WHAT THE OPERATORS THINK
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• "If the Channel Tunnel is like the Dartford Tunnel where all you have to do is pay by credit card and drive through, we'll use it a lot, but cost is the biggest consideration" — David Rogers, managing director of Northampton-based Rogers Transport (runs 30 trucks a week to Italy and Germany, carrying steel and plant).
• "The key question is the rate. If it's an offer we can't refuse, then other considerations, like whether drivers like it, will go out of the window. If it's quicker than the boat, market forces will force us to use it, but it'll be a close-run thing" — David Brown, director of Reading-based Hollis Transport (fleet of 80 trucks going to most European countries).
"It will be a combination of service and price, but it will be difficult for the Channel Tunnel to beat the ferries by much on speed" — Graham Walker, director of Fairfreight Debeaux of Atherstone (fleet of eight, but parent company Debeaux in France has 600 trucks, handling general groupage to France, Belgium and Spain).
Li "I can't see it being quicker or us using it. My gut feeling is that sea crossings will be cheaper and just as quick" — David Sparks, director of Sparks Transport of Glastonbury (fleet of 34 reefers and dry freight vans going all over Europe).
L I "It's unlikely we'll use it. We do a lot of dedicated work as a subcontractor for a German haulier, Westermann. They spat:6, that we use drawbars and there doesn't seem to be any provision for them" — Peter May, managing director of May's Motors, Godalming (15 trucks, uses Dover to Zeebrugge for Germany).
"We have no idea yet what the cost will be. At the end of the day, that's the main factor. There are no hassles with the _ferries, except when they have industrial disputes, and the Chunnel will have these" — Mike Wreford, director of Wreford's in Northampton (50 vehicles, uses Dover to Calais and Zeebrugge for runs to Germany, France and Italy on general haulage).