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Island Ferry Cancelled, New Routes Begin
16 Apr
Summary
- Western Isles ferry service cancelled for one month.
- Lord of the Isles ferry moved to cover Islay sailings.
- New timetable in place for Sound of Barra passengers.
Ferry services between the Western Isles and the mainland face significant disruption, with the Mallaig to Lochboisdale route cancelled for one month until May 18. This change is necessitated by the Lord of the Isles ferry being reassigned to cover sailings between the mainland and Islay, preventing thousands of bookings from being displaced. A temporary timetable for the Sound of Barra will allow passengers to connect from Castlebay to Oban.
The Glen Sannox, a newer vessel, will operate on the Oban to Castlebay route, subject to berthing trials. Previously, it was moved to cover Lewis sailings due to issues with the Loch Seaforth. These adjustments follow the return of the Hebrides ferry, creating a cascade effect that allows other vessels like the Clansman, Isle of Mull, and Coruisk to resume their usual routes.
CalMac's chief executive acknowledged the ongoing challenges but expressed hope for continued improvement, thanking islanders for their patience. The operator is working to restore normal services and manage the current situation caused by recent annual maintenance and technical problems affecting multiple ferries.
