When the Eurostar first launched its route linking London, Paris, and Brussels in 1994, the idea of connecting United Kingdom and mainland Europe by rail was particularly revolutionary.
Government data from both countries shows approximately 12.7 million crossings between the United Kingdom and France in a given year, the vast majority by air.
Ferries have historically connected the two countries for much longer, and to this day, remain a convenient alternative for those traveling between specific places. As of 2026, approximately 550 sailings a week take place along 11 routes run by a half-dozen operators.
Plans for Scotland-France ferry scrapped over “long-term viability” of route
The main corridors depart from the southern English cities of Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Poole, while plans to launch a passenger ferry connecting Scotland and France were first introduced in 2022 as a way of restarting service operated by Superfast Ferries in 2002, the BBC noted.
The ferry route, presented as “Project Brave,” was supposed to run from Fife on the eastern coast of Scotland to Dunkirk in northern France. Both the Scottish and federal British governments had earlier committed £3 million each toward the project, which was initially slated to start in 2025.
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Forth Ports had been in talks about the route with Danish shipping company DFDS, but ultimately decided that concerns over the route’s “long-term viability” pushed it toward “delivering alternative activity at the port,” the BBC confirmed.
“After careful consideration, these discussions have not been able to be concluded, such that the service will not restart,” the statement reads further, according to the BBC.
Both the Scottish and U.K. governments said they were “disappointed” with the choice to scrap the route, which had been slated to run three times a week and take more than 20 hours. Although an option for tourists and fans of slow travel, it would not have been the most time-effective means of travel.
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“While this is ultimately a commercial decision, this is deeply disappointing news,” Scotland’s Transport Minister Stephen Flynn told BBC reporters. “The Scottish Government has wholeheartedly backed a direct ferry service between Scotland and Europe, and we have already taken a number of steps to enable it.”
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The last time visitors could travel to mainland Europe from Scotland on a passenger ferry was in 2010, when Dutch ferry operator Norfolkline scrapped service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium due to low demand, The Howorths reported. Cargo transport along the same route continued until 2018.
While Forth Ports promised to continue exploring new routes that may be more viable, no specific details for new passenger ferries have yet been floated by the port operator.
“The Port of Rosyth is an important asset for Scotland, and we are committed to exploring a number of business opportunities for the port which will deliver and sustain long-term job creation and economic growth,” Forth Ports said in its statement on the scrapped route.
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