Ramsgate ferry will not start this year

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Thursday, November 26, 2009
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This is Kent

​The hotly-anticipated high speed ferry service between Ramsgate and Boulogne will not now begin until next year.

Euroferries had originally planned to launch the new service in March 2009 but was forced to put back the date several times.

On Wednesday (November 25) the firm announced that the route will now begin in 2010.

An exact start date for the service, which will use the Fred Olsen catamaran The Bonanza Express, has not been released.

A spokesman said: “Euroferries is working with all relevant parties to provide both the local community and future customers with the quality of main stream travel service that they expect.

"Key benefits including free travel insurance and pre-boarding lounge facilities with tax free shopping and café add to the special experience promised to a Euroferries traveller.”

Both ports say they are ready to host the ship.

Euroferries refused to confirm rumours that the delays were due difficulties in leasing the ferry, which is currently in Tenerife, from Fred Olsen.

Passengers who have booked on the service this year will have their money refunded.

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    by Robert, Ramsgate.

    Sunday, November 29 2009, 6:28PM

    “What a farse, It was plain to see that the ferry would not start on the date sheduled. I walk along the promenade near the port every day and to date there is very little work being done to accommodate either another ferry service or more traffic. If you are in need of a wheelie-bin or have been waiting for one Ramsgate Port is the place to go, there are 1000s of them sat on the docks.
    I am a regular traveler to France so a ferry service from Ramsgate would be great. However these small operators need caution. I lost £180.00 in advance bookings when Speedferries failed.
    I here in the press that the service is starting in the new year. I'm not holding my breath. And I'm not taking out advanced bookings either. Untill then I'll take my daily walk and monitor the progress and the bins.”

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    by Dave, tonbridgre

    Friday, November 27 2009, 9:38PM

    “Have you ever been to Ramsgate David Markthorpe? If so you will know that there is no provision for loads of coaches to park. The road to the port bypasses the town and I think you will find that the coaches may even just drive on to the ferries. You were also lucky to get an answer to an email. My simple question 'when does the service start' sent at the end in august was not answered until november.

    Why are people so septical?
    You may also recall that the BBC Inside Out program highlighted a company call Euroferries that failed to start up a Dover Boulogne service in 2006. On that occassion this company failed to complete the purchase of an american ship. All of this is well documented on the internet. Is that a different Euroferries?”

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    by David Markthorpe, Royal Tonbridge Wells

    Friday, November 27 2009, 3:16PM

    “The coach service will apparently run from London/Medway towns/Canterbury to Ramsgate, delivering thousands of people to Thanet. Thats not to mention the million + per year which the ferry service will bring to Thanet. People have a right to be sceptical, however simple facts about the benefits for Thanet can't be just conviniently ignored. If i ever have any questions/worries about their service i email them and i always have recieved satisfactory replies which settle my concerns.”

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    by Dave, tonbridge

    Friday, November 27 2009, 1:17PM

    “Of course the businesses and people of Thanet welcome a sucessful ferry operation. However one of the main aims of this company is to promote coach travel that will bypass Thanet.

    People are septical because this company has failed to deliver on more than one occassion and in recentgtimes has shown appauling PR when dealing with critism. It could have been a bit more open and all the rumours of it being a failed company would not have been an issue.. The other issue here is that Thanet council must have money up front to protect its tax payers from a potential loss running into many thousands.”

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    by Will Reed, Thanet

    Friday, November 27 2009, 12:36PM

    “I had booked to travel in December, its a shame it was delayed, although i would rather wait a while longer then not have any ferry at all. The fact that they keep getting hit by delays, however stay committed to providing Ramsgate with a service instead of walking away and going somewhere else, just shows how they genuinely want to benefit the community. The people in charge of the company, have a wealth of experience in the Marine industry, I doubt the delay was Euroferries Fault.”

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