Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has welcomed the announcement by Minister of Transport Nicol Stephen MP that regular users of four ferry routes will no longer pay a supplement to travel on peak-time sailings.

The new arrangements, which will be applied from the start of the 2004 summer season on April 2, mean that books of six and ten multi-journey tickets will be available for use on designated sailings at the higher, standard fare.  The routes affected are: Ardrossan-Brodick (car); Oban-Craignure (car);  Kennacraig-Islay (car), Largs-Cumbrae (passenger and car). 

As agreed with the Scottish Executive, the changes are being introduced on a revenue neutral basis and this will involve some increases in fares (variable, but less than two per cent) to compensate for the company’s loss of revenue. Arrangements will also be put in place to secure the integrity of the new system, so that double-booking cannot take place. When customers avail themselves of the new opportunity, they will be asked to verify the tickets being used and bookings will be taken on a non-refundable basis.

CalMac Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair said: “The use of multi-journey tickets on all sailings, which was previously not allowed, is a significant change in policy which should benefit regular island-based customers. Clearly, the higher standard fare applied on certain sailings still has a role to play in coping with demand when we are at our busiest.  I am sure that it will be recognised that we are making this adjustment taking into account the interests of our customers and our obligations as an Executive agency in receipt of Deficit Grant funding.”

A 2001 review of CalMac’s fares concluded that full standard fares (formerly peak pricing) should be retained, but reviewed in relation to the individual sailings on which they applied and their impact on user groups. CalMac acknowledged that such fares could spread demand across the available sailings, therefore avoiding capacity constraints at busy times.