Ferry journeys are set to cost 10% more the Scottish Government has announced.
Ticket prices will go up on New Year’s Day for the Northern Isles network while the rise will be implemented on 28 March for CalMac routes.
Transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said: “We know that any fares increase is unwelcome, but this is a necessary action to enable continued investment in new vessels and infrastructure to support the services and ensure that ferry services remain sustainable and available to our island communities.
“We froze ferry fares for 2023-24 instead of a 9.1% inflationary increase in order
to help people, businesses and communities at the height of the cost of living crisis,
and to continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“However, doing so meant that government effectively bore the loss of revenue in the longer term.
“In the current fiscal climate that loss, at £10 million a year, is too challenging to continue.
“Reluctantly, we are having to raise ferry fares in the coming year by 10%, bringing
fare levels back to around what they would have been had fares not been frozen in
2023-24. This means, in real terms, fares have broadly increased in line with inflation
over time.
“That will help to partially recover the previous freeze, address some of the significant budget pressures and allow the continued support of the ferries network in future years.”
She added: “There have been sustained measures and investment by the Scottish Government over time to keep ferry travel as affordable as possible.
“This increase will bring fares back in line with Road Equivalent Tariff on Clyde and Hebrides services, which we know from the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) consultation is something that island residents are keen to retain.”
CalMac ferry fares to increase by 10%
14 October 2024
