Progress on ‘Samso-ish’ islander priority system.

We’re pleased to report that together with CalMac and Transport Scotland, we are making good progress toward the trial of an islander priority ticket sales system. Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth listened to our requests, and undertook to get a trial in place for this summer. It looks like we might achieve that.

Together with representatives from Coll and Tiree, we are discussing the options for a simple system that can be introduced quickly, so that some benefit can be seen soon. The initial solution we arrive at will be temporary, and intended to gain experience that will be helpful for the design of a fully-fledged prioritisation system that should come later. By trialling the system on two very different services (Craignure-Oban and Coll/Tiree-Oban), we hope to get an understanding of how the system could be adjusted to different types of route. Ultimately if successful, it could be rolled out network-wide.

Our objective remains the islander-ID-based Samso System that received overwhelming support when we surveyed on the idea last year. But that will take some time to work up, and an interim system that gets us half way there will be a step in the right direction. The detail of the system, (both interim and final) will be dependent on the capabilities of the new website and ticketing system being introduced by CalMac very soon. But we’re really pleased so far by the willingness of Transport Scotland to work on this, and the constructive ‘can do’ approach CalMac are bringing to discussions.

We will keep you posted as things develop in the coming months.

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