Dover Chaos: Passengers Trapped for 14 Hours in Holiday Hell
Fury and frustration erupted at Dover as coach passengers faced up to 14-hour waits to board ferries to France during the Easter rush. Delays were sparked by a mix of strong winds, record coach bookings, and painfully slow post-Brexit border checks.
Record Coach Numbers and Brexit Border Hassles
Coach bookings for the Easter period soared 15% above expectations, putting extra strain on the port. Boarding coaches takes much longer than cars, with each passenger needing individual passport inspections and stamps—a process that got a lot slower after Brexit.
“It was absolute carnage,” said stranded passengers, including schoolchildren stuck on coaches for hours while their trips abroad went up in smoke. The chaos sparked widespread complaints and scenes of frustration at the usually bustling port.
Ferries Add Extra Sailings But Backlog Remains
Port management apologised for the chaos, promising to clear bottlenecks. Ferry firms scrambled to add overnight crossings to ease the jam. The port’s communications team said the ferries were making “basically just one back and forth to clear as much as they can.”
Meanwhile, officials in northern France reported no problems on their end, blaming the crush on too many coaches arriving simultaneously.
Political Pressure and Passenger Spirit
A UK government spokesperson said ministers were in close touch with ferry operators and local authorities to sort the mess. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer slammed the government, insisting they “get a grip” on the situation.
Despite the delays, some stranded passengers at a Folkestone service station lifted spirits by dancing to pass the time—making the best of a rotten situation.
