Since its launch four years ago, following a £10m upgrade of Rosyth port from the public coffers the service has proved popular with freight and passenger customers alike and recent reports from Rosyth indicate a significant increase in road freight numbers on the daily crossing.

Now the daily service from Rosyth has been changed to three times weekly, sailing from Scotland on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with return sailings from Zeebrugge on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

"This is bad news for Scottish hauliers," said RHA regional director Phil Flanders. "Current haulage rates from Scotland to the Continent are based on Superfast prices. If loads have to go south to Hull to complete a 24 hour delivery we won't be able to compete. There's no doubt that unaccompanied ferry freight is the way to go and this concept would have even more value if the working time directive could be enforced throughout Europe."

Only Superfast X will now operate on the route, while Superfast IX moves to the Germany-Finland sector to meet increased demand there.

The market dictates that passenger traffic is lower during the winter months, and the move should help make traffic on the route more consistent throughout the year. However there appears to be no plans to reintroduce Superfast IX in the immediate future.