News
FAST FERRY SERVICE TO TROON AND CAIRNRYAN RESTARTS
Friday 18 March 2005
P&O Irish Sea has recommenced their fast ferry service from the Port of Larne to Troon and Cairnryan.
The Larne-Troon service, with a crossing time of 1h 50 minutes complements the long-established Larne-Cairnryan route which offers crossing times of just one hour on the fast ferry service and 105 minutes on the superferries.
This years' fast ferry season has been extended and will benefit from a new vessel. The "P&O Express" fast craft commenced service earlier in the season with the first sailing from Larne to Troon on 18th March and will run until mid October with up to 8 crossings per day between Larne and Troon or Cairnryan.
The new vessel operating the service is larger than the fast ferry which operated the route in previous years which resulted on the Port of Larne making some modifications to the berthing facilities. As Mr Alastair Gardiner, Managing Director, Port of Larne explains: "We work very closely with our customers to ensure that all their needs are met. When P&O Irish Sea approached us about bringing a larger ship on to the Larne-Troon service, we were only happy to work with them to ensure that their new, improved service operates as efficiently and smoothly as they and their customers would expect."
The Larne-Troon service is the only ferry service from Northern Ireland to Troon. As Mr James Esler, P&O Irish Sea, Sales and Marketing Manager comments: "Our Larne-Troon service, introduced only two years ago, has gone from strength to strength. We are now the only operator to offer a service to Troon and for 2005 we have increased capacity on this route by introducing the P&O Express. Short sea crossings and convenient sailing times have been a key to our successful fast ferry season. Our crossing times have proven to be unbeatable and our timetable has been designed to ensure maximum choice for our customers. With up to 22 sailings per day to and from Cairnryan and Troon, we offer the widest choice of sailing times and are the only operator to sail to Troon and to offer a choice of two Scottish ports."
The new vessel will offer superb onboard facilities and also has greater capacity, carrying up to 195 vehicles and 850 passengers.
Mr Esler adds: "European Highlander and European Causeway which operate our Larne-Cairnryan service are exceptional ships with first-class onboard facilities and an excellent reliability record. The P&O Express will complement these ships perfectly and ensure that our customers can choose to speed across the Irish Sea on our fast craft or cruise the shortest crossing on our superferries, knowing that either way, they will enjoy an excellent service."
