30 September 2010
Ferries consultation
We have today submitted our response to the Scottish Government's consultation on ferry services.
Transform Scotland raised questions over the consultation's failure to consider a key competitor mode for ferries: air travel. Transform Scotland suggested that the consultation was partial in as much as it makes no reference to the levels of subsidy provided to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL).
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"While there has been a large rise (perhaps a doubling) in subsidy to ferry services over the past decade, subsidies for HIAL have shown a fourfold increase over the same period. Given that CalMac and HIAL serve broadly similar routes, and both provide 'lifeline services', it would be helpful to know to what degree the additional expenditure on air services has abstracted patronage from ferry services." The Transform Scotland response also stressed the need for new tenders for ferry services to ensure integration with other sustainable transport modes (walking, cycling, bus/coach, rail). We decided to support the views of the Scottish Association for Public Transport, which called for (in summary):
- Integration with public transport, including the national rail network through railheads, and island bus services.
- Retention of the network-wide enquiry and booking system.
- High standards of passenger accommodation and facilities to attract tourists and to give incentives for more active travel.
- Network-wide marketing and timetable information, covering all main ferry routes.
- Full integration with train services for ferry routes serving railheads.
- Integration with island bus services, and mainland buses where there the ferry terminal is not rail linked.
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"There should also be a greater concentration on promoting passenger access to ports by sustainable transport – public transport and active travel – rather than by car. This will not only reduce vessel loadings, but may (as and when the fleet is replaced) allow a concentration on the procurement of smaller vessels with less requirement for the carrying of vehicles rather than the procurement of ever-larger vehicles designed to accommodate greater volumes of vehicles."