NEWHAVEN-DIEPPE ROLL-ON FERRY OPENS
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BY N. K TIGSLEY WITH the start of a new roll-on/rollVV off ferry service on Monday for commercial vehicles (it caters for unaccompanied trailers as well as rigid vehicles) British Railways have now increased their footing in this highly specialized and rapidly increasing field of ferry services between the United 'Kingdom and the Continent. The new service is between Newhaven and Dieppe, which provides the shortest road route to Paris, Spain and Italy; the sea passage takes 3i hours.
The Southern Region's t.s.s. " Falaise which has been specially redesigned and strengthened to cater for commercial vehicles, is operating the service. She has accommodation for five commercial vehicles plus 80 to 100 cars and 700 passengers. She will be joined, in May, by the m.v, " Villandry ", and in July by the m.v. " Valencay ", each of which is being specially constructed for the Newhaven-Dieppe run with capacity for 10 commercials and 100 to 140 cars.
Rates for vehicles, inclusive of wharfage and port dues, are the same as those for the Dover-Dunkerque route-5s. 6d. per square foot for loaded vehicles and 4s. 3d, empty. Single fare for driver and mate is £2 16s. each.
On the " Falaise " overall height is restricted to 12 ft. 9 in. while there is a weight restriction of 8 tons per axle. The two new vessels, however, will be able to accommodate vehicles built to the new Construction and Use Regulations—a
maximum weight restriction of 13 tons per axle and a maximum height restriction of 13 ft.
Mr. M. H. Sellars, divisional shipping manager and Harbour Master for British Railways at Newhaven, speaking to representatives of leading U.K.-Continent haulage concerns who were last week invited to witness the facilities offered at Newhaven and Dieppe, said that successful experiments had been carried out in co-operation with British Road Services. It was hoped, he said, that a new terminal would be opened in April where private cars and commercial vehicles would be completely segregated. When the two new vessels augmented the service it was expected that sailings would be every four hours, It was the aim of British Railways, he said, to work in co-operation with hauliers.
I travelled last week with a party in the 2,500-ton " Falaise ", accompanying a semi-trailer loaded with 16 tons of machinery destined for Paris. The trailer, which belonged to Monks International Transport Ltd., was on hire to M.A.T. Transport Ltd., who also lent an Atkinson tractor to British Railways for the demonstration. (British Railways have now hired a fifth-wheel tractive unit, understand, and are to purchase a shunting vehicle in the near future.)
The outward passage was uneventful although there were some teething troubles with the trailer at Dieppe. No account had, apparently, been taken of king-pin settings, and several attempts were made before a Saurer 130 tractor was able to haul the trailer un the large loading span onto French soil. Hauliers who had accompanied the trailers were not over-enthusiastic about the facilities at Dieppe—apart from lack of space, vehicles have to travel the best part of a mile for Customs clearance.
However, these are early days and British Railways—obviously going all out on their new service will be doing all they can to make it a success.