Le Shuttle sets fares at same levels as ferries

Fares for the Le Shuttle services through the Channel tunnel have been pegged broadly to those of the ferry companies for the forthcoming summer season.

There will be bargains, however, for those prepared to travel at off-peak times, including a five-day return for £115.

Eurotunnel, which has the concession on the tunnel until 2052 and operates the Shuttle services, has repeated its pledge not to be involved in a price war. But it has moved away from the very simple fare structure announced last year, which had to be abandoned because of the tunnel's late opening.

Georges-Christian Chazot, Eurotunnel's chief executive, said there would be no point in the ferries initiating a price war because they could never drive the tunnel out of business. "The tunnel is here until the end of our concession and much longer."

However, Eurotunnel has deliberately set its fares slightly lower than those of the ferry firms for people travelling with two or more passengers. For example, the peak-time return, which applies for weekends in July and August and for the Spring Bank Holiday, has been set at £308 - £12 cheaper than the equivalent for the ferries. Similarly the off-peak fare of £214 is £6 cheaper.

Eurotunnel has been operating an hourly service for pre-booked passengers since just before Christmas. It expects to increase the frequency over the next few months to a full "turn up and go" service with no reservations of four departures per hour by the summer.

The service is restricted to cars below 1.85 metres - which rules out the Land Rover Discovery and some Shoguns - but the company hopes to be able to carry taller cars, caravans and coaches by the spring.

Ferry companies and Eurotunnel are offering special deals. Eurotunnel will allow customers who buy a £49 day-return ticket for travel between now and the end of April to get a £49 discount off any standard price return journey between May and September 1995.

P&O and Stena Sealink are offering a 20 per cent discount for journeys this year to people booking and paying before the end of next month.