http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Ferry latest en Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:30:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385868 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:13:28 +0000 neddie 385868@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are frequent and fast trains to Newcastle. There is a connecting bus from Newcastle station to North Shields dock (albeit a service that could be improved)</p> <p>It's even possible to take the metro from Newcastle station to Meadow Well and walk 1 mile to the Ferry terminal. Trains every 10mins.</p> <p>Train connectivity to Rosyth is definitely not good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385867 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:54:00 +0000 neddie 385867@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nothing to do with being North of the border, and everything to do with what is a convenient amount time to spend for an overnight crossing.</p> <p>Ferries are very slow, so it's much quicker to go overland where possible. The only exception is where the journey by ferry can be made overnight, saving yourself a hotel and arriving rested for an early start the next day.</p> <p>For that reason, the Hull and Harwich ferries are unattractive (to me). Too short to get a decent night's kip, but too long to be attractive versus Eurostar.</p> <p>If I was going to the bother of going as far as Hull, I'd just stay on the train another 2 hours (from York) and then take the Eurostar (another 2h20).</p> <p>I'd love for Scotland to be better connected to the continent, but let's make the overnight crossings worthwhile, e.g. to Stavanger or Hamburg </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385865 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:24:17 +0000 Arellcat 385865@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There's no benefit to duplicating the ~14hour Newcastle to Ijmuiden route</em></p> <p>Except there is: it would reduce the additional journey distance and travel time for all passengers in Scotland.</p> <p>From Edinburgh you can drive or (try to) take the train to North Shields for the ferry to IJmuiden (and taking the train presents all the problems that taking the train to anywhere else in England does). From North Shields, if you go south as far again as you did from Edinburgh, you get to Hull where you can sail to Hoek van Holland. If you go as far again and add maybe another hour, you get to Harwich for the Hoek van Holland ferry.</p> <p>But somehow anywhere north of Newcastle is out of scope, out of mind. Scotland no longer has any ferries to the continent. It should have a ferry out of Rosyth, and another out of Aberdeen. And if we are being fair about roughly equidistant ferry terminals, perhaps the government could consider building Wick International.</p> <p>I'm still amazed that you can no longer get a ferry from Shetland to the Faroe Islands, and have to fly. An actual travel itinerary I saw once was ridiculously motorcentric: you were expected take the Lerwick car ferry to Aberdeen, literally drive down to Dover, take the Eurostar to Calais, drive up through Belgium, Germany and Denmark, and take the car ferry from Hirtshals to Tórshavn (which takes 37 hours on its own). Total distance was well over 2000 miles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385863 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:51:06 +0000 neddie 385863@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's no benefit to duplicating the ~14hour Newcastle to Ijmuiden route, with Rosyth to Ijmuiden taking ~18h.</p> <p>The ideal route for a long-distance ferry is one that travels overnight, taking 10 to 12 hours - so that you get a good night's sleep, but don't waste any of the next day.</p> <p>Sure, Rosyth to Stavanger or Olso would take maybe 24+hours, but it cuts off an enormous amount of driving/train on the continent </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385862 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:06:32 +0000 Arellcat 385862@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's the Rosyth Dockyard branch; it's still extant all the way from Inverkeithing south junction, but is overgrown and mostly single track.</p> <p>Oslo, Ijmuiden...any connection to the continent would be good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=5#post-385860 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:09:59 +0000 neddie 385860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Don't think it's a big loss to Scotland.</p> <p>What's needed is Rosyth to Oslo and a rail link to Rosyth dock. Surely this is possible in a 21stC nation?</p> <p>I note there is an old railway alignment passing under the Ferrytoll gyratory, connecting Inverkeithing to the docks </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-385856 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:15:55 +0000 LaidBack 385856@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This commitment melted away at roughly the same time as Lord Anas Sarwar's commitment to abolish the House of Lords.<br /> Cue a period of SNP blame Labour and vice versa.<br /> We now have the direct sleeper to Europe to provide future disappointment.<br /> Plenty of planes going to Europe though the campervanerati shun these as not environmentally sound.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/26556953.fife-europe-ferry-collapse-huge-loss-scotland/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thenational.scot/news/26556953.fife-europe-ferry-collapse-huge-loss-scotland/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-385855 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:48:42 +0000 gembo 385855@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Richard Wilson’s caricature Victor Meldrew would not say I Don’t Believe It</p> <p>If you want a laugh, go on your iplayer and watch the short programme Richard Wilson Remembers Tutti Frutti</p> <p>Richard Wilson played would be rock band manager and tailor Mr Clocherty. He had a foil Miss Toner played with savage brio by Katy Murphy. He was always telling her she would be getting the sack. Known colloquially as your jotters.</p> <p>If you don’t have a tv licence I shall tell you the story of when the Cotton Threads went to Capital Menswear at the bottom of Dundas Street in ye olden days.</p> <p>Fred Cotton Senior was a builder from Niddrie who was five feet tall and five feet wide. He liked five pints before his dinner and five pints after his dinner. Fred Cotton Jnr was made in his father’s image.</p> <p>The proud father took his spherical son to Capital Menswear to buy him a suit for his 18th birthday.