Ferry crisis forces CalMac to postpone new hi-tech booking system

17 April 2023

CalMac is putting the launch of its new long delayed e-ticket system on ice for a further three weeks as it battles to cope with the latest crisis engulfing the ferry company.

Swirling in a whirlpool of endless disruptions and breakdowns, today was the day the company decided it has more than enough problems to navigate at the moment.

Each new morning seems to introduce yet another calamity.

A dire lack of ships, exceedingly long repair times, deficiencies in adequate timetabling and reduced capacity on lifeline services, requires constant attention amid tough decisions on which community loses to provide another with a service.

At the time of writing, CalMac had four crucial ships unavailable across its Clyde and Hebrides network which grows busier on the run-up to summer.

CalMac's much heralded booking and ticketing platform was set to open to travellers in eight days.

However, due to the current “ongoing challenges” being experienced on many services, CalMac says it will “prioritise these urgent issues,” delaying the new system until 16 May.

Chief executive, Robbie Drummond, said: “With the current levels of disruption and delays to many of our services just now, our focus should be on handling these urgent issues.

“This delay will not affect bookings being made by customers in the current system, or on the delivery of ferry services.

“The programme is ready to go live, having already gone through intense testing, an independent assurance audit five dress cut-over rehearsals, and staff are fully trained.

“Postponing the launch from 25 April will allow us to prioritise these urgent issues and focus on implementing our vessel recovery plan to restore our full service, while reducing some of the pressure staff and customers are currently facing.”