CalMac are running a consultation on proposed changes to the current ‘waitlist’ process; to be replaced with an ‘advanced standby’.
This consultation will be open from the 5th of September 2022 and will close on the 5th of October 2022.
You can find details of this proposal and how to submit a response to the consultation in the document below:
A few months ago CalMac carried out a consultation on proposed changes to the Terms and Conditions placed on customers when ordering tickets.
We have received a feedback document regarding the findings and recommended outcomes from this process – you can read this in full below.
Many times over the years, Tiree Community Council has discussed the difficulties islanders face getting a ferry slot during busy periods.
Mull have been working to convince the Scottish Government and CalMac to find a way to give islanders fair access to ferry space, when so much of it is booked months in advance by visitors.
The ‘Samso System’ is modelled on arrangements used on the Danish island of Samso that ensure island residents get equal access to ferry space. The Samso ferry company reserves car deck space on every sailing that can only be pre-sold to island residents (or other essential regular users from the mainland like GPs and delivery drivers). They adjust the amount of space reserved for islanders on each sailing, using past carrying data as a guide. This increases the likelihood that islanders will be able to buy a vehicle ticket on the sailing of their choice, and helps to make ticket availability more equal, regardless of whether you have booked your ticket months in advance for a holiday, or days in advance for a shopping trip.
More than 700 respondents from Mull and Iona completed an online survey about this, with an overwhelming 95% in support. Coll have also canvassed islanders on the proposal and found a similar level of support.
Mull and Iona Ferry Committee have now met Jenny Gilruth, the Minister of Transport in the Scottish Government. She and Transport Scotland have committed to implementing some kind of prioritisation system on a trial basis next summer. The trial will be on at least one route – Craignure-Oban – but they are open to running on others. Tiree and Coll need to decide whether to apply to be part of this pilot.
We will discuss this at our September public meeting. Let us know what you think.
Please find the response TCC sent to CalMac below.
The representations in the letter are based on the 25 responses we received to our own survey. Of these 25, 84% of these were island residents; the notable exceptions being tourism business owners and a Coll resident.
Letter to CalMac in Response to Terms and Conditions Consultation – 7.6.22
While some respondents felt that the proposed changes were reasonable; the majority (75%) were against the changes.
Among the reasons cited were that the measures feel disproportionate for the Tiree-Coll route specifically, where no-shows are less common. Many respondents also drew attention to the fact that the lack of refund for short-notice cancellations is counterintuitive to the policy’s aims – without incentive to cancel, no-shows and ineffective use of deck space will remain an issue.
Specific concerns were also raised about how the policy may disproportionately affect crofting communities, where moving livestock brings a host of additional considerations.
We hope that this feedback will inform discussion going forward, and would like to thank those who filled out the survey.
As many of you will know, CalMac are introducing a new ticketing system this year and hope to also update their Terms and Conditions.
Part of the proposed changes includes a cancellation levy; a measure which is hoped will reduce no-shows by providing an incentive to cancel unneeded reservations early.
Representatives from CalMac (our Area Operations Manager Don McKillop and Alan Hood, head of Customer Experience along with a member of his team) attended last month’s public meeting and made a presentation on these proposals, and also made time to answer questions and concerns from members of the public.
This consultation is a follow-on from that; for anyone who was unable to attend the meeting to make their voices heard.
Anyone wishing to contact CalMac directly can do so by emailing: CFTC.consultation@calmac.co.uk
If you missed the meeting, but would like to view the slides and consultation document, you can do so here:
As many of you will know, CalMac plans to introduce a new ticketing system this year, dubbed Ar Turas; our journey. Coming into effect this October, these are major changes to the service after using the current system for more than 25 years.
The new system has been used successfully by major ferry organisations across the world including Grimaldi, Scandlines and BC Ferries.
It is hoped that these changes will maximise the way the space on the car deck is used, as well as improving communication with customers.
The Ar Turas (Our Journey) project will revolutionise the way we interact with customers, making travel simpler and easier.
Tiree Community Council has previously had a representative from CalMac attend one of our meetings to give a presentation on these changes, and we hope to receive further updates as the implementation draws closer. We have been assured that the project will be under ‘constant review’, with a commitment to keeping customers and stakeholders updated as the changes come into effect.
To find out more, and to read the FAQ’s on the project, follow this link to the CalMac website.
The Argyll and Bute Council is consulting on local air transport services on the West Coast area, linking Oban, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Islay. This consultation will inform the next contract for the service and shall consider issues including:
• Current use of the air service
• Preferred flight times and days
• The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deliver services
The last item is under active consideration following successful trials of UAVs to deliver supplies during the pandemic, resulting in significant savings for the NHS. Active work is in development to create a UAV Hub at Oban airport, with Royal Mail also interested in the possible applications.
TCC will be happy to make a submission on behalf of Tiree constituents, so if you would like to feed in your views to that, please email TCC member Phyl Meyer at phyl@tireecommunitycouncil.co.uk
TCC have received the following response from Laurence Kenney, Head of the Ferries Policy Unit, regarding the increase in fares for camper vans and motor homes of a certain size.
Click on the link below to read the response in full.
We have added an appearance by Don McKillop, Area Operations Manager for Argyll & Lochaber at Calmac, to our meeting on Wednesday 8th September 2021
If you would like to suggest questions in advance, you can do so here:
The Ferries Community Board (Clyde and Hebrides) is looking for new members to become voices for people who live in the areas served by ferry operator CalMac.
Members represent communities across the network and act to influence strategic issues such as the building of new vessels, infrastructure, resources and accountability.
Key achievements since the Board was formed in 2017 include the successful lobbying of the Scottish Government to release more funds for a new ticketing system. It has also been instrumental in bringing in service improvements such as the new mobile maintenance team brought in to improve fleet resilience.
Members meet four times a year and have an open dialogue with the Transport Minister, Transport Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). They are regularly consulted on national transport strategies.
Having a Tiree representative on this group could be a real benefit for us in ensuring Tiree’s voice is heard on the particular issues we face and needs of our community, and could be supported by TCC and the Tiree Transport Forum.
Details here: https://www.calmac.co.uk/community-board-recruitment?fbclid=IwAR3VFBoPR-lK-eVaUAGT5cROVJnyLXy3wmai8C2QwzamAJB_qM36I0ea9N8