CalMac passenger numbers are soaring

CALMAC saw passenger numbers reach five million last year, for the first time in two decades.

The company operates the UK’s largest ferry network, with 32 vessels carrying out over 136,000 sailings annually across the West Coast, extending 200 miles from Campbeltown to the Isle of Lewis.

Many routes saw very significant rises in both passenger and car numbers in the first full year after the rollout of road equivalent tariff (RET) across all areas, with a total of 5,055,827 passengers and 1,356,396 cars network-wide. This equates to 428,801 more passengers than in 2015 and 186,695 more cars.

RET is a Scottish Government policy to ensure that those living on an island are not unduly financially disadvantaged by ferry fares. The RET scheme involves setting ferry fares on the basis of the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road.

Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf said: ‘These figures underline the success of the full roll-out of RET on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network. Cheaper fares bring benefits to locals, visitors and businesses, making ferry travel more attractive and accessible, as well as providing a boost to the tourist trade.’

CalMac’s managing director Martin Dorchester said: ‘Last year was our busiest in terms of passengers for two decades.’

The busiest route continues to be Ardrossan to Brodick on the Isle of Arran, carrying 828,262 people and 202,843 cars in 2016 – a rise of 8.7 per cent and 6.84 per cent respectively.

Two other Firth of Clyde routes complete the top three highest passenger totals with 738,549 (+7.49 per cent) on Largs to Isle of Cumbrae, and 675,714 (+6.97 per cent) on the Wemyss Bay/Gourock to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute route.

In terms of cars, the Rothesay route was second with 172,897 (+19.12 per cent), with Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull showing a 40.66 per cent rise to 162,288 – this route was the fourth busiest for passengers carrying 644,827 (+16.14 per cent).

The highest increase on a 2015-2016 likefor-like route was a substantial 74.09 per cent rise in cars on the Tobermory to Kilchoan crossing and 52.26 and 52.33 per cent on both the Oban to Lismore and the Mallaig to the Small Isles runs respectively. A larger vessel will operate the Tobermory-Kilchoan crossing this summer to help cater for the growth in numbers.

In terms of largest percentage increases in passengers, Tarbert on Loch Fyne to Portavadie recorded 35.53 per cent, with 29.61 per cent and 21.87 per cent on Tobermory to Kilchoan and Oban to Lismore respectively.

Many others showed increases well in excess of 20 per cent for cars and 15 per cent plus for passengers. For cars, the routes included Fionnphort on Isle of Mull to Isle of Iona (+23 per cent), Oban to Craignure (+40.66 per cent), Tarbert, Kintyre to Portavadie on Cowal (+42.93 per cent).

The first fully operational year of Portavadie resort’s spa in 2016 may also explain a rise in numbers.