The future of Kilcreggan’s ferry service is still uncertain, after Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) decided not to award the contract after last week’s deadline.
A new invitation to tender has now been advertised, with the decision delayed until late January – just a few weeks before the current contract expires on March 31.
SPT has not commented on the reason why the contract was not awarded but has sought to reassure concerned commuters
A spokesperson said this week: “We remain confident that the Gourock to Kilcreggan ferry service will continue in operation without a break.”
The service has been operated on a five-year contract since April 2012 by Clydelink; Transport Scotland has agreed ‘in principle’ to take over the route, but no date or other details have been agreed.
Tender are being invited by Transport Scotland for a £50m contract to run the Dunoon to Gourock ferry service from next summer, but award procedures for the contract are not due to start until April 4.
The newly advertised SPT contract is again for an initial term of 16 months, with the proviso that it could be extended for up to seven years, ‘subject to satisfactory performance of the contract in the initial term and future decisions on the delivery of ferry services operating from Gourock’.
Other details also appear similar to the contract which was advertised last month – price will be weighted at 80% and quality at 20%.
Two different specifications are included again, one responding to widespread requests by including a later ferry which would leave Gourock at 7.12pm, returning from Kilcreggan at 7.35pm (as with previous one)
The document tells potential operators: “SPT will welcome alternative proposals or suggestions and give them careful consideration.
“For example, should you consider that some journeys are especially costly to operate, you may want to suggest a timetable which does not have these journeys.
“A different timetable could also be suggested if you think that it will give passengers a better service.”
As before, the only journeys classed as essential are those for commuters travelling to Coulport and Faslane – 06.41 and 07.27 hours from Gourock on weekdays, 17.02 hours from Kilcreggan Monday to Thursday and 13.19 hours from Kilcreggan on Fridays.
It’s becoming a shambles isn’t it? And the only ones that seen it coming were us users!!
So, what happened to Transport Scotland taking over the service? How long does it take to organise this for one tiny ferry, but the many who rely on this service daily?