The Clydelink bid for Kilcreggan’s ferry service was accepted by SPT yesterday (Friday), meaning the service to Helensburgh will end this year.
But Sunday sailings between Kilcreggan and Gourock were given a stay of execution by the authority’s operations committee.
The switch from Clyde Marine Motoring to Clydelink, which already runs the Renfrew Ferry, is expected to save SPT nearly £200,000 a year.
A new boat is due to replace the Seabus in April, said Duncan MacIntyre, Argyll and Bute Council’s representative on SPT.
“The subsidy rates for the Helensburgh service were about £19.50 per head,” he said after the meeting: “The average passenger numbers were two per journey.
“The Helensburgh element was mainly tourism, but SPT is about supporting public transport.”
He added though that the council, SPT and Visit Scotland would meet Clydelink to look at possible future services to Helensburgh, while the Sunday service for Kilcreggan would be retained, at least for this year – officials had recommended that this be cut.
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