Portsmouth – Le Havre ferry route saved

The Portsmouth – Le Havre ferry route has been saved after a French shipping company stepped in to run the service.

P&O Ferries is operating the route for the last time on Friday September 30th and it had been feared that it would lead to its permanent closure.

The route is important for British holidaymakers travelling to Brittany, Normandy and destinations in the south of France and Spain.

But Paris-based LD Lines has stepped in and will operate the route for the first time on Monday October 3rd.

LD Lines is operating one ferry on the route with a journey time of five and a half hours.

It is offering a daily departure from Le Havre at 17:00 hrs French time, which arrives at 21:30 hrs UK time, and a departure from Portsmouth at 23:00 hrs UK, which arrives in France at 07:30 French time.

The route was saved after a massive behind-the-scene effort by Portsmouth council and the port's management.

The only downside is that there will be fewer departures. P&O had been using two ferries and offering two daily departures from both ports.

For more information and ferry bookings see www.ldlines.com