A permanent coach border processing facility to replace current contingency measures in a buffer zone is to be introduced at the Port of Dover as part of what the cross-channel hub claims is part of “even more improvements” to its processing capability for coaches.
The work follows deployment of significant mitigatory measures over the May half-term weekend to prevent a repeat of the chaotic scenes around the first weekend of April where some coaches waited for 24 hours to pass through French border controls.
“Coach passengers who travelled through the port over half-term were the first to experience our new processing system and increased resource levels,” says Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister. “Now we are focused on the upcoming summer period and planning the implementation of even more improvements.”
The number of coaches that passed through the Port of Dover in the first five months of 2023 was 200% more than the figure from the same period 12 months before. Importance of the Port of Dover to cross-channel coach movements has increased with the return of that work and Eurotunnel’s unfriendly stance towards coaches.
While the April difficulties saw criticism aired by the coach industry and its representatives, Mr Bannister was subsequently commended by some parts of the sector for engaging with it and committing to put right those issues.
A small vox pop of operators by routeone immediately after the key half-term weekend in May showed that progress of outward vehicles through the port was uneventful.
“Overall, passenger wait times were as predicted and the new measures implemented proved to be extremely effective,” Mr Bannister continues. “Even during the challenging period on the Saturday morning of the peak weekend, when French border colleagues were resolving their temporary IT issues, the maximum wait time did not exceed two hours.”
The Confederation of Passenger Transport has acknowledged the work already done by Dover to help outbound coaches through the gateway. Says CEO Graham Vidler: “We welcome the port’s response to our calls for more French border staff and improved coach facilities, and we recognise the port’s determination to offer a much better customer experience.”
