Scottish ferry services ticketing options: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01994
Date received: 29 August 2017
Date responded: 25 September 2017

Information requested

1. Is the Hunter's Quay – McInroy's Point crossing a "lifeline service".

2. Is the Dunoon – Gourock crossing a "lifeline service".

3. On routes where RET has been introduced were there any routes where the RET calculation arrived at a cost higher than the cheapest ticket available on the route at that time, if so what were the routes and the rates and what rate was used.

4. If RET is introduced on Hunter's Quay – McInroy's Point and Dunoon –Gourock and the RET calculation arrives at a price higher than the cheapest ticket available on that route at the time is the intention to charge the higher RET fare.

5. For vehicles crossing the Clyde what ticketing options (e.g. single purchased on-board, return purchased on-board, single advance purchased, return advance purchased and 10 journey advance purchased) currently cost less than the figure arrived at for a vehicle plus driver under RET and how many vehicles were carried under each of those ticketing options.Please state the time period of the figures provided.

6. For vehicles crossing the Clyde what ticketing options (e.g. single purchased on-board, return purchased on-board, single advance purchased, return advance purchased and 10 journey advance purchased) currently cost more than the figure arrived at for a vehicle plus driver under RET and how many vehicles were carried under each of those ticketing options. Please state the time period of the figures provided.

7. For foot passengers travelling on both ferry services what ticketing options currently cost less than the figure arrived at under RET and how many passengers were carried under each of those ticketing options. Please state the time period of the figures provided.

8. For foot passengers travelling on both ferry services what ticketing options currently cost more than the figure arrived at under RET and how many passengers were carried under each of those ticketing options. Please state the time period of the figures provided.

9. If figures for the for vehicles using the various ticketing option on the Hunter's Quay – McInroy's Point crossing are not available then how was "a large number of users" defined for vehicles when the minister concluded fares would increase.

10. Presumably figures for foot passengers using the ticketing options on the Dunoon – Gourock crossing are available but if figures for foot passengers using the various ticketing options option on the Hunter's Quay – McInroy's Point crossing are not available then how was "a large number of users" defined for foot passengers when the minister concluded fares would increase.

(RET - Road Equivalent Tariff)

Response

1. The Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013 - 2022) set out the future of ferry services until 2022. It was published on 19 December 2012, and is available to view on the Transport Scotland Website. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If,however,you do not have access to obtain this information from the above websites, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The Ferries Plan notes 'lifeline' to be:

Lifeline - A lifeline ferry service is required in order for a community to be viable.

2. The passenger service on the subsidised route is considered to be 'lifeline' in nature.

3. The table provided to you in response to your previous FoI request (ref: FOI/16/00415) details fares that were capped at the roll-out of RET, to prevent price increases on that route. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have access to obtain this information from the previous response, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

4. No information held.

5. No information held

6. No information held

7. Current ticketing options do not cost less than the figure arrived at under RET (with the exception of the single journey equivalent under the 10 journey ticket for adult and children on Western Ferries).

The Scottish Government does not hold any revenue information on passenger carryings split by ticketing types for Western Ferries (Clyde) Limited as they are a commercial operator. As such the number of passengers carried under each ticketing option that cost less than the figure arrived at under RET is not held by the Scottish Government. Fares for both services can be found on the ferry operators respective websites:

• Argyll Ferries

• Western Ferries

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If,however,you do not have access to obtain this information from the above websites, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

OR: NO INFORMATION HELD

8. Ticketing options for foot passengers travelling on both ferry services currently cost more than the figure arrived at under RET (with the exception of the single journey equivalent under the 10 journey ticket for adult and children on Western Ferries). Fares for both services can be found on the ferry operators respective websites:

• Argyll Ferries

• Western Ferries

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have access to obtain this information from the above websites, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The Scottish Government does not hold revenue information on passenger carryings split by ticketing types for Argyll Ferries Limited. As such the number of passengers carried under each ticketing option that cost more than the figure arrived at under RET is not held by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government does not hold any revenue information on passenger carryings split by ticketing types for Western Ferries (Clyde) Limited as they are a commercial operator. As such the number of passengers carried under each ticketing option that cost more than the figure arrived at under RET is not held by the Scottish Government.

Total historical revenue information can be found for both operators on Transport Scotland's, Scottish Transport Statistics which can be accessed by following the attached link:

• Scottish Transport Statistics

In regard to revenue information, fares revenue, other income, subsidy received from the Scottish Government and subsidy clawback are all publically available in the Argyll Ferries Limited, Director's Reports and Financial Statements that can be found at the following link:

• Argyll Ferries Director's Report

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have access to obtain this information from the above websites, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

OR: NO INFORMATION HELD

9. Total passengers and vehicles carried by ferry operators in Scotland, including Argyll Ferries Limited and Western Ferries (Clyde) Limited is publically available at the following link:

• Scottish Transport Statistics

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have access to obtain this information from the previous response, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

10. Please see response to above query.

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