Customer Update - Latest network update, Arran service
Customer Update - Latest network update - Arran service
Update 9 March 2024
Our main Arran service will return to operate to / from Ardrossan-Brodick from 08:20 Monday 11 March 2024. The timetable details can be viewed on our Service Status and Information page.
Recent weather conditions had previously necessitated a temporary relocation to Troon. Thank you to our customers for your understanding.
As always, and especially given the weather forecast, if you are travelling with us, please stay in touch for up to the minute information on the service via our service status and information pages, and via @CalMac_Updates on 'X' (formerly Twitter).
Updated: 8 March 2024
Ticketing Update for Troon - Friday 8 March
We continue to strongly encourage customers (including foot passengers) intending to use Troon-Brodick sailings to book in advance. Online sales close 2 hours prior to sailing departure. Due to the reduced number of sailings, we cannot guarantee that customers without a booking will be able to travel.
We are now able to offer ticket sales at Troon (subject to space being available) using card/contactless methods only. We cannot currently accept cash payments at Troon. Customers wishing to purchase a ticket using cash (subject to space being available) can do so at Ardrossan, from where a shuttle bus is operating to Troon.
Updated: 06 March 2024
The Arran service will operate from Troon - Brodick from Friday 8 March to Sunday 10 March 2024 inclusive since forecasted weather conditions, specifically wind direction, deem the Arran Berth at Ardrossan unsuitable for this period. This service will be operated by MV Isle of Arran.
For this period Brodick (Arran) port operations will continue as normal around the amended timetable to Troon.
We will provide an update for services to Arran from Monday 11 March on the afternoon of Saturday 9 March. In the meantime, we've shared all the information you will need to support you in traveling to/from Arran via Troon.
Timetable
The timetable for the period is available on our service status and information page which carries the very latest details on our service.
As always, and especially given the weather forecast, please stay in touch with us for up to the minute information on the service via our service status and information page, and via @CalMac_Updates on 'X' (formerly Twitter).
Customer reservations
If you have a booking with us which has been affected / moved to Troon, our port teams will be in contact with you to provide information.
If you are planning to travel to Brodick (from Troon), please book prior to travel. Customers with vehicles wishing to travel on this route, must make a prior reservation (please select Troon -Brodick when booking online). We very strongly encourage foot passengers to book in advance also since we cannot guarantee that customers without a booking will be able to travel.
Our booking system is currently being updated to reflect the changes. This is being carried out in stages. While this work is underway, it may appear that some sailings appear unavailable, so please do check back for availability.
Important information on travel via Troon
Our FAQs for travel to/from Troon are now available. Please take a moment to read them- they are an important guide to travelling to and from Troon, and will include details on the shuttle buses we have organised to connect you from Ardrossan Ferry Terminal and Troon train station to Troon port, and information on passenger facilities at Troon, for instance - there are no catering facilities at the port's terminal building. We will also include details on car parking, which is now available at Troon.
We encourage anybody who is returning from the island from Monday onwards (if the service has returned to Ardrossan) to leave their car in the car park at Ardrossan and use the shuttle bus to travel to Troon on the outward journey, as if the service has returned to operating from Ardrossan there will be no transport in place from Monday onwards between Ardrossan and Troon. If the service were to remain in operation from Troon from Monday, buses would remain in place.
Thank you for your patience - our team as always is working hard to minimise the effect of weather on the service, wherever possible.
Updated: 15 February 2024
Our main Arran service will return to operate to / from Ardrossan from 07:00, Friday 16 February 2024. View the timetable for the route on our timetable page.
Recent weather conditions and repairs to the main berth at Ardrossan by Peel Ports - the harbour authority - had previously necessitated a temporary relocation to Troon.
During periods of poor weather, Troon remains an alternative option to support our main Arran service to Brodick. Given resource availability, this won't happen on a sailing-by-sailing basis, however, should the need arise again, we'll let you know as quickly as possible.
Lochranza-Claonaig services
Sailings from Lochranza to Claonaig will continue to provide an alternative connection between Arran and the mainland. Sailing times can be found on our service status pages.
At this time of year especially, we encourage customers intending to travel to stay up to date with the latest information via our service status and information pages and via our @CalMac_Updates page on X (formerly Twitter).
Thank you for your patience during the temporary relocation to Troon - a move which took place at pace for customers and staff alike.
Updated 14 February 2024
An update on whether the main Arran service will continue to temporarily operate from Troon from Friday 16 February, or return to Ardrossan will be provided by 3pm on 15 February 2024 via our service status and information pages.
Peel Ports, the harbour authority managing repairs to fenders on the Arran berth in Ardrossan advised this afternoon that repairs are ongoing, and a further update will be provided on 15 February.
The service will continue to operate to/from Troon-Brodick on 15 February as planned. We will update customers as soon as we have further information from Peel Ports. Thank you for your ongoing patience.
Update: 9 February 2024
Building on the recent updates published this week regarding how we are supporting services to Arran, we have shared a further update below to provide customers with advance information:
Troon-Brodick service continuing to Thursday 15 February
The main Arran service will continue to temporarily operate from Troon to Brodick until Thursday 15 February.
