Tickets for fast and conventional ferry sailings on the Newhaven Dieppe route go on sale today.

It means passengers will have the choice of the Hoverspeed fast ferry or the slower conventional ferry Sardinia Vera, operated by Transmanche Ferries, when booking for the 64 mile crossing.

The agreement means tickets will be on sale throughout the year as the Sardinia Vera will be operating as an all year round freight and passenger service.

It will give a boost to the route as the conventional ferry can carry coaches, unlike the fast ferry. Hoverspeed has now introduced a series of packages aimed at encouraging coach travel on the route.

Based on a coach and a maximum of £55 passengers, fares start from £220 for a 36 hour return with £470 for a standard single.

The 12,000 tonne Sardinia Vera can carry 600 passengers and 50 lorries and completes the crossing in four hours. It will be making two sailings a day, leaving Newhaven at 9 a.m. and making the return from Dieppe at 4 pm.

The fast ferry service makes two return sailings each day taking two hours. During the peak Summer months it will be making three return journeys.

Sea Containers, the parent company of Hoverspeed, sold the port of Newhaven, to a French consortium, which includes the Seine Maritime regional council and the Transmanche Ferries, for £15 million last month.

The French have spent millions on improving facilities at Dieppe.

They have been anxious to get an all year ferry service on the 64 mile route as the economy of the northern French port relies heavily on the ferry.

The problem had been the seasonal Hoverspeed fast ferry service, which runs between March and the end of October.

Hoverspeed had wanted to protect that service and was making strict demands regarding ticket sales on both routes.

Hoverspeed had at one time sought a percentage on sales regarded as excessive by the French.

But now agreement has been reached and tickets for Hoverspeed and the Transmanche ferry are available from one number 08705 240241.