Hi Cathal,
I just returned from Norway 2 weeks ago.
I would go back if the Newcastle - Bergen/Stavanger ferry was running but it's not, and probably never will.
The route I took seems to be the best of a bad bunch.
Harwich - Esbjerg (DFDS) drive to Hirtshals, then Hirtshals - Larvik or Kristiansands.

Not too bad actually, but not as good as the old Newcastle - Bergen/Stavanger.
As both routes are (were) run by DFDS, they haven't lost any thing.

'vette

I live in Stavanger and it is correct that the signs for the ferry terminal have UK covered over but this is only for "if" the ferry starts, there are no definate plans to operate this service again in the near future. A feasability study was done late last year and what I'm lead to believe is this report isn't finalised. There are many Norwegians who want this ferry to run again. The likelyhood is if it will run again it will be a summer schedule only.

I have contacted all ferry companies in Norway,
and here are - first - some bad news:

DFDS, Fjord Line and Color Line; none of these have any plans to reopen the ferry route between west-Norway and north-England. Though there has been operative routes since 1862, with only 5 years with no sailing under the second world war, and a couple of years between 1984 and 1986/1987(?).

DFDS' official reason was that they did not make any money on it.
That's misinformation. They did some really bad investments, that's it.
The ferries were always full.

Fjord Line gave it to DFDS when it all went down.
Before that, Color Line had these routes in the late eighties and the early nineties. Bergen Lines along with the legendary Fred. Olsen Lines sailed the north seas before that. Always a success - espescially for the tourism here, which they have lost 90,000 BRITISH PASSENGER/NIGHTS at hotels in the summer season alone!

We have a group on Facebook to get someone to reinstate these trips, because there are alot of norwegians that could sail for a reasonable price to the UK. And we are many who adore the city of Newcastle...

There are (again...) rumours that there are proforma companies looking into this, and supposedly there are some ongoing cooperation between norwegian and british investors who want to build a better ship, a little bit smaller, for tourism between the UK and Norway. Preferrably between Stavanger/Bergen and Newcastle. Time said to publish results would have been the 1st of July this year... but still none... silence, no information, what so ever...

The rumours also has it that sailings would not be in place before 2013 at earliest. Anyway, me and my friends have all waited too long now.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUSH THIS!

There's another thread on the HUBB (which I can't find) stating that one of the firms has issued an anouncement that they will be running from Sept 2012 - guess this may be incorrect

I think the only company who may pick up this route again is DFDS.
Now they seem to have spare ships on the UK - France crossings.
They may be tempted to run a "once a week" crossing, thus certainly ensuring every berth is full, every deck space has a vehicle on it.
Even if they just ran once a week, that would satisfy many, I for one.

vette

There is a ferry sailing between Norway and UK but mainly for lorries. See more info here: Sea crossing to Norway - ADVrider

It's a nice idea, but a ship running a service once per week still has to do something else to earn it's keep for the rest of the time, based out of a "home" port.
I crossed the short sea route, Dover-Calais, recently with DFDS and the ship in use was registered in Le Havre; it became evident that DFDS have made a bid for the LD (Louis Dreyfuss, a French company) routes, the longer crossings between the south coast of the UK and France.
The UK office of fair trading are taking input about this I understand, but DFDS appear to be moving their business further south, as far as the UK service is concerned - no doubt onto more profitable routes with more passengers, increased business and all-year-round traffic.

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Dave

Chanel Tunnel group have started a lease on the 3 x Sea France ferries.
I guess Chanel Tunnel are edging their bets, as the ferry remaining operators are picking up the ex Sea France customers, rather than taking Chanel Tunell.

It would be an economic Idea for either DFDS or P&O to consider which is their least profitable sailing times from UK to France.
Then remove these non profit sailings, and divert said ferry on a once a week, guaranteed, "filled to capacity" run from either Harwich to Oslo, or some other UK to Norwegian port, maybe Harwich, which isn't to far from Dover, to Kristiansands, which may well be the closest Norwegian port to mainland UK.

I am quite confident, if DFDS or P&O were to introduce a "once a week" sailing, then the ferry would be packed to the rafters, making serious money.

Vette

Looks like DFDS will reopen the route next year (2014).

That would be good but unfortunately not likely, I contacted DFDS last week to ask if the route to Norway was likely to start up again in 2014 & they said there were no plans to reinstate the UK to Norway crossing

Just posted this on another thread.

We live in hope

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