Copies of the pocket-sized winter timetable publication were launched at the Royal National Mod in Perth this morning (Monday, October 11), when the company also confirmed that it will be launching CD versions of the timetables and its new Brochure for 2005. CalMac is main supporter of the Mod, which will next year be held in Stornoway and in 2006 in Dunoon.

Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communications and Customer Care, speaking in Perth , said: “This more or less makes winter official, I suppose, and we would like to remind customers of the change in timetable. The facility to be able to reproduce our timetables and the Brochure in CD format is an innovation for our customers and we will be using the facility for marketing purposes in particular as it enables to do bulk mailing more cost-effectively. This is not a case of replacing the pocket-sized version of the timetable which has proved to be spectacularly successful since we introduced it. This is another option for our customers and it is their own choice which they request when asking for a timetable.”

The winter timetable has been available on the CalMac website for some time and the CD version should be available within the next fortnight. Hugh Dan MacLennan also confirmed that the winter timetable will contain an extra daily sailing between Barra and Eriskay, which has been made possible through financial assistance from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Islands Council. The service will operate Monday to Saturday, leaving Barra at 0930, returning from Eriskay at 1030.

Caledonian MacBrayne’s new Brochure for 2005, which will for the first time contain the winter and summer timetables in a newly extended format, will be available before the end of the month. Explore 2005, which is packed with information about routes, venues and attractions which CalMac serves, can be ordered in print or CD format through the website www.calmac.co.uk

Ends

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communications and Customer Care, Caledonian MacBrayne.   Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk.

Issued:   Monday, October 11, 2004  : 1000