CalMac motorhome drivers face 70 per cent fare hike as loophole closed

[bigtwin]

It does seem wrong that a motorhome gets charged much less than a van of the same size delivering goods to the islands.

The spin being put on this (in the article) is very interesting.

Apparently, it’s unfair that a large private vehicle is not charged on a pro-rata basis with commercial vehicle rates.

Currently/previously large private vehicles have been charged on a pro-rata rate basis with small private vehicles (i.e. motorhomes are charged by length on a pro-rata basis with cars). Consequently, it cannot be argued that MHs are taking up a disproportionate amount of space when compared with private cars.

It’s interesting that there is no cry of disparity between rates paid by cars and those paid by commercial vehicles.

The argument doesn’t stand scrutiny.

Ian

 

[EuroTrotters]

We will still go

It will still be much cheaper than Hull to the continent

Money well spent for us, the western isles are a super place to go to

Yes, but whilst we love the western isles. There is only so much you can do.

Rotterdam is your gateway to Europe.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Do CalMac run 24/7?

If not, and if they did that there should be enough deck space.

Geoff

No they don’t, unions would not permit it. If they were more flexible with the times of the smaller ferries and spent enough money to upgrade their fleet then there would be more journeys and less breakdowns, which over the last few years has been the real reason for not enough space for locals on the boats.

 

[DavidG58]

Yes, but whilst we love the western isles. There is only so much you can do.

Rotterdam is your gateway to Europe.

Costs twice as much to get there though

 

[Figaro]

I read in the summer that Calmac had endless problems this year with capacity do to increased visitors to the islands and ageing ships breaking down ?
Could be a connection with this story

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[EuroTrotters]

I read in the summer that Calmac had endless problems this year with capacity do to increased visitors to the islands and ageing ships breaking down ?
Could be a connection with this story

If you look to Norway and their island fleet, Calmac looks antiquated

 

[Otter Spotter]

If you look to Norway and their island fleet, Calmac looks antiquated

That’s because the whole fleet is antiquated, I bet there are Greek ferries in better Nick than CalMac

 

[glenn2926]

They certainly seemed to have a few breakdowns this summer. I have used a few this year. Luckily only one wasn’t running. They are getting on in years though. I’m pretty sure I was on one boat I had been on in the seventies.

 

[nicholsong]

No they don’t, unions would not permit it. If they were more flexible with the times of the smaller ferries and spent enough money to upgrade their fleet then there would be more journeys and less breakdowns, which over the last few years has been the real reason for not enough space for locals on the boats.

Are those the same unions whose members run the UK- France, Netherlands and Spain routes 24/7?

Geoff

 

[Otter Spotter]

Are those the same unions whose members run the UK- France, Netherlands and Spain routes 24/7?

Geoff

No they are Scottish Unions! Have you not noticed that nearly every union head is or was a Scotsman ? Is it something about working class Scotsman all hail from the Gorbals ? shouting and sticking their chest out is the answer to every problem

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[tacr2man]

If you are carrying commercially on cross channel ferries you pay a lot more

 

[PaulC70]

Well if prices definitely go up by 70%, while I love the Islands they'll definitely lose my custom. Going on that it's very little more to go to Ireland on a value for money point of view!

 

[Northernraider]

One of the reasons ive not done shetland , orkney , the hebrides etc is i refuse to pay the high ferry costs. Its also something that put me off visiting ireland . I will get to Ireland at some point as its big enough to make it worth the effort but the others i don't feel im missing anything i can't find elsewhere.

 

[Gellyneck]

One of the reasons ive not done shetland , orkney , the hebrides etc is i refuse to pay the high ferry costs. Its also something that put me off visiting ireland . I will get to Ireland at some point as its big enough to make it worth the effort but the others i don't feel im missing anything i can't find elsewhere.

The ferry to the Black Isle is very reasonably priced, Tam!

You get to see dolphins for free, as well.

 

[Ivory55]

If something is to expensive you don’t buy it. As far as I know it’s not compulsory to travel there on holiday.

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[SpeedyDux]

So motorhomes were subsidised but commercial veihcles were not ? Fair enough. Now the motorhome fare is going up 70% but the commercial vehicles will still be paying 3 times that amount ? So all the moaning about subsidies has done is increase the MH fares but in no way made the delivery of goods cheaper. So more money for the ferries/gov . sc Sounds about right.

Bear in mind that us Sassenachs are subsidising Scotland to the tune of £15.5 Bn annually under the Barnett Formula. That Calmac subsidy is basically our tax money they are withdrawing from mainly English motorhomers. Ingrates.

From here it looks like a Tourism hokey-cokey: not that long ago, they were desperate to attract us (NC500 massive publicity). Now they are trying to put some of us off visiting Scotland; or, at least the most scenic highlands and islands. Improving the roads and creating overnight aires would be better for everyone.

 

[Gaston aires]

When does this price change take effect ? There must be a better formula for fairness than just putting up motorhome prices. Price the delivery vans in the same way ? As it looks to me the vans won’t benefit but the few motorhome moaners will get their way. The popularity of the NC 500 has caused resentment not what was intended originally.
Phil

 

[Gellyneck]

Bear in mind that us Sassenachs are subsidising Scotland to the tune of £15.5 Bn annually under the Barnett Formula. That Calmac subsidy is basically our tax money they are withdrawing from mainly English motorhomers. Ingrates.

