Transport Scotland has awarded CalMac additional funding to recruit a second crew for MV Loch Alainn.

The funding will allow CalMac to extend the length of the sailing day by introducing early and late sailings. These sailings will allow people in Barra to connect with Lochboisdale services to the mainland, and people in South Uist to connect with services from Castlebay to Oban, in the event their own ferry to the mainland was off service. Importantly this also opens further scope to travel South to North and vice versa.

Cllr Uisdean Robertson said: 

“This announcement is welcome and should result in real service improvements on the Sound of Barra route. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has long argued for the provision of a second crew on the route and alongside HIE and HITRANS set out a strong economic case for service improvements. Until today this case had been ignored to the detriment of the communities who rely on this service. This investment is a positive shift of position from Transport Scotland and CalMac that if delivered will result in real service improvements. As we welcome this investment it is important to note the resilience of the community who have worked around the limitations of the service.”