We will provide an update on services from Friday 16 February by Wednesday 14 February on our service status and information page for the route.
This temporary measure was previously put in place since forecast weather conditions would affect the use of the main berth at Ardrossan. Given current weather conditions for Tuesday 13 February and Wednesday 14 February present the same issue, in addition to uncertainty of timescales around Peel Ports' completion of repairs to the berth's fender - the temporary relocation has been extended to provide service reliability and reassurance for customers.
The temporary timetable will remain in place and can be viewed on our service status and information page for the route, where we also provide the latest information on all services.
Customer reservations
If you have a booking with us which is likely to be affected, our team will be in contact with you to provide information.
If you are planning to travel to Brodick (from Troon), please book prior to travel. There is no ticket office at Troon, so all customers wishing to travel on this route, will need to have made a prior reservation (please select Troon -Brodick when booking online). Our booking system is currently being updated to reflect the changes. This is being carried out in stages. While this work is underway, it may appear that some sailings appear unavailable, so please do check back for availability.
Information on travel via Troon
Please review our FAQs which provide information on travelling to and from Troon, including details on the shuttle buses we have organised to connect you from Ardrossan Ferry Terminal and Troon train station to Troon port.
Update: 08 February 2024
Freight service Troon-Brodick from 10 February 2024
On Saturday 10 February, MV Alfred, which has been delivering freight services between Troon-Brodick will be deployed to provide cover on the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy service from Monday 12 February - Friday 16 February, while MV Hebrides departs for annual overhaul.
On Friday 16 February, MV Alfred will begin transit to Birkenhead to begin her own overhaul period. Her next period of deployment will be confirmed in due course.
MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate a single vessel service to Brodick, Arran. As per the details below, given forecast weather conditions, this will operate to/from Troon between Thursday 8 February - Sunday 11 February. (Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February have been cancelled due to adverse weather forecasts)
We've also provided full details below on how we will support customers with transportation to Troon via shuttle bus.
Update: 07 February 2024
Following successful berthing trials today, Wednesday 7 February 2024, the main Arran service will operate between Troon and Brodick from Thursday 8 February - Sunday 11 February, inclusive.
This means that sailings on the Ardrossan-Brodick route will temporarily relocate to Troon-Brodick. This is a temporary measure given that forecast weather conditions will affect use of the main berth from Ardrossan.
The alternative timetable can be viewed on our service status and information pages.
A shuttle bus from Ardrossan ferry terminal and Troon train station will be available to connect customers to each sailing - full details on shuttle buses, and to help our customers understand more about the temporary relocation can be found in our customer FAQs.
Please note, sailings on Sunday 11 February may revert to Ardrossan - Brodick if there's an improvement in the weather. As always at this time of year, we encourage our customers to stay connected to the service status and information page to see the very latest detail on service on this route. If you have a booking for Sunday, our teams will keep you updated if there are any changes.
Update: 06 February 2024
Following on from our recent updates, we want to provide customers with clarity and the latest details on how we are supporting services to and from Arran.
As always, and at this time of year especially, please stay connected with us via our service status and information pages for the very latest details on each route, and by following updates from our team at @CalMac_Updates on X (formerly Twitter).
Arran services between Ardrossan/Troon-Brodick
As per our update on Friday 2 February, the harbour authority, Peel Ports confirmed the Irish berth at Ardrossan Harbour would close permanently. However, MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate a single vessel service from the main berth at Ardrossan.
Current weather forecasts predict that services from the main berth may be affected during 7 February to 10 February. Should your reservation be affected, we will contact you to provide an update. You can also stay informed via our service status and information pages which carries the latest details on the service.
Working with our partners, we have moved quickly to set up a commercial operation between Troon and Brodick following the closure by Peel Ports - and MV Alfred is currently operating a freight only service on this route.
Further works are required to operate a non-commercial service from Troon-Brodick as an alternative, and our team is working with our partners to assess when we may be able to do this.
To provide further resilience to the service, MV Isle of Arran will undertake berthing trials at Troon to assess whether this can be used as an alternative berth during the upcoming period of inclement weather. Trials will take place on Wednesday 7 February and to allow for these, there will be a service cancellation. Details of the changes to service will be available on our service status and information pages.
Gourock has also been discounted as an option given the predicted weather, and the alternative of Troon will allow us to deliver as much service as possible with the shorter passage time between Brodick and Troon rather than Brodick and Gourock.
Arran services: Lochranza-Claonaig
Alternative Arran sailings between Lochranza and Claonaig will also continue to operate. Details of these sailings can be found on our service status and information pages.
MV Caledonian Isles
MV Caledonian Isles, which operates between Ardrossan-Brodick, is currently undergoing annual overhaul in Greenock. As per our previous update to customers, additional steel renewal works were identified. Due to dock availability and resources at the yard, she will transfer to Cammel Laird, Birkenhead this week (w/c 5 February) to assess and complete the work. An update on timescales for the vessel's return will be available via our service status and information pages once inspections have taken place.
Our team is focused on doing all we can to support our services and minimising the effect of annual overhaul and such challenges as the weather and closure of the Irish berth on our customers. We thank you for the patience you have shown - and as always, we will continue to keep our customers and community stakeholders informed.