Memorandum submitted by P&O Irish
Sea
INTRODUCTION TO
P&O IRISH SEA
P&O Irish Sea started the Mostyn Dublin
Service on the 19 November 2001. The new Mostyn-Dublin service
is operated by P&O Irish Sea's latest conventional fast ferry
the European Ambassador and the European Envoy, sailing at 23:00
and 08:30 from Mostyn. The European Ambassador was built in 2000,
and took up service from Liverpool in January 2001. From there
she was transferred along with the European Envoy to Mostyn. The
Ambassador is the fastest conventional ship on the Irish Sea,
transporting up to 405 passengers and their vehicles to Dublin
in less than six hours at a service speed of 26kts.
With the two vessels on the route we have a
capacity for 440 freight units a day inclusive of Imports and
Exports, with space on the terminal for 330 unaccompanied trailers,
40 driver accompanied, and 40 passenger vehicles.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
Before opening we were in consultation with
Flintshire County Council in respect of the major traffic flows
expected and planned Port traffic-routing. The aim was to avoid
the A550 between RAF Sealand and the A55 as these are exceptionally
busy stretches of road. It was decided that the aim was to signpost
Mostyn traffic onto the A548, past Deeside Industrial Park and
take advantage of the dual carriageway and third Dee-Crossing
Bridge.
In addition to this primary route it was also
identified that traffic from the Midlands and Mid-Wales, would
possible use the A5/A483/A55 and subsequent A5119 through Flint
Mountain onto the A548. Current works have progressed at Aber
Road Junction Flint onto the A548 which will improve traffic flows
down from the A55/A5119 through Flint Mountain.
Both these routes are currently signed using
AA temporary signs.
After consultation with most of our Freight
customer-base the primary route into Mostyn is using the M56/A5117/A550/A548.
This is also the route we recommend for passenger traffic in our
Brochure and on our Web-site.
At present the road "infrastructure"
along this route is good, with most of it being dual carriageway.
The areas of delay and congestion would be on the A548 in Flint
and the single carriageway between Greenfield-Ffynnongroyw and
the Shotwick Lights (A550/A5117).
The delays caused in Flint will only continue
to be a problem for hauliers visiting the port and the industry
based along the A548. This is now recognised as a major bottleneck
with safety and environmental issues associated with it. We are
aware that studies have looked at both these areas in the past,
and possible options on duelling selected. We would welcome any
such investigations regarding improvements such as the current
new "Dart Study". We look forward to an urgent solution
to this congestion problem.
A550/A548—Is and will continue to be problem
during peak traffic. We are aware that the Highways Agency intends
to carry out works in this area in 2006-07 to make this a high-speed
junction. Given the Welsh Improvements to the A55 "E"
road, we would welcome any assistance from the Welsh Assembly
in lobbying the highways agency to improve this stretch before
2006, thus removing the bottleneck from this major freight and
tourist route into Wales.
SIGNAGE
As mentioned previously signage at present is
in the form of temporary AA signage. We are currently progressing
with permanent signage, and taking advantage of road improvements
in the County to get Mostyn signposted. We have found that the
signing of Mostyn has meant dealing on three levels—Local
Council Level, Welsh Assembly Level for trunk roads and the Highways
Agency for trunk roads into North Wales, these being primarily
the M56/A5117.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Freight
Mostyn Docks is rail connected, with commodities
such as Steel and Chemicals (Warwick) being brought into the Port
by rail. Plans are underway to improve the "rail infrastructure"
at Mostyn Docks with additional sidings and warehousing. At present
all steel leaves Mostyn Docks by coastal general cargo ships,
some trials have been carried out with rail trans-shipments on
road trailers for onward shipping with P&O Irish Sea to Dublin.
A major haulier and customer of P&O Irish Sea (based at Mostyn
Docks) has plans to increase this type of traffic.
Passenger
In the mid-term we would like to see the re-opening
of Mostyn Station to accommodate for foot passenger traffic. As
the Mostyn route develops, and the name Mostyn becomes synonymous
with getting to Ireland, this is a market trend that we want to
develop further. This will give passengers more choice in getting
across the Irish Sea by foot.
Any improvement to link the Wrexham to Bidston
and Crewe to Bangor/Holyhead railway lines by means of the Shotton
cord would be essential for the development of rail freight along
the North Wales Coast, in particular for Mostyn Docks.
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