New Scottish ferry route

[wessie]

unlikely to be up and running before 2026.

after the next election in Scotland in May 2026 as they hope the new government will offer a better subsidy than the current one

I can't see DFDS offering this service without a substantial subsidy as they will inevitably take some traffic from the Newcastle route. They get a big subsidy from Dieppe for the Newhaven route.

 

[JoeBiff]

There’s probably more to it than meets the eye.
It’s more than likely the Rosyth quay frontage will be realising more income from the renewables sector just right now, rather than turning it over for a landslide ferry operation and stacking ferry freight.
We all know how much subsidy Millibrain is giving the renewables of late.

 

[gerarddwatts]

EXCLUSIVE: Rosyth-France ferry border problem set to be solved https://share.google/kAFI0BqdAOscGvXC6

 

[JoeBiff]

EXCLUSIVE: Rosyth-France ferry border problem set to be solved https://share.google/kAFI0BqdAOscGvXC6

What am I missing?
The "border post" situation was resolved by the UK govt and ferry service operators in UK ports almost a decade ago - so why are the SNP bleating about it being a hindrance now?
And, what were DFDS doing seven years ago, that enabled them to maintain the doomed fire-ferry service?

Sounds typically very much like the SNP are claiming to have re-invented the wheel.
Smoke and mirrors, if you ask me and Mr Sloan is having a joke at the Scots' expense.

 

[ShakeyGS]

The Scottish Government does not have a good reputation when it comes to interfering with ferries.........

 

[gerarddwatts]

Scotland rugby fans will be able to travel to the France match next year on a new ferry route from Rosyth, officials from the Port of Dunkirk hope.
They said on Tuesday they expected the link to be launched by DFDS late this year or early in 2027 - and confirmed it would be going ahead.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with DFDS to assess the long-term commercial viability of the proposed service.
“A consultation on proposals to amend the minimum requirements for the location of a border control post ended last week and next steps will be announced in due course.”

Scotsman 21.1.26

If the Scottish Government are 'consulting' .....
don't hold your breath!

 

[MartinK]

I used the Rosyth ferry a few times when it used to run about 20 years ago
I was still employed then, so could leave work early on a Friday and catch the late afternoon ferry
Felt like the holiday started immediately, get your cabin, grab a beer, and sail under the Forth Rail Bridge
Fabulous

I'll be amazed if it remains commercially viable..... It's didn't last time

 

[gerarddwatts]

.....and the joy of getting off a boat and then an hour home!

 

[glenn2926]

.....and the joy of getting off a boat and then an hour home!

That is such a better ending to ones holiday than arriving at the south coast then having the long slog around London then North for a good few hours.
We got off the Rotterdam-Hull ferry this morning. Now home unpacked, washing machine on and sat with a coffee and catching up with this place. A much, much better way to the continent.

 

[Khulu]

That is such a better ending to ones holiday than arriving at the south coast then having the long slog around London then North for a good few hours.
We got off the Rotterdam-Hull ferry this morning. Now home unpacked, washing machine on and sat with a coffee and catching up with this place. A much, much better way to the continent.

I usually use the Chunnel as it's fast and easy once in France but it's a brute getting to and from it from where I live. I'd love to try the Rosyth ferry.

 

[TIJ650]

I think it’s a distant memory like leaded petrol?! Maybe even Nessie or flying haggis.
Shame though. My favourite was the Greek SuperFast.

 

[glenn2926]

I usually use the Chunnel as it's fast and easy once in France but it's a brute getting to and from it from where I live. I'd love to try the Rosyth ferry.

We used to use the Chunnel when we had the dog as it was much easier with her. We no longer have a dog so I have pretty much promised myself that I will never need to go south in this country again.
I say pretty much but we’ve got a group bike trip to Ireland later this year and we’re going from Fishguard for a change so I will have to go south. Hopefully going down Wales will be more fun than going to the Chunnel.

 

[gerarddwatts]

All due respect to Hullians, but getting spat off a boat, in the rain, which appears to be a permanent feature in Ull, and then faced with the deeply unattractive drag up to Perthshire, is not something I will remember with fondness....
As for Folkestone north on a bike...never again! Bad enough in a car but at least you can be comfortable, dry, suck sweeties...
Rosyth on the other hand...

 

[Neil W]

DFDS you might as well sell a kidney to pay the fare if the Newcastle route is anything to go by

 

[TIJ650]

I’d like the Bergen one back too - since we’re all giving each other hand jobs!

 

[gerarddwatts]

I’d like the Bergen one back too - since we’re all giving each other hand jobs!

Speak for yerself!

 

[ThreeDawg]

We came back from Spain (and Morocco on the Tanger Med ferry to Barcelona) from Bilbao to Rosslare, then Larne Cairnryan. This made much more sense to us than riding up through England from Portsmouth. Obviously not much good if you want to explore Germany.

Anyway, we are going to Spain again later this year and will ride from Inverness to Cairnryan, overnight there and then get the ferry over and ride straight down to Rosslare for the boat to Bilbao. One night B&B, two fairly easy days riding and then we are in the sunshine.

Also did Newcastle to Holland last year, seemed like a decent crossing for about £350 (IIRC) including a cabin with a window, six hours or so from here, can't see riding another 2 1/2 hours to Hull worth the effort, even if it saves a few quid. And I would pay extra to go from Rosyth just to avoid that shitbox ring road around Edinburgh. That was only the first of 15 ferries on our trip incuding Genoa to Tanger Med - 52 hours, that one...

 

[John Armstrong]

DFDS you might as well sell a kidney to pay the fare if the Newcastle route is anything to go by

£480 return for me, my bike and a cabin in September didn't seem to be too bad to me. That does include £85 off when they had an offer, which they retrospectively applied. Especially as it's an easy 5 hours back home from Newcastle compared to 7 hours from Hull.

As others have said, any further south than Hull and you're into the delights of the M1 / M6 etc, and I thankfully can afford to forgo that pleasure.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Just checked the cost of our one-way DFDS ticket, I was about right. Is it expensive considering it's a night's accommodation and 350 miles from the Toon to say Folkstone? I don't think so.

 

[gerarddwatts]

STV 19 March...

A direct ferry service between Scotland and Europe has moved a step closer after the UK Government committed £3m in funding.

The investment will support the upgrade of Border Force and Customs infrastructure at Rosyth ahead of a proposed new route between the Fife town and Dunkirk in northern France.