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In March 2007 Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (L D Lines) took over the ferry service from Transmanche who have operated a year round cross-channel route for freight, coaches, cars and passengers from Newhaven to the French port of Dieppe. The duration of these crossings has been approximately four hours.
It was reported by Barbara Davidson in The Argus on 8 March 2004 that two new ships were being built for Transmanche to replace the ferries then operating on this route, Sardinia Vera and Dieppe.
The first of the new ferries Cote d’Albatre arrived at Newhaven and went into service on 13th March 2006. In November 2006 the second ferry Seven Sisters arrived. The stated target was to make the 70 mile crossing in about three hours. If the ships can approach this in normal conditions it will make a huge difference to the appeal of this route to the Continent but so far the published times have remained at four hours. Dieppe and Sardinia Vera have since retired from the route
In a surprise announcement LD Lines also unveiled plans to open a daily summer service on a new route from Newhaven to Le Havre with a five hour crossing time. This service started on 30 April 2007 and continues until the end of September, the outward journey leaving Newhaven at 12.30 pm, arriving back at midnight. Seven Sisters will be used for this crossing which will have impact on the sailings to Dieppe.
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