Caledonian MacBrayne, the UK’s largest ferry network operator, has announced a rise in annual carrying figures.
The increase marks a four-year high in passenger carriage – up from 4,594,520 in 2013 to 4,653,958 – a difference of 1.29 per cent. The last time passenger numbers topped this figure was in 2010 at 4,736,552.
Meanwhile, cars went one better, with the highest carrying figures since 2009 – 2014’s 1,095,816 was a rise of 2.96 per cent over 2013’s count of 1,064,320.
Commercial carriage in 2014 was 92,734, a marginal rise of 0.16 per cent on 2013’s figure of 92,589, while the only area to see a minor drop was the fall of 60 coaches from 2013’s 11,210 to 11,150 in 2014 – a fluctuation of -0.54 per cent.
The route with the lowest carriage was the Mallaig to Lochboisdale run, though, as a winter-only new addition to the company’s stable in 2013, it also posted the highest percentage increase in carryings – the sailings operate on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The 1,247 passengers marked a 187.33 per cent increase on 2013’s 434, with the 447 cars up 285 on the previous figure of 162 and a 122.73 per cent rise for commercial vehicles from 22 in 2013 to 49. As the service was only introduced in November 2013, the 2014 figures mark the first full year’s data, albeit across two different seasons.
And there was an upward trend, too, for the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, with a 15.46 per cent rise in passenger figures taking the annual total to 29,865, as well as a 22.13 per cent increase for cars from 922 in 2013, to 1,126 in 2014.
The company says the figures show an encouraging increase which could signal positive outcomes from this strategy, which the company is committed to continuing in line with the STA’s Scotland 2020 which includes promotion of world class food and drink, culture and heritage, natural environment and its associated activities, and festivals and events.
The full carryings can be found at https://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/carrying-statistics
This is generally good news, with encouraging signs of growth on all routes. It is a pity then that the Mallaig- Lochboisdale was not really given a chance, with a very sporadic, unsatisfactory service running in Winter only. I hope Alasdair Morrison and Ronnie keep up the pressure on the SNP to provide a reliable, all year round service on this route, and that they will continue campaigning against the SNP attempts to privitise the service as they have done in Orkney and Shetland, to the detriment of the service and the pay and conditions of their workers.
The MP and MSP must be fully behind the SNP in this push for privatisation as they have demonstrated by their silence.