CalMac has published timetables for the winter 24/25 period. Tickets will open for sale on September 11th.
Once again on the Craignure-Oban service we have long periods when the Loch Frisa will operate alone, despite CalMac’s agreement that when solo she delivers an inadequate service. It seems that despite the imminent delivery of the Glen Sannox in September and the arrival of the first of four Turkish-built vessels in December, CalMac cannot yet commit to a winter-long two-vessel service on Mull’s main route.
Uncertainty around the ultimate availability of the Glen Sannox and Isle of Islay has meant that CalMac are unable to look beyond January 4th for the Craignure service. Until they have completed acceptance trials of the Glen Sannox (and the FInlaggan has been tested on her intended re-deployment to services across the Minch) they are unable to say which vessels will be available for Craignure-Oban past January 4th. The provisional plan is that for January, February and most of March the IOM will split her time between Lochboisdale and Mull. If there are no futher delays with the Isle of Islay and Glen Sannox however, this may be improved upon.
The detail of the timetables has had to be altered a little, particularly the Frisa-only service. The main driver of the changes are amended train times resulting from temporary speed restrictions on the Glasgow-Oban line. Trains are arriving in Oban a little later, and departing a little sooner. We worked with CalMac to arrive at the best compromise possible, but public transport connections are compromised during Frisa-only service, particularly for those travelling to and from Iona.
You will find the timetables on CalMac’s website, but for convenience you can also see them colour coded below.
Do you know which Minch route MV Finlaggan is due to be trialled on? Is it the Barra route?
Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert I understand.
Thanks. Has Finlaggan been trialled at Oban and Craignure, is it possible for her to cover the Mull route? I doubt she can fit Lochboisdale where as IoM can. I believe the Heb and Clansman do fit Craignure and. With the Uig Triangle pier upgrades Finlaggan would need to do another set of berthing trials at these 3 ports to understand if she can cover reliably.