DFDS Seaways ends Scotland-Belgium passenger ferry services
Ferry Online Travel News 30/08/2010
Ferry operator is expanding freight-only services and ending passenger services.
DFDS Seaways has announced substantial changes to the services on its combined-service Scotland-Belgium ferry route. Though freight-handling capacity will be considerably expanded, the company will no longer offer passenger services. The changes see the end of the combined passenger and freight services that have been running between Rosyth in Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
From the middle of December, DFDS Seaways will withdraw its passenger ferry services on the route. Instead, the number of sailings from each port will be increased from three departures per week to four. Two vessels will serve the route, providing a boost to freight capacity. DFDS Seaways, formerly known as Norfolkline, said the existing combined service has consistently run at a loss. As the company sees no prospects for this changing in the long term, it has no choice but to end passenger services on the route.
DFDS Seaways says passenger volumes have been good during the summer but at other times of the year, there simply have not been enough passengers for the combined service to make money. In fact, the vessel has been operating at substantial loss.
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