Passenger numbers on the Kilcreggan to Gourock ferry jumped by 20% after new operators took over the route, latest statistics reveal.
But it still looks too early to establish clear trends, since in recent years the figures showed huge variations because of problems with Clydelink and the Island Princess.
After years of mounting political and community pressure, which saw the previous operators hit by MCA court action, repeated breakdowns and lack of crew, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) finally gave way and handed the contract back to Clyde Marine from May 14.
Despite SPT increasing ticket prices by 50%, and helped by a long spell of hot sunny weather, there was immediately a visible increase in passenger numbers on the MV Chieftain.
This is confirmed by a report to SPT’s operations committee this Friday, which shows that over the following four-week period there were 4,090 passengers – 20% more than in 2017.
In the last month of Clydelink’s contract the number of passengers fell by 43%.
The June-July figures for this year remained similar to the previous month, but this was slightly down on the previous year, and similar to 2016.
The SPT report states that in the last four months under Clydelink there were 290 cancellations over 17 separate days, whereas in the first two months of Clyde Marine there were just eight cancellations, all due to weather.
The report makes no mention of the increase in ticket prices, which made Kilcreggan’s ferry far more expensive than those serving Dunoon and Cowal.
Single tickets now cost £3.60, a return is £7, with a 10-journey ticket costing £25.
Previously the tickets cost £2.60, £5 and £16.50, so the prices rose by between 38% and 51%.
An SPT spokesperson said in May that the tickets would be more expensive ‘in view of the significant increase in cost, at a time of reduction in the level of funding for public transport’ .
She claimed that the new prices were ‘more in keeping with fares levels on equivalent ferry services’ and said it was because the contract cost was now higher – although in fact the contract is now at a very similar level to 2012, when Clyde Marine previously ran the service.
The minutes of the February meeting when SPT agreed the change show that only the £3.60 single cost was mentioned – no price for the ten-journey ticket, which was increased by the highest amount, was indicated.
Imagine the reaction if SPT increased bus prices in Glasgow by 50%