Transport Scotland and Calmac have started a belated consultation on the ferry timetable for summer 2016, via the Outer Hebrides Ferry Users Group, and we need to gather the industry view to present back to Transport Scotland.

Firstly, the excellent news that Transport Scotland has agreed to substantially enhance the services between Oban and Castlebay, and Mallaig and Lochboisdale by allocating an additional vessel, allowing a proper service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig, and an enhance service from Castlebay to Oban. The proposed timetables are on this link, and we would appreciate any specific comments from a tourism perspective. Please reply to this mail with your views

For the Sound of Barra and Sound of Harris routes, they will benefit from RET for the first time, and enjoy a substantial reduction in fares. The proposed timetable for 2016 is essentially similar to 2015. We are very concerned that the routes will struggle with capacity issues as Transport Scotland have not added sailings to cope with increase demand that reduced fares will obviously create.

For the Uig triangle, the proposed timetable is also essentially as 2015.

For the Stornoway – Ullapool route there is a discussion about additional sailings in peak season. This year, thanks to lobbying by OHT we had two extra return sailings per week in the peak season, serviced by the Isle of Lewis. These extra sailings were at a very tourism friendly time, and proved hugely popular. In fact out 17 out of the 20 sailings were full online before departure. We wish to make a case for additional services in 2016, and seek your views on some alternatives on this survey. With the loss of the extra sailings the island will see a reduction of over 400 car spaces a week. This will have a huge impact on the tourism and wider economy.  It is important for us to stress that there has been no agreement yet from Transport Scotland to fund additional services, so we have to make a robust business case if we are to succeed – hence your views and input is critically important.