Brittany Ferries has announced it will scale up its Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings, both in frequency and capacity.
The company will operate daily sailings to the French port from October 2025.
This comes following an announcement in June that Stena Line is to cut its three-day Rosslare to Cherbourg service from 30 September 2025.
The decision by Brittany to increase sailings is likely to be a relief to Irish calf exporters, who rely on the route to transport thousands of calves to the continent every spring.
The number of cattle exported from Ireland live for the year to mid-July was just under 300,000 head, following a 35,273 increase year on year. This equates to a 13.7% rise.
Daily departures
Brittany Ferries, based in both Cork and Wexford, will up its departures from Rosslare from five to seven days a week.
The move includes a new Tuesday evening departure at 9pm, with additional sailings to be phased in as part of a broader strengthening of the route. Full schedules will be published shortly.
Brittany Ferries said it is ready to boost business continuity for Irish hauliers and to offer more choice to holidaymakers.
The company said the announcement reflects the close partnership of Brittany Ferries with Rosslare Europort, as well as the Port of Cherbourg.
Competitor
Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said the company decided to make a move following Stena Line’s decision to withdraw from the route.
“Brittany Ferries is a company that prides itself on its ability to move quickly when opportunity knocks.
“News that our competitor was stepping back started the firing pistol in a concerted effort to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France.
“I am delighted that we are able to confirm this increase in capacity on the Cherbourg-Rosslare route and thank Rosslare Europort and the Port of Cherbourg for their support.
“It means greater choice for holidaymakers and even more opportunity for freight operators seeking to bypass the UK entirely, cutting down on bureaucracy and delays at the UK border.
“Our new train connection in Cherbourg only adds further strings to the multi-modal bow,” he added.
Rail
Brittany’s first train, christened Ro-Ro Rail, is a further development in its route network. It connects Ireland with the Iberian Peninsula via ferry and rail.
The rail line links Cherbourg and Bayonne, carrying unaccompanied trailers over 970km of the French rail network.
Director of commercial business units for Iarnród Éireann (the port authority for Rosslare Europort) Glenn Carr said it was “delighted” with this new development.
“Since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased six-fold and our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike.
Pont-Aven, the company’s flagship, will also continue to sail during part of the winter period, after the company initially planned to lay her over.
“There has been intense interest in additional Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings and Brittany Ferries [has] demonstrated [its] can-do attitude by confirming this expansion with us so quickly, capitalising on the strength of the route for passenger and freight markets alike.”
Background
Brittany Ferries launched a Rosslare to Cherbourg service in 2021. It was a post-Brexit response to demand from hauliers, to remove the need to cross the UK landbridge when moving freight between Ireland and France.
Recently third, fourth and fifth weekly return-sailings had been added as demand continued to rise. Freight units have doubled this year.
The capacity boost is also good news for seafarers, as several ships scheduled to be taken out of service over the winter are now expected to serve the Rosslare-Cherbourg expansion.
Galicia, for example, one of five new ships that joined the Brittany Ferries fleet in 2020, will serve Rosslare-Cherbourg throughout the winter, rather than being tied up.
Pont-Aven, the company’s flagship, will also continue to sail during part of the winter period, after the company initially planned to lay her over.
Brittany Ferries has announced it will scale up its Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings, both in frequency and capacity.
The company will operate daily sailings to the French port from October 2025.
This comes following an announcement in June that Stena Line is to cut its three-day Rosslare to Cherbourg service from 30 September 2025.
The decision by Brittany to increase sailings is likely to be a relief to Irish calf exporters, who rely on the route to transport thousands of calves to the continent every spring.
The number of cattle exported from Ireland live for the year to mid-July was just under 300,000 head, following a 35,273 increase year on year. This equates to a 13.7% rise.
Daily departures
Brittany Ferries, based in both Cork and Wexford, will up its departures from Rosslare from five to seven days a week.
The move includes a new Tuesday evening departure at 9pm, with additional sailings to be phased in as part of a broader strengthening of the route. Full schedules will be published shortly.
Brittany Ferries said it is ready to boost business continuity for Irish hauliers and to offer more choice to holidaymakers.
The company said the announcement reflects the close partnership of Brittany Ferries with Rosslare Europort, as well as the Port of Cherbourg.
Competitor
Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said the company decided to make a move following Stena Line’s decision to withdraw from the route.
“Brittany Ferries is a company that prides itself on its ability to move quickly when opportunity knocks.
“News that our competitor was stepping back started the firing pistol in a concerted effort to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France.
“I am delighted that we are able to confirm this increase in capacity on the Cherbourg-Rosslare route and thank Rosslare Europort and the Port of Cherbourg for their support.
“It means greater choice for holidaymakers and even more opportunity for freight operators seeking to bypass the UK entirely, cutting down on bureaucracy and delays at the UK border.
“Our new train connection in Cherbourg only adds further strings to the multi-modal bow,” he added.
Rail
Brittany’s first train, christened Ro-Ro Rail, is a further development in its route network. It connects Ireland with the Iberian Peninsula via ferry and rail.
The rail line links Cherbourg and Bayonne, carrying unaccompanied trailers over 970km of the French rail network.
Director of commercial business units for Iarnród Éireann (the port authority for Rosslare Europort) Glenn Carr said it was “delighted” with this new development.
“Since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased six-fold and our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike.
Pont-Aven, the company’s flagship, will also continue to sail during part of the winter period, after the company initially planned to lay her over.
“There has been intense interest in additional Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings and Brittany Ferries [has] demonstrated [its] can-do attitude by confirming this expansion with us so quickly, capitalising on the strength of the route for passenger and freight markets alike.”
Background
Brittany Ferries launched a Rosslare to Cherbourg service in 2021. It was a post-Brexit response to demand from hauliers, to remove the need to cross the UK landbridge when moving freight between Ireland and France.
Recently third, fourth and fifth weekly return-sailings had been added as demand continued to rise. Freight units have doubled this year.
The capacity boost is also good news for seafarers, as several ships scheduled to be taken out of service over the winter are now expected to serve the Rosslare-Cherbourg expansion.
Galicia, for example, one of five new ships that joined the Brittany Ferries fleet in 2020, will serve Rosslare-Cherbourg throughout the winter, rather than being tied up.
Pont-Aven, the company’s flagship, will also continue to sail during part of the winter period, after the company initially planned to lay her over.
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