Sustainable travel news vol. 11

Welcome to our eleventh sustainable travel roundup, created in collaboration with Flight Free UK, where we share some of the most recent updates, news, and developments shaping the future of eco-friendly travel.

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1. New ferry linking Scotland and France to set sail in spring 2026

A new ferry service linking Scotland and France for the first time could set sail in just a few months. The proposed journey between Rosyth, near Edinburgh, and Dunkirk in northern France will run three weekly return trips with a journey time of around 20 hours. It would become one of the longest sea journeys in Europe.

For tourists, the journey will provide an alternative way of travelling to the continent, and it will be possible to bring a vehicle on the crossing too.

Find out more on the Metro website.

2. New multi-day hiking trail unveiled

The Westmorland and Furness Way will cover 120 miles (193km) from Furness Abbey in the south to Alston in the north. The route has been designed to showcase the area's best countryside including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Lake District National Park.

Westmorland and Furness Council's cabinet member for transport, John Murray, said he hoped it would become as popular as the Coast-to-Coast walk or the Pennine Way.

Find out more on the BBC website.

3. New budget rail service to link Amsterdam and Berlin

A new Dutch rail startup, GoVolta, is preparing to enter Europe’s international train market. They will begin operations in March 2026, offering one-way tickets from Amsterdam to Berlin starting at just €10.

The first train to Berlin is scheduled to depart on 19 March 2026, with a connection to Hamburg launching the following day. Initially, both routes will operate three times a week, before being upgraded to daily services in the summer of 2026. Tickets are already available to book.

Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.

4. New train depot unveiled where trams will transform travel in South Wales

A train depot that will be home to brand new tram-trains operating across parts of South Wales, including Cardiff, has opened. The £100m South Wales Metro Depot at Taff's Well, which is bringing in 400 jobs, will house a fleet of 36 tram-trains and "transform transport across South Wales" according to Transport for Wales.

Find out more on the Wales Online website.

5. Work begins on Leeds walking and cycling scheme

A cycling and walking project that will link the north and south parts of Leeds city centre began work this month. The £12.76m Leeds City Links scheme aims to create safer, greener and more inclusive spaces and will include wider pavements, segregated bike tracks and improved traffic management.

Find out more on the BBC website.

6. Swansea to southwest England ferry proposal gets public support

A proposal for a ferry linking Swansea with southwest England has been supported by almost everyone who responded to a public consultation. Swansea Council said 98% of more than 4,000 respondents are in favour of a fast ferry crossing the Bristol Channel, but said more feasibility work was needed.

Find out more on the BBC website.

7. Ambulance service unveils first fully electric vehicles

The Welsh Ambulance Service has unveiled its first fully electric vehicles. Ten MAXUS eDELIVER 5 vehicles have now entered service as part of the Trust’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint.

It is expected that the vehicles will continue to drive down CO2 from diesel emissions and improve the experience of patients and staff. Paramedics will be able to re-charge their vehicles at numerous charging points at stations across Wales.

Find out more on the Emergency Services Times website.

8. Work finishes on five new railway stations

Construction work has finished on five new railway stations in the West Midlands. Kings Heath, Moseley and Pineapple Road stations on the Camp Hill line in Birmingham, along with stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in Walsall, are due to open in early 2026.

Once opened, it will mean the return of passengers to the Camp Hill line for the first time since the early 1940s and the end of a 60-year wait for services at Willenhall and Darlaston.

Find out more on the BBC website.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©