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LD Lines adds Ireland/Spain link and new link to Gijón

[ December 11, 2013   //   ]

French ferry operator LD Lines is introducing a new weekly service between Poole and the Spanish port of Gijón from 5 January and another between Rosslare in Ireland via St.Nazaire in Western France and on to Gijón. There will be a two-ship operation using the Norman Asturias and sister ship Scintu.

The new service departs Poole for Gijón on Tuesdays at 12:00 midday and returns from the Spanish port on Fridays at 13:00. The Rosslare service Gijón departs Fridays 21:00 via St.Nazaire with return from Spain on Tuesdays 22:00, again via St.Nazaire.

It follows LD Line’s recently launched new service between Poole and Santander, on which freight capacity ultilisation has risen to 90% since the start of the service in early November.

Christophe Santoni, CEO of LD Lines said, “We are very pleased with the early response from hauliers to the new Poole – Santander service, which is a key addition to our existing route between France and Spain. The additional services will further expand our “Motorway of the Seas” Atlantic network by providing improved transport links between the UK, Southern Ireland, Spain, France and Portugal and give new and existing customers greater choice.”

LD Lines’ Poole – Santander and Gijón services offer year-round guaranteed freight space and free parking in Poole for up to seven days before and after sailings. The 2008/09-built Norman Asturias and Scintu each have capacity for 110 freight vehicles or 150 trailers and a commercial service speed of up to 24 knots.

LD Lines’ move follows a flurry of activity on the Irish Sea with the announcement that Irish Ferries is to launch a new service from Cherbourg, France direct into the capital, Dublin from 18 January. Irish Ferries already operate direct services from Rosslare in the south of Ireland to Cherbourg and Roscoff.

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