an accusation denied by both the Dover-Calais operators.
Eurotunnel says it is happy with the level of business it is retaining, which it claims is from more than 200 hauliers and equates to up to 300 trucks a day. It had expected freight volumes to decrease when it introduced the full fare turn-upand-go service on 25 July.
E Hauliers which have tried and are not currently using the tunnel include: • TDS Morgan Freight of Mostyn in North Wales.
• Brit European at Stoke-onTrent.
• Sheddick Transport of Newport.