A new contract process for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service has been announced – without any mention of Kilcreggan.
Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf made the announcement today about the route which is currently served by Argyll Ferries, a sister company of CalMac– with 40-metre boats specified it is likely to be seen as good news on the Cowal Peninsula.
But local politicians on both side of the Clyde, who have spent years lobbying for the Kilcreggan ferry to be transferred from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to Transport Scotland and dealt with in combination with Dunoon, will once again be frustrated by the news.
Transport Scotland SPT had ‘constructive’ talks about a possible transfer earlier this year but there has been no concrete news since then and time is running out .
Clydelink’s contract, which started on April 1 2012, is due to expire on March 31 next year and the invitation to tender is already overdue – the first notice for the current five-year contract was issued in June 2011.
The Dunoon contract, which is due to begin just two months later than Kilcreggan’s, will specify that the boats should be 40 metres in length to add greater resilience in bad weather, Transport Scotland said today.
The contract will bow to local pressure in ‘encouraging’ bidders to include a vehicle service, despite this element being unsubsidised – in fact research by Transport Scotland has already found that virtually no companies would want to offer a vehicle service on that route.
Mr Yousaf said: “The publication of this contract notice fires the starting gun on the tender exercise for the next Gourock-Dunoon ferry services contract.
“Following close consultation with local stakeholders, we have specified that bidders will have to provide vessels of 40 metres in length. This will help address the current issue of reliability on the service, and offer greater resilience during periods of adverse weather.
“The 40 metre specification may require a potential bidder to make a significant capital investment. Tendering for a 12-year contract will make this a more attractive option, allowing bidders a greater length of time to see a return on that investment.
“The Scottish Government’s wish is to see a passenger and vehicle service operating between Gourock and Dunoon. That is why we are encouraging bidders to operate a commercial vehicle carrying service, alongside a subsidised passenger service.”
This is like Groundhog Day. What’s the guarantee that longer = better anyway? And when will people learn that car ferries to the town centre are a non-starter?
As much of a waste of time as the last speculative tendering exercise and as likely to get bids; a 12 year term can’t overcome the lack of a business case. DFAG need to wake up and smell the coffee.