Bookmark and Share
wpfb9b4c8d.png

Discounted fare scheme announced for inter-island ferries         9/11/11

Islanders are to pay cheaper fares on inter island ferries in the Western Isles the Scottish Government has announced.

For the first time, the Sound of Barra and the Sound of Harris routes will be included in the Road Equivalent Tariff initiative.

The ferries plying between Leverburgh and Berneray as well as linking Eriskay and Ardmhor on Barra were excluded from the test scheme which meant it was often cheaper to take a vehicle to the mainland than a short voyage between islands.

RET will now be made permanent on Western Isles ferries, said the transport minister Keith Brown.

However, larger commercial vehicles like articulated lorries and livestock trucks will no longer be eligible though they will qualify for an enhanced pre-RET discount.

This should be to the advantage of big island hauliers as it returns them back onto the old system of a discount for volume booking - now increased from 15% up to 25%. However, it is likely to work against firms with only a couple of lorries.

Islanders will be looking out for a lowering  of prices in shop goods as the RET scheme makes no effective difference to haulage prices. It simply replaced the former method with a different but similar level of discount which, ironically, made it easier for mainland-based trucks to deliver in the Hebrides.

Small commercial vehicles and coaches will still benefit from RET.  

The RET scheme will also be widen out as a pilot to Colonsay, Islay and Gigha from October 2012; Arran from October 2014 and other West Coast and Clyde islands within the term of this Parliament.