Newcastle City Council is exploring the possibility of restoring a direct ferry route to Bergen, Norway, 18 years after it was cancelled. Council leader Karen Kilgour announced plans to “explore all ways” to revive the popular journey during a meeting on 21 January.
The former ferry connection, operated by DFDS, ceased service on 1 September 2008 due to rising oil prices. Kilgour acknowledged that operators currently consider the route economically unviable but said the council would continue working with partners and Bergen officials to find a way forward.
Newcastle and Bergen have been formally twinned for nearly 58 years, with ties dating back to the Second World War. Kilgour highlighted their shared history in fishing, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and offshore energy, calling it an important part of Newcastle’s civic identity.
Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Stone, a long-time advocate for restoring the ferry, welcomed the commitment but urged concrete action. “Warm words are one thing, but we need to make it a reality,” he said, suggesting collaboration with the mayor to restore the physical link.
Kilgour also expressed delight at Jet2’s trial of direct flights between Newcastle and Bergen, starting in April this year, as a positive step for connectivity.
