Kilcreggan’s ferry service is to be taken over by the Scottish Government, it was confirmed today.
The news has been welcomes as a ‘breakthrough’ by MSP Jackie Baillie, and follows years of campaigning by communities on both sides of the Clyde.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed to the Dumbarton MSP that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) had signed an agreement in principle the previous week to transfer the service to Transport Scotland.
Ms Baillie said it is expected that SPT will extend the current contract for a short interim period before the service is re-tendered as part of the Gourock to Dunoon contract.
No exact timescale is available yet, but Transport Scotland has undertaken to work hand in hand with SPT to ensure there is a smooth transition.
SPT awarded the contract for the service to Clydelink from April 1 2012, since when the Island Princess has been plying the route; this contract is due to expire at the end of March next year.
Jackie Baillie also invited Nick Davies, the chairman of Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council, to the meeting to ensure that the needs of local passengers who use the service were at the forefront of the discussion.
Jackie Baillie and Mr Davies told the Minister that the ferry was a ‘lifeline’ for many people and highlighted the need for a more reliable service.
Jackie said: “Local ferry users will be delighted to hear that we finally have agreement in principle on transferring responsibility for the service to Transport Scotland.
“The local community has long believed that this is the best way to provide a sustainable and reliable ferry service.
“Bundling the Kilcreggan ferry in with the same contract as the Dunoon service will hopefully offer opportunities for improving the service, including larger vessels, access to a replacement boat and better communication with passengers.”
“The most important thing now is that the process is underway and I will continue to keep a close eye on developments to ensure that the needs of local passengers are put first.”
Mr Davies added:“Yesterday’s meeting with the Transport Minister at the Scottish Parliament went very well, and it appears that we have at last achieved a breakthrough regarding the Kilcreggan to Gourock ferry service.
“Although things won’t change for a while, we have at least achieved the first step, which is good news indeed.”
Good news, but don’t think the Dunoon Ferry Action Group may be too happy, as surely this will scupper any possible last hopes of re-introducing a town centre vehicular service again. If the tenders are altered to include Dunoon, Kilgreggan, and Gourock in the service, then the same (passenger) boats would have to be used for the three destinations.
No it won’t make them happy – but surely those hopes were already scuppered by the fact no-one wants to run that service? It’s also possible of course that different boats could be used for Dunoon from Kilcreggan.
Some congratulations are due I think to the MSP who has battled on this for several years, and to the community councils who campaigned despite a lack of apparent support from A&BC or Inverclyde council. And to this website while we’re at it, since other media interest has been sporadic at best
While happy that this decision has finally been taken by SPT (why couldn’t they do it 12 months ago?) I find interesting that there seems to have been no discussion of it in any public meetings held by that supposedly democratic authority.
My understanding is that one operator had been found that would operate a vehicular service, but the berthing costs at Gourock of over £2 million (I think) was making them have second thoughts. The charges at Dunoon would have to be added as well. Would be more sense to use the same boats for the three destinations, rather than different ones just for Kilgreggan. Yes, it would add travelling time if the route was for example – Gourock to Killgreggan, to Dunoon to Kilgreggan to Gourock. If the Dunoon and Kilgreggan passengers were going for the same train, then the departure time from Dunoon would probably have to be fifteen minutes or so earlier. Obviously this would be a big headache for someone trying to keep all users somewhat happy, but could well provide a more reliable service to everyone, plus maybe reduce the subsidy as well, as it could be operated with two boats rather than the present three.
While this on the face of it seems good news for the reliability and sustainability of the service, I have concerns about the costs. At the moment I commute using the ferry to Glasgow and use my SPT Zonecard to do so. If the service moves away from SPT I am assuming that the zonecard will no longer be acceptable which means that the commute will cost me a minimum of an extra £66 per month (and this is assuming that there won’t be an increase in prices which there may well be). This would take the total commute cost to Glasgow to over £230 per month and to a lot of people unsustainable. Going via the Helensburgh route would be almost £90 per month cheaper. So the new more reliable service could ultimately end up pricing itself out of the market!!
Interesting point Paul. I seem to remember SPT replying to a government consultation about ferries saying they wanted control of ticketing even if other people ran services but would need to check. It might friend on who git the contract? Argyll Ferries sell combined train and ferry tickets, not sure about Westrrn.
I’d hope any Dunoon-Gourock-Kilcreggan arrangement would be included in the proposed ‘Oystercard’ system; it’s difficult to see how any politician could defend this not being so.