From here it looks like a Tourism hokey-cokey: not that long ago, they were desperate to attract us (NC500 massive publicity). Now they are trying to put some of us off visiting Scotland; or, at least the most scenic highlands and islands. Improving the roads and creating overnight aires would be better for everyone.

If you're gonna have a poke at Scotland please do try to get your facts correct!

The term "Sassenach" (Gaelic - Sasunnach) is anyone from south of (generally) the Great Glen, but could possibly be extended down to the Highland Fault line, and are non-Gaelic speakers (including Scots speakers) so, in it's proper use, it includes the vast majority of the Scottish population.

Now if you had used the term Non-Germanic origin you may have come closer to the mask!

 

[poppycamper]

Yep I am one... Scottish thru and thru but still a Sassenach.

 

[BILL 875]

Who cares i wont be using the ferries, is the bridge to Skye still free. Bill

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[poppycamper]

Yes still free...

 

[SpeedyDux]

OK I stand corrected

If you're gonna have a poke at Scotland please do try to get your facts correct!

The term "Sassenach" (Gaelic - Sasunnach) is anyone from south of (generally) the Great Glen, but could possibly be extended down to the Highland Fault line, and are non-Gaelic speakers (including Scots speakers) so, in it's proper use, it includes the vast majority of the Scottish population.

Now if you had used the term Non-Germanic origin you may have come closer to the mask!

 

[Gellyneck]

Yes still free...

Only up 'til I start my new enterprise venture!

 

[Gellyneck]

OK I stand corrected

Ach, don't be daft! Take the weight aff and sit doon like the rest o' us!

 

[MR. FUSION]

I wonder what "demands from angry locals" actually means & who they are !! Some locals on islands & nearby mainland towns have motorhomes, so I doubt it was them.

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[Otter Spotter]

I’ve just been reading that the ‘new’ old ferry for Oban Craignure the UTNE is being bought from Sweden to replace one of the older ships of Cal Macs, but how daft is this, the ship is replacing a 40 vehicle ferry but can only carry 34, its cost £9,000,000 second hand whereas they could have got a new one to carry 50 vehicles for £12,000,000. Even more stupid is it’s smaller and cannot sail in anything over a 2.5m swell whereas 4m is the norm and it can only dock on one side of the Craignure pier so there will be delays when 2 boats arrive at similar time.
It seems that Motorhomers are not the capacity problem, it’s Cal Macs inability to improve the fleet and manage their timetables properly.
Shame that it will the small businesses on the islands that will suffer, those who don’t get the £millions in subsidies like CalMac do.

 

[Ivory55]

I’ve just been reading that the ‘new’ old ferry for Oban Craignure the UTNE is being bought from Sweden to replace one of the older ships of Cal Macs, but how daft is this, the ship is replacing a 40 vehicle ferry but can only carry 34, its cost £9,000,000 second hand whereas they could have got a new one to carry 50 vehicles for £12,000,000. Even more stupid is it’s smaller and cannot sail in anything over a 2.5m swell whereas 4m is the norm and it can only dock on one side of the Craignure pier so there will be delays when 2 boats arrive at similar time.
It seems that Motorhomers are not the capacity problem, it’s Cal Macs inability to improve the fleet and manage their timetables properly.
Shame that it will the small businesses on the islands that will suffer, those who don’t get the £millions in subsidies like CalMac do.

But going to the private sector always works, like the railways, gas and electric suppliers.

 

[Potty]

I’ve just been reading that the ‘new’ old ferry for Oban Craignure the UTNE is being bought from Sweden to replace one of the older ships of Cal Macs, but how daft is this, the ship is replacing a 40 vehicle ferry but can only carry 34, its cost £9,000,000 second hand whereas they could have got a new one to carry 50 vehicles for £12,000,000. Even more stupid is it’s smaller and cannot sail in anything over a 2.5m swell whereas 4m is the norm and it can only dock on one side of the Craignure pier so there will be delays when 2 boats arrive at similar time.
It seems that Motorhomers are not the capacity problem, it’s Cal Macs inability to improve the fleet and manage their timetables properly.
Shame that it will the small businesses on the islands that will suffer, those who don’t get the £millions in subsidies like CalMac do.

If you think that is daft, check out the two new ferries still sitting in the builders yard.

Scotland's ferry fiasco gets more absurd the more you look into it. We need an inquiry – Kenny MacAskill MP

There’s many questions arising from Scotland’s ‘Ferry Fiasco’, central to them though is why and who specified that the two vessels making slow headway in the Ferguson Yard had to be dual-fuel marine diesel/liquified natural gas (LNG).

www.scotsman.com

 

[Stoosal]

new ferries were/are scheduled for CalMac but are now hedn towards years overdue and their budget has more than doubled. Still no firm date for going into service. It’s been very shambolic involving tales of bad design, SNP Govt taking over shipyards, staff shortages, firms going bust, design changes and so on. I imagine the ships just bought are a bit of a stop gap to cover these delays etc.

 

[Northernraider]

Ach, dinnae be daft! Tak the weight aff n si doon like the rest o' us!

Fixed thon fir ye

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