Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Dover queues – live: Roads ‘extremely busy’ as passengers urged to bring supplies

High volume of traffic builds at port entrance

Queues of traffic pile up at the Port of Dover during Easter weekend getaway

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Huge queues of holidaymakers are waiting on “extremely busy roads” close to the Port of Dover amid warnings of 90-minute delays.

Cars could be seen snaking from the Kent port to the nearby town after 11am on Good Friday, with lorries thought to be stretching back further.

P&O Ferries and operator DFDS were reporting delays of between 60 and 90 minutes to the port’s entrance while Irish Ferries advised people to allow up to three hours before their travel time.

Drivers have been advised to bring supplies in case they are left waiting for hours, with queues expected to lengthen in the early afternoon.

Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s going to be a busy day, we’re running probably about an hour to an hour and a half to get through border controls at the moment, and we will peak through probably early afternoon, and then it will start to slow down after that.”

DFDS shares ports update

As of 9pm, traffic was free flowing through border controls at the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Dover, according to the latest update from the DFDS.

Emily Atkinson8 April 2023 03:00

Interrail travellers warned to use half-price tickets now or lose out

Travellers who purchased Interrail passes during the anniversary sale last year are being warned they need to “activate” them soon before they become void.

In May 2022, Interrail celebrated half a century of the unlimited train ticket in Europe. To mark the occasion, the company behind the rail pass – Eurail, based in the Netherlands – staged a flash sale from 6 to 11 May 2022.

Prospective passengers were offered one-, two- or three-month Interrail passes at half price. These allow go-as-you-please adventures on the national railways of 33 participating countries.

Travel correspondent Simon Calder has the details:

Use half-price Interrail ticket now or lose out, expert warns

‘These mobile passes are brilliantly flexible, but there is one strict rule: they must be activated within 11 months of the date of purchase’

Emily Atkinson8 April 2023 04:00

ICYMI: Port of Dover boss promises smoother weekend for France travellers

Port of Dover boss promises smoother weekend for France travellers
Emily Atkinson8 April 2023 06:00

Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our blog but for more travel updates click here.

Katy Clifton8 April 2023 08:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in