Bute Community Council 19 November 2014

Agenda Introduction Previous Action Points Summer 2014 Wemyss Bay Closure Works Timetables Fares RET AOB

Introduction Simon Richmond, Area Operations Manager, CalMac Alison Cowan, Port Manager, CalMac Scott Goodwill, Port Manager, CalMac Ramsay Muirhead, Head of Civil Engineering, CMAL Brian Sydney, Senior Civil Engineer, CMAL

Purpose Purpose; To jointly review operations performance and service. To outline details of the forthcoming Wemyss Bay Closure and seek response to proposals

Previous Action Points New Port Manager Greater emphasis on customer service New signage for service disruption ordered Port tidiness improved Better lift disciplines Disabled fares and concessions still under review Reviewing improving disabled assistance

Punctuality & Reliability. Route Operated SailingsAdditonal SailingsDiverted SailingsCancelled Sailings Total Cancelled Sailings after Relief EventsTotal Scheduled SailingsTotal On Time CurrentPreviousCurrentPreviousCurrent PreviousCurrentPreviousCurrentPreviousCurrentPrevious Colintraive to Rhubodach14,01814, ,99214,01213,93613,978 Wemyss Bay to Rothesay6,4486, ,5566,5506,3176,383 Totals20,46620, ,54820,56220,25320,361 % of Operated Sailings 0.40% 0.00%0.80%0.50%0.20%0.00% 99.00%99.10% % of Total Sched Sailings 0.40% 0.00%0.80%0.50%0.20%0.00% 98.60%99.00% Carryings: % Change YoY CarsCoachesCVs Wemyss Bay to Rothesay 4%1% 4 April 2014 to 26 October April 2013 to 26 October 2013

Summer performance % operated services on time Wemyss Bay /Rothesay car traffic up 4% Bute Games overall improvement in ticketing and service – Sat passenger numbers up 1% – Additional vessel chartered Coaches down 10% over the weekend – despite coach discount offered!

Timetables New timetable now in place for winter (from 27/10/14) Late ferries continued between June to circa end August but uptake was disappointing No plans to change core timetable Request to move the 0740 sailing from Rhubodach to 0730 as a result of the change to opening time at Dunoon Grammar School

Wemyss Bay Refurbishment Significant investment to help secure a safe, efficient and reliable service to Rothesay by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), the port owners and organisation responsible for its upkeep The essential repairs – scheduled to begin in Spring 2015 – will mean the temporary diversion of the Rothesay-Wemyss Bay route to Gourock. Total closure of Wemyss Bay over a reduced period of time was the best option and presented the least inconvenience for customers Essential investment in the historic pier will prolong its life for many years and improve reliability of the service in the future - CMAL have advised that work cannot be put off any longer without the risk of a major failure which would render it unusable for an even longer period The Colintraive – Rhubodach service will be unaffected by the diversion. (Works are planned here following the completion of Wemyss Bay.) CMAL will consult with local businesses and residents in Wemyss Bay over disruption

Wemyss Bay Works Outline Removal of existing fender system Removal of linkspan and transportation to Inchgreen Quayside (Port Glasgow) for refurbishment Building works to existing ticket office Building works to listed walkway structure Pier deck alterations to accommodate proposed new fender system Installation of new fender system (comprising driven steel piles and fender jacket assemblies) Concrete repairs to the pier roundhead Installation of cathodic protection system to pier Dredging to the West and North West of the pier Reinstatement of the linkspan following refurbishment at Inchgreen

Gourock Works Outline Installation of new boat steps (to accommodate passenger only vessels) Closure of existing “Kilcreggan” steps Installation of new traffic management and marshalling layout, including: Re-surfacing Road markings Signage Barriers Fences Building works to accommodate Rothesay ferry services

Gourock New port office and ticket portacabin to be installed Traffic marshalling area improvements Overspill car parking at Riverside Rest Home Wemyss Bay staff to relocate – additional customer service staff on site Timetable developed to reflect integration with trains and regular services

Proposed Pricing Discount of 15% available for duration of Wemyss Bay closure. These fares will be maintained for the duration of the works. -Current 9 day saver return W Bay/Roth: -Adult price is; £7.20, discounted price £6.12 -Car price is; £27.50, discounted price £23.38

Customer Service Issues Buses available from Gourock Station to Inverclyde from till – dep every 30 mins – 13 mins journey 4 trains per hour to Glasgow available Mon – Sat Passenger survey to be carried out on travel patterns Telephone assistance team available to answer queries Passenger gangway available (subject to tides) - No Passenger Access System – additional assistance will be available Dedicated customer service team available Info desk at Wemyss Bay under consideration

RET- Fares RET will be rolled out in October 2015, including services to Bute Once introduced there will be a single RET fare all year round (revised at the start of the summer timetables) Our understanding is that the SPT Concessionary Travel Scheme will continue when RET introduced The Ferries Plan confirms that RET fares will be competitive with any previous multi-journey single equivalent fare. To be announced in due course

AOB No tax discs from 1/10/14 – V5 document required as alternative with Blue Badge Disruptions information now on ‘Twitter’ live Next meeting

Any Other Business Going forward?