Freight News, Sea


Brittany to fill gaps in Rosslare-Cherbourg route

[ August 19, 2025   //   ]

Brittany Ferries is to increase capacity and frequency on its Rosslare/ Cherbourg route from the end of September, following the withdrawal of the P&O Ferries service.

Departures will rise from five to seven every week with a daily Brittany Ferries departure from Rosslare Europort, starting October 2025.

It will include a new Tuesday evening departure at 21:00, with additional sailings to be phased in as part of a broader strengthening of the route. Full schedules will be published shortly

Brittany Ferries chief executive, Christophe Mathieu said: “News that our competitor was stepping back, started the firing pistol on a concerted efforted to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France. It means even more opportunity for freight operators seeking to by-pass the UK entirely, cutting down on bureaucracy and delays at the UK border. Our new train connection in Cherbourg only adds further strings to the multimodal bow.”

Christened Ro-Ro Rail, the service connects Ireland (and the UK) with the Iberian Peninsula via ferry and rail with a service from  Cherbourg and Bayonne for unaccompanied trailers over 600 miles of the French rail network.

Director of commercial business units for Rosslare Europort, Glenn Carr, added:

“Since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased six-fold, and our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike.  There has been intense interest in additional Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings, and Brittany Ferries have demonstrated their can-do attitude by confirming this expansion with us so quickly, capitalising on the strength of the route for passenger and freight markets alike.”

Brittany Ferries launched a Rosslare to Cherbourg service in 2021 as a post-Brexit response to demand for a service avoiding the UK-landbridge between Ireland and France. Recently third, fourth and fifth weekly return-sailings had been added.

Freight traffic has doubled this year, says Brittany Ferries which now expects to keep several ships in service over the winter to serve the expanded route.

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