Double whammy for ferry passengers

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:50

FERRY passengers will be hit with a double fares increase this year to save Caledonian MacBrayne sailings from being axed due to spending cuts.

The move, announced by ministers yesterday, is thought to be unprecedented, and it sparked anger from opposition parties, who accused the Scottish Government of being in disarray.

In addition, some NorthLink ferries between Aberdeen and Shetland will slow down to save fuel by using only two of their four engines, which could add up to one hour to journey times, while lightly-used winter sailings face being cut.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said fares on CalMac's Clyde and Hebrides routes would go up by a further 2 per cent from 26 March – on top of the 2.2 per cent increase announced for that date by the state-controlled ferry firm last year.

The combined 4.4 per cent rise compares with 3.8 per cent last year – which was based on higher inflation rates – and 1.8 per cent in 2008.

Mr Stevenson said the extra increase was to "protect lifeline services in the face of today's tough economic climate". A spokeswoman confirmed these would otherwise have been under threat. The Scotsman understands that, without the increase, early morning and late evening ferries on several routes could have been axed.

Ferry sources also linked the rise with the cost of completing the third and final year of a government pilot scheme in the Western Isles to cut fares to the cost of the equivalent distance by road – or route equivalent tariff (RET).

The latest increase applies to all fares except the multi-journey tickets most commonly used by islanders. Commercial vehicles and coaches will also be exempt from the rise.

Mr Stevenson said: "The Scottish Government is responding positively to the very real challenges on public spending which are facing us. We are taking decisions which will allow us to maintain the efficient ferry services which the public currently enjoy."

His spokeswoman said that, despite a 2 million CalMac subsidy increase to 105m from April, the cost of fuel, vessels and crewing continued to rise, and cuts imposed by the UK government had to be absorbed across the board.

She went on: "While we have found ways to absorb most of this year's pressures on the ferries budget, ministers felt it right that users of the services should also make an increased contribution to their costs."

However, Labour accused the SNP of being in a shambles over the issue.

Transport spokesman Charlie Gordon said: "Scottish Government policy on ferries is in disarray and people are unhappy about this unprecedented announcement.

"There is no point in developing RET if other parts of the network have to suffer."

CalMac, whose operating contract is controlled by ministers, sought to distance itself from yesterday's announcement.

A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government are entitled to make whatever changes they wish to the terms of that contract and require us to implement them, which is what we will now do."