</p> <p>They were met by Mr Clocherty upon entrance to his shop. Pops said We have cum for tae see if you have a suit for to fit the boy.</p> <p>Upon which Mr Clocherty remarked If we do, someone’s getting their jotters </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-385854 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:44:09 +0000 Morningsider 385854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, knock me down with a feather. The Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry "plan" has been abandoned:</p> <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26555958.rosyth-europe-ferry-service-scrapped-forth-ports/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26555958.rosyth-europe-ferry-service-scrapped-forth-ports/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-383903 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:24:48 +0000 chdot 383903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26032260.ferry-failure-fines-axed-amid-calmac-contract-scandal/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26032260.ferry-failure-fines-axed-amid-calmac-contract-scandal/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-383686 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:02:19 +0000 chdot 383686@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://archive.ph/2026.03.26-165728/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/calmac-facing-unprecedented-ferry-crisis-with-eight-major-vessels-out-of-action-6368901" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/2026.03.26-165728/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/calmac-facing-unprecedented-ferry-crisis-with-eight-major-vessels-out-of-action-6368901</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-383653 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:22:03 +0000 chdot 383653@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Ardrossan Harbour has now been nationalised after the Scottish government completed its acquisition of the port. </p> <p>The sale has been finalised as the Scottish government moves to speed up the harbour’s long-planned upgrade to improve the ferry service to Arran </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ardrossan-harbour-now-nationalised-as-sale-completes-6025743" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ardrossan-harbour-now-nationalised-as-sale-completes-6025743</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382934 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:31:40 +0000 Morningsider 382934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A very confused article, as it also incldues this quote from DFDS, the company slated to be running this definately going ahead service:<blockquote>A DFDS spokesperson said: “DFDS is still interested in the service, and we are actively engaged in constructive discussions with the local authorities.</p> <p>“Progress is being made, and we remain optimistic about the potential of this new route, but there is no firm timeline yet.”</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382928 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:14:51 +0000 chdot 382928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/rosyth-dunkirk-ferry-route-expected-launch-date-announced-5482514" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/rosyth-dunkirk-ferry-route-expected-launch-date-announced-5482514</a></p> <p>Well that’s clear then </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382736 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:26:45 +0000 Arellcat 382736@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like only the no.88/88A bus from Inverkeithing station and Ferrytoll P&amp;R goes to the Port of Rosyth. The no.19 from Rosyth station is a distant option. But even with the 88 you're dumped in a place that feel like you're not supposed to be there.</p> <p>How/where did the ferry service operate previously? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382734 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:07:26 +0000 Morningsider 382734@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"... is anticipated for launch in spring 2026."</p> <p>I'm not saying this isn't happening, but the article, and another article it links to, contains no solid information or any comment from the parties allegedly involved (DFDS, Forth Ports, Dunkirk Port etc.) Not even a "sources close to the project say". All a bit odd. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382733 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:44:57 +0000 neddie 382733@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As usual, these ferry routes are all designed around motoring. The main station at Dunkerque is several kilometres from the dock. Likewise at Rosyth and Inverkeithing station.</p> <p>Unless there are reasonably-priced connecting bus services, this route won't be as useful to us train travellers as simply going via Eurostar. The Newcastle-Ijmuiden suffers from extortionately-priced dock-to-station connecting buses(the buses added about £120 to the cost of the trip for a family of 4). And the Newcastle dock-station bus was a rattly old cramped double decker, with no proper waiting rooms or luggage hold. Talk about second-class citizens!</p> <p>We did get to see whales and dolphins on the trip though, which you're unlikely to see from Eurostar, unless something has gone horribly wrong. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382731 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:24:57 +0000 pringlis 382731@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's great news. We used the Newcastle -&gt; Amsterdam ferry last year for our Summer Holidays and it was fantastic. This is ~3 hour longer crossing but you save the ~2.5 hour drive to Newcastle each way so it's a very viable alternative to accessing the continent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382726 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:47:38 +0000 chdot 382726@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>New Scotland Europe Route of Rosyth to Dunkirk, France to Launch in Spring 2026 </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/69939-new-scotland-europe-route-of-rosyth-to-dunkirk-france-to-launch-in-spring-2026" rel="nofollow">https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/69939-new-scotland-europe-route-of-rosyth-to-dunkirk-france-to-launch-in-spring-2026</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-382717 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:02:33 +0000 chdot 382717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://archive.ph/2026.01.11-064305/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25754704.170k-calmac-exit-deal-raises-calls-investigation/" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/2026.01.11-064305/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25754704.170k-calmac-exit-deal-raises-calls-investigation/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-381974 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:10:40 +0000 chdot 381974@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Rosyth to Dunkirk is such a turkey of a route. What problem does it solve versus driving or taking the train to Newcastle“</p> <p>Not saying it’s a good idea, but ferry aimed at freight so presume Dunkirk has good connections to motorway network? