The reinstatement of a direct ferry route between Scotland and France is closer to reality after a £3m commitment from the government.
The new route will be launched 15 years after the last passenger service ended between the Scottish port of Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium. It was discontinued in 2010 because of falling passenger numbers, competitive pressure from budget airlines and increased running costs. The route continued for a few years as a freight-only service, before that was also discontinued in 2018.
The newly proposed service would operate from Rosyth and land in Dunkirk, offering both freight and passenger services. It would improve links between Scottish exporters and Dunkirk’s state-of-the-art rail terminal, which connects the port to major centres across the EU. The EU is a key market for Scottish businesses, accounting for nearly half (45%) of exports.
The government said it would create local jobs to support the ferry’s operation and comes at a time when the UK and EU...