The Sunday ferry service linking Kilcreggan and Gourock during the summer looks set to carry on this year.
Initially SPT, which subsidises the route, had planned to drop the Sunday sailings when the contracted was awarded to Clydelink 12 months ago, but the authority agreed to run it on a trial basis.
Between April 1 and October 14 last year there was an average of 37 passengers per Sunday, with the service costing £16,938.
And SPT’s operations committee, meeting this Friday, is recommended to invite tenders for a Sunday service based on the 2012 timetable.
A report by assistant chief executive Eric Stewart says: “The operator is optimistic that, having achieved growth in passenger numbers over the summer period – in spite of well documented wet weather which beset the UK – this success can be built on.”
SPT would seek help from Argyll and Bute Council and Visit Scotland in promoting the service.
Another report to the meeting shows an overall slight fall the number of passengers using the ferry.
In the four weeks ending October 6 the total was 4,266 – 2% down on the 2011 figure. In the next four weeks the total of 4,369 was 0.8% up on 2011, but the four weeks to December 1 again showed a decline – the total of 3,637 was a year-on-year decrease of 2.5%.
The moving annual total of 53,515 is below the previous year’s total of 57,725.
I do hope very much SPT do the right thing here and reinstate the Sunday sailings. My fitness has deteriorated since I’ve not been able to get over for a cycle on the fairer side 🙂