Traffic and Travel

Exercise Formidable Shield is currently taking place around the islands.

Ferry capacity reduced for armed forces exercise

John Daniel Peteranna

Swinney told of despair over CalMac’s crippled fleet​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​...

Kenneth Street in Stornoway, where there are concerns that large vehciles are causing congestion. (Image: Dave Fergusson/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)

Congested streets - concern over Kenneth Street and Church Street

Glen Sannox is one of the delayed ferries.

Glen Sannox sails into the isles amid LNG doubts

The Marybank processing plant closed in April. (Photo: Google Street View)

​Island haulier announces price hike

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA : The tanks in Stornoway require upgrading to comply with health and safety requirements

Petrol supplies to be dependent on ferries

Caladonain MacBrayne ferry the Caledonian Isles sails into Ardrossan Harbour. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

CalMac fares shock “imposed by decree”

At work on the croft

Energy that brought Beatriz to Lewis, via Mongolia

The Lord of the Isles has been redeployed to Islay

​Community "fury” over ferry service withdrawal – again

Rail travellers look at an electronic information board displaying train time information outside Euston Station in London. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Train stations hit by ‘cyber security incident’ - list

John Swinney has apologised.

Urgent action needed on South Uist ferry service

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Torcuil Crichton has called for urgent action to make sure that ferry services to and from Lochboisdale are maintained following the withdrawal of the MV Lord of the Isles.

Murray MacLeod

The MV Lord of the Isles

Fire on board South Uist ferry

Follow our advice to save on car breakdown cover

Expert shows how to save hundreds on car breakdown cover

The prices quoted on Loganair website for Benbecula to Glasgow flights.

Glasgow-Uist flight costs soar - and no respite on horizon

The MV Isle of Arran, built 36 years ago, is still being pressed into service.

Ferries to linger in dry-dock for longer

The Loch Portain suffered a breakdown.

Campaign launched to avert second ferry crisis

Getting ready to depart Leverburgh.

Harris and Barra ‘2030’ ferry fears

Loganair chief executive, Jonathan Hinkles

Loganair lambast new charges as "airway robbery"

The EU wide system provided advanced navigation through satellites, which proved particularly useful for small airports, and its unavailability has led to increased cancellations.

EGNOS 'vandalism' trebles Barra flight cancellations

The 24/7 Greggs in the airport was the only refuge for those stranded.

‘No duty of care’ for stranded passengers

(Photo: ChargePlace Scotland)

Government-owned EV charging network in Scotland to be scrapped

(Image: NationalWorld/Adobe Stock)

‘Double trouble’ on roads as 32m bank holiday road trips planned

Tim Ingram was shamed into resigning from the health board

So where are the CalMac directors hiding?

(Image: NationalWorld/AdobeStock)

DVSA makes major driving test changes to tackle waiting times

Fire and ambulance crews awaited the vessel's return to Uig.

Fire in the engine room of MV Hebrides

The emergency services were called to Uig pier after the MV Hebrides developed an engine fire.

Ferries in chaos with the threat of worse to come

Damage ranges from burst tyres to shattered suspension (NationalWorld/Abode Stock)

2.7 million cars forced off the road by pothole damage

Risk remains over yard's future, says Auditor General. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

FERRY BILL HITS £300 MILLION AND FERGUSON YARD’S FUTURE IN DOUBT

The Auditor General for Scotland has published a scathing update on the two “missing” CalMac ferries which puts the latest cost at £300 million and rising while the Ferguson shipyard’s future is in doubt.

Brian Wilson

Risks to the yard still remain, according to the Auditor General. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Auditor General in scathing report

Loganair announced that services from Stornoway airport and Benbecula to Inverness would be cancelled all together for a six-week period.

"Dramatic escalation" forces intervention

Due to re-open next week, Uig will remain closed for a longer period than had been hoped.

Shock “10-day” delay to Uig pier re-opening

Loganair said they hoped a resolution could be found.

Scottish Government "has to come to the table"

End of the road for sat nav directions down residential ‘rat runs’

Calls for urgent ban on remote control of driverless cars

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‘Dedicated’ ferries - but not till 2026

The Pentalina, which successfully operates between Caithness and Orkney, has been touted before as a possible solution.

Charter ferry options remain uncertain

Angus Campbell says he will take his lead from the public.

Consultation on ferries will not be restricted by ‘red lines’

An islands-based ferry company, it is argued, would be able to respond better to the needs of the travelling public, who are becoming increasingly dejected by the recent shambles. (Pic: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Local ferry company is the way ahead

While BC Ferries in British Columbia have similarities with CalMac, comparisons should be treated with caution.

So how do others run their ferry services?

The original plans would have seen job losses at Stornoway and Benbecula.

Further climbdown on air traffic ‘modernisation’

The Scottish Government appears to have ruled any local control over ferries, but have committed to more community representation.

Consultants' ferry report offers few options

Faclan gu math cruaidh son fear a tha na ard neach sgrudaidh.

Auditor: Islands have been ‘disregarded’

The MV Isle of Mull was sent to cover for the MV Hebrides.

A return to timetable… for the moment at least

The MV Hebrides has been taken off the Skye triangle and no replacement available. Meanwhile, breakdowns and cancellations come thick and fast on other lifeline services.

‘Treat ferries crisis as Mayday emergency’

Delays on Stornoway-Ullapool

Ferry sailings between Stornoway and Ullapool are subject to significant delays as the bow doors of the MV Loch Seaforth suffered a technical issue.

Peter Urpeth

The MV Hebrides berthed in Tarbert. The latest breakdown was described by a Uist haulier as a "shambles".

‘People are at their wit’s end’ over ferries

The roads and regions expected to see the worst delays and disruption as 80% of rail services cancelled (NationalWorld / Mark Hall)

Train strike traffic disruption: Map of road congestion hotspots

Harris councillor Grant Fulton says the continuing problems with the ferry, and lack of action, is making residents feel "abandoned" and "marginalised".

‘Maelstrom’ ahead for Uist and Harris

Stornoway Port Authority board appointees (from left to right): Roddie MacKay, Ian McCulloch and Murdo MacIver.

Port appointees will drive ‘transformational’ change

Isle of Berneray. PICTURE CREDIT : P.TOMKINS / VisitScotland

Berneray makes Lonely Planet’s top 20 beaches

The 29-year-old Lord of the Isles had to be withdrawn from service.

Scale of Uist booking losses are revealed

CMAL, which Erik Østergaard chaired, warned against giving the contract for new ferries to Ferguson's. Now he's promoted to chair of parent company David MacBrayne.

How 'Frances' helped ‘Erik’ to CalMac chair

Uig pier will be closed for six months over the winter for upgrade work.

Uist firms face 30% hit from Uig closure

There has been frustration that even lifeline, major connections like that provided by the Loch Seaforth have been cancelled due to even a single case of Covid among the crew.

CalMac explain Covid policy

Rob Mackinnon is backing tourists to return to the isles.

Tourism to return to pre-Covid levels this year

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