Freight News, Rail, Sea


Rosyth could regain rail link as Freeport unlocks seed funding

[ January 15, 2026   //   ]

The Forth Green Freeport (FGF) has signed a joint agreement with the UK Government to unlock £25 million of seed funding, including a possible revived rail link for the port of Rosyth.

The money will support reindustrialisation of the Edinburgh, Fife and Falkirk areas and attract £7.9 billion of private and public investment over the next decade.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill and Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes joined Forth Green Freeport chair, Dame Susan Rice, chief executive Sarah Murray and representatives from the three local authorities to mark the Memorandum of Understanding.

The seed capital funding will help prepare the key sites within the FGF area to attract investors and deliver major economic benefits for Scotland and allow delivery of projects to begin in key target sectors including offshore wind, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, modular manufacturing and logistics.

This feasibility project will assess reactivation of a dormant branch line at the Port of Rosyth for container trains. According to recent press reports, DFDS could introduce a ro ro service from the port to Dunkirk during 2026.

Also included in the funding is a Babcock Integrated Energy System at Rosyth that would significantly reduce reliance on grid-supplied electricity. The system will generate up to 50% of the site’s electricity demand, with the potential to export surplus energy to neighbouring facilities and partners, accelerating the transition to green energy across the Freeport and wider region.

The Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus will deliver new infrastructure and programmes supporting skills and innovation to accelerate growth in offshore wind, energy transition and shipbuilding in a phased development, with the first phase focused on refurbishing existing facilities and delivering a modular new build to serve industry and sector development by late 2026/27.

FGF became operational on 12 June 2024 and over the next 25 years is set to attract new businesses and new jobs into Burntisland, Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth, aided by a suite of tax and custom incentives.

FGF chair Dame Susan Rice said: “This is a momentous day for the entire Forth Green Freeport team as we mark the MoU agreement and release the £25 million of seed capital from the UK Government to help attract significant inward investment. We are grateful to both ministers, our local authority partners and FGF consortium members for being here today and we look forward to delivering this important project for Scotland.”

Kirsty McNeill added: ” The Forth Green Freeport will transform the economy of Central Scotland, as well as playing a key role in our clean energy future. Supported by £25 million of UK Government investment, and a range of UK Government tax incentives, this important collaboration between governments and local partners will deliver tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and attract billions in investment.”

Tags: