Calmac
Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2004 |
I may be opening a whole can of worms here but I see the whole Calmac thing has blown up again.
See
There seems to be total confusion about what the actual law is on this, but the real danger would seem to be private companies picking out the most lucrative routes and 'running down' the others.
And you think it's bad now?
See
There seems to be total confusion about what the actual law is on this, but the real danger would seem to be private companies picking out the most lucrative routes and 'running down' the others.
And you think it's bad now?
Comments
I just wish that for busy routes such as Mull to Oban, that the locals had their own small, no-frills ferry that was cheap and cheerfull. The tourits can have the expensive luxuries of resturants and observatuion lounges...I just want to get to and from the mainland for a decent price that ALL can afford. Work on an Island like this is scarce...and generally seasonal/ poorly paid. How do people on benefits afford to get off the Island with their cars? Simple : They don't.
witchinthewoods from Mull
As usual Compromise is the order of the day. If routes are cherry picked then Coll will probably suffer, unless of course all the subsidies are allocated on a simple 'this subsidy for this route' basis, which would be slow and expensive to work out. If Calmac has no competition it has no incentive to respond to changes in demand on routes. However the tendering process has not included meaningful competition because the routes are fixed for five years, meaning there will be no need to respond to increased demand at all. So we will be worse off. Currently The Lord of The Isles is nearly full or full every sailing from Oban, it is common to be wait-listed. There are only 3 boats a week to Coll and Tiree in the winter and when one misses because of the weather there is no spare capacity on the following boat to absorb the extra passengers. But under the new rules we could be stuck with this situation until the next round of tenders, and the ferry frequency would be decided by people who probably never catch a ferry except to go on holiday (or on an expenses paid fact-finding exercise).
PS We wish The Clansman a speedy recovery after its unfortunate accident. As we will be borrowing The Isle of Mull I'll report back on the cafe situation.
Nic from Coll
Whilst I have at least on two occasions recently reason to be very grateful to Calmac (Oban and Lochaline), I am very annoyed that the once exclusive 6 journey tickets are now available to all. This should be stopped for all but islanders and those who have regular repeat business on the islands. At least, on Mull, I have the option of Fishnish and shopping in Fort William or the long way round to/from Oban, but it must be a nightmare for Coll and Tiree. I'd love to go back to both of these lovely islands but cannot afford the extra nights away in Oban prior and post sailings and I know that friends have families on those islands that it's a nightmare to visit. If this lot goes out to tender and they pick some other company or allow cherry picking of the most lucrative routes, what price lifeline services and, more importantly, what price the qualify of life for islanders? Money is God, people don't count!
Sunset from Mull
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