New freight services on the route from Holyhead to Dublin will start on September 11, according to leading ferry company Stena Line.
The company will redeploy an existing ferry, the Stena Seatrader, from its North Sea fleet to increase capacity on the Central Corridor.
The new service, with 2,100 lane metres, will complete one round trip between Holyhead and Dublin each day, leaving Dublin at 1515hrs and Holyhead at 2215hrs.
Vic Goodwin, Stena Line route director for the Central Corridor, said: “In recent years, we have seen Holyhead Port grow in importance to freight to freight customers who now see Holyhead as the main gateway for transport to and from Ireland.
“This is due to the opening of the A55 dual carriageway in 2001, which has reduced the journey time to the port.
“Freight traffic has grown by 50 per cent through Holyhead port since the turn of the decade.”
Frank Nieuwenhuys, Stena Line Freight commercial manager, added: “In addition to providing greater frequency and capacity for our freight customers, we believe the new sailing times will prove attractive to customers who want to arrive in Dublin and get underway before the morning rush hour and return earl, thereby improving vehicle turnaround time and fleet utilisation.”
The vessel will finish on the Killingholme route at the beginning of August before undergoing a £300,000 refit to improve the on-board facilities for freight drivers.
