CalMac’s new ticketing system delayed again
CalMac’s new ticket system, due to be introduced next week, has been delayed again.
Originally scheduled for February 2022, the launch was initially pushed back to March, then to October because of staff training issues. It was then confirmed the system would go live on April 25, next Tuesday.
However, owing to a number of “urgent issues” the company is facing, with delays to many of its services, it has decided to delay the launch until Tuesday May 16.
CalMac chief executive Robbie Drummond said: “We have taken the decision to defer the launch of CalMac’s new ticketing and booking system from April 25 until May 16. With the current levels of disruption and delays to many of our services, our focus should be on handling these urgent issues. This delay will not affect bookings being made by customers in the current system, or on the delivery of ferry services.
“The programme is ready to go live, having already gone through intense testing and staff are fully trained.
“Postponing the launch from April 25 will allow us to prioritise these urgent issues and focus on implementing our vessel recovery plan to restore our full service, while reducing some of the pressure staff and customers are facing.”
The new ticketing system will replace the 25-year-old system with a state-of-the-art ticketing process offering customers greater choice on the purchase, management and use of tickets, including the ability to carry them on a smart device.
It will also improve the use of deck space on major CalMac vessels with improved data and capacity management, allow multiple vehicles on one booking and selected concession fares will be available to buy online for the first time.
The new ticketing scheme, created by E-Dea and used by 94 ports across the world, has been described by CalMac as its biggest project in its 171year history. currently
‘Postponing the launch from April 25 will allow us to prioritise these urgent issues and focus on implementing our vessel recovery plan to restore our full service.’