Dunfermline MP Graeme Downie: 'Time is now' for Rosyth ferry

That's according to Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie who said "time is of the essence" if they are to establish a passenger and freight service from West Fife to France next year.

He floated the idea during a debate in Westminster and said re-opening Scotland's only direct sea link to Europe could eventually see up to 80,000 passengers a year using the route, bringing an extra £11.5m to the Scottish economy.

Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Start up funding needed to help sail Rosyth ferry plans

Mr Downie said: "I believe, as do many of my constituents, that now is the time to bring this project back and, to that end, I have held several discussions with those coordinating these efforts as well as DFDS who have said they would like to bring this service back as soon as Spring 2025 but travelling instead from Rosyth to Dunkirk.

"Additional investment in the port at Dunkirk, including on facilities and additional upgrading of freight and rail facilities, mean that this is an optimal moment to bring back this service from Scotland to Europe."

The Labour MP added: "It could take as little as £3m investment in Rosyth to bring a regular passenger and freight service back between Scotland and mainland Europe.

"But time is of the essence if this opportunity is to be fully realised."

The ferry service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge ended in 2018. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: French port revealed as possible new destination for Rosyth ferry

The Rosyth ferry began sailing to Zeebrugge in Belgium in 2002.

It stopped carrying passengers in 2010 when it became a freight-only service and ended altogether in 2018.

It was long an ambition of Mr Downie's predecessor, Dunfermline and West Fife SNP MP Douglas Chapman, who campaigned for the ferry's return and had been "hugely optimistic" that it would return.

Those plans looked dead in the water as "critical" government funding, either from Westminster or Holyrood, was not forthcoming.

At Westminster on Tuesday Mr Downie said: "With £3m of funding we could get a jump start on all of this as soon as Spring 2025.

"This government has said it wants to move quickly, with investments that deliver.

"To my mind, there is no better example of that than getting a passenger and freight ferry back up and running between Scotland and mainland Europe, with Rosyth perfectly positioned for this service."

He said the infrastructure needed was "not extensive" and legislation would need to be amended to allow the Border Control post at Grangemouth "to be used for Rosyth for certain freight".

The MP said the estimates are that the ferry would initially carry 51,000 passengers a year, rising to 79,000, and as well as the boost to the economy it would take 8.2 million km of freight traffic off UK roads each year.