Rhoda Grant said “This is a matter which is raised with me time and again and while it is worsened at holiday time, and during the HebCelt festival period, it is also becoming a big problem on more regular occasions too.
“Mr Knight told me that they had not received complaints but he encouraged me to ask those who experience problems to contact them.”
Mrs Grant continued: “He did seem keen to do what he could to sort things out.
“He will look into it to see if extra services need to be put on, or if better liaison between themselves and CalMac could solve the problem.
“He suggested that CalMac could phone ahead with foot passenger numbers travelling from Stornoway to let Citylink ensure sufficient buses are available when these passengers get to Ullapool.”
The MSP said Citylink would also look at the procedure in place for dealing with ferry cancellations to make sure there is enough capacity to accommodate those whose earlier travel had been cancelled.
Mrs Grant concluded: “Mr Knight was also very open to listening to any ideas that travellers themselves had for improvements and I would encourage folks to put their suggestions to the company.
“We need to see better integration of public transport right throughout Scotland but this is a helpful step forward in sorting out this particular problem for travellers on this route.”
“No complaints” over Ullapool ferry bus connection
27 February 2017
Bus company, Citylink, have not received complaints about islanders being unable to book seats on the Ullapool bus which connects with the Stornoway ferry, according to MSP Rhoda Grant.
The MSP met with Citylink’s operations director after having again been contacted by “numerous constituents complaining of difficulties” in accessing bus connections to and from the Ullapool ferry.
Peter Knight has offered to meet again with Mrs Grant and CalMac’s integration manager in a bid to iron out the present difficulties.