Comment posted Revised service schedule for Kilcreggan Ferry by Robert Wakeham.
This lack of coordination between ferry and train services is absolutely shameful.
As the government apparently took control of the train service out of SPTE’s hands, presumably there’s great scope for finger-pointing, but surely the buck stops with Holyrood?
Recent comments by Robert Wakeham
- McGrigor supports small scale hydro schemes but is concerned about lack of grid connectivity
If not ‘bitter’, then how about ‘negative’, ‘petty’, or just plain miserable?
Effective ways of providing energy for this country is an increasingly fraught subject, with government commitment to ‘green’ power leading to the perception that our politicians are swimming with sharks, and a proliferation of wind farms that are good for some sectors of the local economy but which are a major cause of price inflation.
And the Kintyre / Arran power emergency this spring served to highlight the fact that large scale wind generated electricity can be likened to a rough single malt – no use unless it’s blended with other spirit to make it palatable.
I live in hope that SSE’s Sound of Islay tidestream power project will prove more user-friendly – as are the hydro power plants described by Jamie McGrigor, as far as I can gather.
Here in mid Argyll we’re being shown the next windfarm proposal – 25 turbines for Electricite de France above Brenfield, which would form a backdrop to Ardrishaig, and would be so close to the recently unveiled proposals by E.ON for up to 24 turbines above Inverneill as to be semi-detached.
That’s up to 49MW plus up to 90MW, that would all presumably have to be ‘blended’ with power from elsewhere to make it digestible, and if anyone thought that ‘fast breeder’ only referred to a type of nuclear reactor, just look at the emerging cluster of wind farms south of Ardrishaig. - Argyll Flyer spotted going into Ardmaleish yard on Bute this afternoon
Doesn’t the SPTE have a remit to co-ordinate public transport provision here? – maybe I’m imagining it, or maybe they’re just pretending, or maybe they’re only really interested in Strathclyde bus services and the Glasgow subway (on the basis that only a tiny proportion of voters use the Gourock ferries, and politics is all) - 31 hour shout Tobermory Lifeboat’s longest ever, ending in joint operation with Oban lifeboat
The Oban Times reported on 6th June on the MAIB report on a similar incident last July when a small container ship rammed the Isle of Bute, and apparently legal action is ongoing. - Refloated cargo ship MV Fri Ocean escorted to Lynn of Lorne – and on into Oban
Not being a mariner, I wonder why – in this day and age of almost universal use of radar (and GPS?) for navigation – ships don’t seem to be equipped with a proximity alarm, a bloody great klaxon fit to waken the dead, that is triggered if the boat closes with an identifiable hazard.
It would have to be capable of deactivation in harbour areas and, eg, places like the Corran Narrows – but would surely be invaluable, especially at night.
Maybe it would be seen as a dangerous threat to the need for proper watch keeping. - Auchindrain in crisis: facing paying off its two permanent staff
Considering how all the wind farm developers are so keen (and can clearly afford) to provide substantial funding to help local community ventures, this is surely a prime example of an exceptionally good local cause with national significance.
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The “new” timetable means that all students or workers with the reasonable requirement to reach Glasgow before now need to catch the 07.12 sailing and then wait 23 minutes in Gourock station before boarding the 07.47 train. For over 30 years commuters were able to catch the 07.48 ferry and then catch the 08.08 train.
In the evening the last train is now 17.05 which makes commuting by ferry and train impossible.
All of this whatever the operator may aver relates to the unsuitability of the Island Princess to serve our community allied to the decision of Argyll Bute Council to make the Kilcreggan Piermaster.
The inevitable outcome of all of this will be a lack of passengers which will in due course allow officials to declare that the route is no longer viable when the irrefutable evidence is that the SPT decision was based purely on the lowest tender rather that ensuring an outcome beneficial to the communities in Inverclyde and Argyll and Bute requiring a safe and reliable service.
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This lack of coordination between ferry and train services is absolutely shameful.
As the government apparently took control of the train service out of SPTE’s hands, presumably there’s great scope for finger-pointing, but surely the buck stops with Holyrood?
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Surely you have verified Clydelink’s statement with the MCA before you posted?
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My previous post should have referred to early morning commuters requiring to reach Glasgow before 9am. Also I omitted to state that the Piermaster is serving his redundancy notice!!
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The spin given by Clydelink regarding the need for the new timetable is rich when it suggests that the use of four ropes will be forced on ALL operators shortly by MCA. Who are we talking about(?) surely not Argyll Ferries and Western Ferries! The reality is that the Island Princess has been found wanting hence the safety edict from MCA.
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Absolutely Harry. The more likely ‘truth’ is that because of failure to operate safely in line with MCA guidelines, Clydelink have been fored to operate thisway to ensure safety of the travelling public.
What will it take for SPT to terminate this contract? Will it take an accident, injury or worse?
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Jamie, before you make a comment like that, have you taken the time to ask the MCA?
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I am utterly astounded at the proposed removal of the very vital 8.20am sailing which has served, not only those who commute to the college, but many others who have always taken this sailing to catch the 8.36am train at Gourock. Why on earth have Clydelink not prioritized the commuter periods, which after all, carry the most passengers. How much extra time does this 4 rope carry-on add to berthing time anyway, and is it REALLY so necessary to cut our service like this?
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There needs to be more co-ordinate action between the Kilcreggan Gourock and Dunoon Gourock ferry users, along with those whose routes that are soon to be put out to tender.
The Dunoon route seemed designed to fail and it looks like a similar fate was planned for Kilcreggan. Totally inadequate arrangements have been made in both cases. Why is the Transport Minister not looking at the transport network as a whole rather than going for least cost on individual ferry routes?
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Have people who use the Kilcreggan ferry organised in any way?
In Dunoon the Community Council called a public meeting and from that an action group was formed.
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i skippered the island princess between lymington and the isle of wight for many years as a regular ferry service across a stretch of water that is a higher catagory than she is on now and im sure far more challenging, we ran from a pier and were always on time, she was a good reliable boat that always kept to time! we also just used to use two ropes as its all that is required, and its all that most operaters use, this has always been fine but can you imagine how catastophic it would be if one snapped whilst unloading, it would not be worth thinking about! i think its great that the mca are requesting operaters to use four ropes.
if a rope did snap whilst one of your friends, collegues, or yourself was boarding you would all have alot to say about how “unsafe” the island princess is. poor clydelink can never win seems a tad unfair
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There was an incident at Dunoon some years back when the AliCat was first introduced on the Dunoon route. A rope was said to have snapped when people were disembarking. If I remember rightly a woman said that if she had taken her child off first, in a buggy, they would have been killed as the boat crashed into the pier.
The incident got raised in questions in the House of Commons and the Council placed restrictions on AliCat’s use.
Why somebody though it would be a good idea to try to run the current frequent service with her beats me.
Good luck with your service, I think we are all going to need some.
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Alvin are you real or an invention of clydelink? A phonecall will soon verify your credentials
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