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-381971 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:09:02 +0000 neddie 381971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Rosyth to Dunkirk is such a turkey of a route. What problem does it solve versus driving or taking the train to Newcastle and going overnight to Ijmuiden (Netherlands)?</p> <p>Rosyth to Olso would be much more useful. I mean that cuts off a whole load of driving.</p> <p>In an ideal world, there would be connecting routes servicing Olso, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-381965 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:33:40 +0000 gembo 381965@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wouldnt book on just yet </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-381964 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:31:05 +0000 Morningsider 381964@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I love that "the date" has been "set" by some bloke who doesn't work for a ferry operator, harbour authority, Scottish Government, or UK Government. Especially as the "challenges" to be addressed include - finding a ship, port upgrades, legislative change and funding from the Scottish and UK Governments. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-381963 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:18:15 +0000 LaidBack 381963@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/25614389.date-set-planned-2026-return-scotland-europe-ferry/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thenational.scot/news/25614389.date-set-planned-2026-return-scotland-europe-ferry/</a></p> <p>It will launch on 26th May 2026. ;-)</p> <p>Yes... I find this hard to believe too! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-380844 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:29:44 +0000 chdot 380844@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/demand-for-bigger-ferry-during-arran-disruption-amid-very-disturbing-outlook-5288750" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/demand-for-bigger-ferry-during-arran-disruption-amid-very-disturbing-outlook-5288750</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-379668 Wed, 14 May 2025 21:24:29 +0000 chdot 379668@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ferguson-marine-reveals-major-new-delay-to-glen-rosa-ferry-completion-5125240" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ferguson-marine-reveals-major-new-delay-to-glen-rosa-ferry-completion-5125240</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-379276 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:37:29 +0000 chdot 379276@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Any service is still some time away from launching, but the hope is that by next year a framework will be in place to start making serious inroads and all the key players will be round the table to look at locations, infrastructure and which type of vessel could be deployed across the Forth. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/forth-crossing-could-new-study-lead-to-launch-of-a-kirkcaldy-edinburgh-service-5085195" rel="nofollow">https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/forth-crossing-could-new-study-lead-to-launch-of-a-kirkcaldy-edinburgh-service-5085195</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-379187 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 07:19:48 +0000 Tulyar 379187@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Arellcat @neddie The hovercraft ran on regular diesel, and landed on the bus depot 'aprons' for Stagecoach (Kirkcaldy)/Lothian Buses (Seafield)- IIRC Neil Renilson (ex Stagecoach) was MD of Lothian Buses at this time as well</p> <p>A 12-15 minute journey (plus 10 minute bus ride to Central Edinburgh) is substantially more attractive than an hour or so on the train or coach via the Queensferry crossings</p> <p>Hence a detail to discuss with Peel Ports?</p> <p>They might find this useful for staff moving between sites as well...</p> <p>There are many examples of fast (40kts &amp; higher) 'ferries' using catamaran, planing (deep chine &amp; stepped down transom) or hydrofoil configuration, that typically carry 200-300 pax plus light freight (premium courier services)</p> <p>These can usually use regular harbours, and even land on some beaches. I note that trips on Loch Ness to Glenurqhart Castle using the Scot II icebreaker, would ram the bow into the steeply sloping land at the shoreline to get passengers on/off, as the stern was sitting over water going down over 20 metres... Hence a very practical option would be to sail from Burntisland to the marina pontoons at Newhaven, with a shallow draft vessel (eg a water jet propulsion catamaran) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20964&page=4#post-379161 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:46:22 +0000 Arellcat 379161@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The figures for the earlier hovercraft service actually showed it was popular for certain times, plus the 'special' connecting bus service to Ocean Terminal was well used, for some trips</p> <p>However the crossing times plus the boarding points being well away from bus &amp; rail routes rather scuppered its operation as a pax only service</em></p> <p>It's important to remember that this was a <em>trial</em> service. Without the investment in a concrete apron and appropriate terminal building for ticket sales and waiting, and proximity for refuelling, Portobello was the logical choice. Leith Docks is a) heavily industrialised and the parts that aren't are miserable to the traveller; b) mostly off-limits to the public anyway; c) requires access via the sea lock; and d) poorly served by PT to the shoreline until you reach Newhaven.</p> <p>The Ryde-Southsea hovercraft has a large car park at the Southsea end, and a bus service. At Ryde there is a large car park, a railway, a bus service and a ferry pier. Ryde has the advantage of having established itself at the shore rather than some distance inland like Edinburgh, and not industrialising the heck out of its port like Leith. </p>