Ferry fares in Scotland to increase by 10% next year

Its sister ship Glen Rosa is still under construction in Port Glasgow, and due for delivery next September. Both ships were originally meant to be delivered in 2018, but have faced repeated design challenges and other issues.

Four other new CalMac vessels being built in Turkey have also seen delays, with delivery of the first one now put back by a further two months to next March., external

The state-owned ferry operator faces a challenging period as it tries to maintain services over winter, when vessels need to be withdrawn for annual maintenance.

The current main Arran ferry Caledonian Isles has been out of action for repairs since February, with a new fault delaying its return to mid-November, while another vessel, Hebridean Isles, is due for retirement next month.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Sue Webber said the fares announcement “will feel like a slap in the face” to island communities.

“Those reliant on CalMac for lifeline ferries have endured a sub-standard service for years due to the SNP’s incompetent procurement of new vessels,” she said.

“The transport secretary says these rises are necessary – but they wouldn’t have been had the SNP not wasted hundreds of millions of pounds on two new vessels which have still to carry a single passenger several years after they were due to come into service.”

Scottish Labour transport spokesperson Claire Baker said: “This eye-watering fare hike is salt in the wound for all the islanders dealing with the SNP’s ferry chaos.

“This comes as a blow to Scotland’s tourism industry and will pile pressure on islanders already struggling to make ends meet.”