Imagine a day when you don’t need to be swearing at the road while trying to cross the bridges. Imagine a day when travelling between Edinburgh and Fife is like a warm summer breeze. Well, that could become real if the plans for Edinburgh to Fife ferries go ahead. The full proposal for a ferry from Leith to Kirkcaldy is set to be presented on Friday and discussed by counsillors in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh City Council has been flirting with the idea of resurfacing the long-forgotten plans to finally connect Edinburgh and Fife via water for a while now. Once the trams to Newhaven are finished, travelling to Fife via Newhaven could become a treat. What is more, new bus links for neighbouring areas could also be introduced to support this ‘ferocious’ plan.
Initially, Councillor Scott Arthur got inspired by the Staten Island Ferry in New York City and has strong ambitions for the Edinburgh to Fife Ferries plan to go ahead. The Staten Island Ferry runs regularly and is an efficient way to travel, as well as being environmentally friendlier. So, introducing a similar service to link the Scottish capital could help the council reach its net-zero goal by reducing carbon emissions. The report at its early stages for the said plans will be published on February 2.
15 years ago, the plans for introducing ferries were launched but kept on hitting a dead end. Stagecoach boss Brian Souter launched the idea of the project in 2007 but was turned down despite his efforts. A trial ferry from Portobello to Kirkcaldy was also trialled at one point but it did not seem to be satisfactory for Edinburgh City Council at the time. Now that we have a councillor backing the plans, the future for a fast water link between Edinburgh and further communities is significantly brighter.
As part of the Climate Change Act 2019, Scotland is set to achieve net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. An efficient and fast ferry link could not only provide a more convenient, less congested route but also contribute toward the government’s goals to help tackle climate change. So, you could soon be cruising away to Fife and back with amazing views, and let’s hope the plans do go ahead.