THERE was some confusion this week over an official return date for Calmac’s vessel MV Argyll Flyer – which has been out of service since March.
The Flyer was taken off the Dunoon to Gourock route for ‘urgent repairs’ as an issue had developed with the ferry’s exhaust and a single vessel service has been in operation since.
Its understood that testing showed that under certain conditions the Flyer’s exhaust gas exceeded workplace safety limits, although there was no indication anyone travelling on the vessel was at any health risk.
Back in August CalMac reported that the Flyer would return at the end of September but that date was pushed back to the beginning of this month, due to delays with the vessel’s repair.
Now there’s some confusion over the exact date the Flyer will return.
During Monday night’s Dunoon Community Council meeting, Dunoon ward Argyll and Bute councillor Daniel Hampsey stated that the Flyer is due to return to service on October 24 but the Dunoon to Gourock route will only operate with two vessels for three days, before the MV Ali Cat is taken out of service for an annual overhaul.
A revelation which provoked laughter from community councillors in attendance.
Councillor Hampsey who is the chair of the Cowal Transport Forum said: “We’re hoping that the two vessel service will come back into operation by the middle of November.”
All week CalMac have been communicating to this newspaper that they cannot confirm when the Flyer will restart operations or if the route will return to a single vessel service at the end of this month.
A spokesperson form CalMac stated: “We can’t be more specific at this stage. However, work is progressing well. We will be updating the community soon with a return to service date. As you’ll know – we need to make sure that community contacts are the first ones to be told, and that will certainly be happening as soon as possible.”
This isn’t the first time CalMac have had to revert to a single vessel service. Back in 2021 the Flyer was taken off the route after it developed problems with its new engine and propeller, which resulted in the vessel being out of action for seven months.
David Clough, transport lead for DCC was at the meeting on Monday night and said: “Whilst it is good news that the Argyll Flyer is returning, we are effectively being presented with a single vessel service until mid-November. The single vessel service started in March so we have gone through seven months of a single vessel service plus scheduled bus replacement services with a further month to come which will account for well over 5,000 cancelled sailings. Whilst CalMac have provided updates on the progress of the works, delays have occurred due to repair resources being allocated to other CalMac vessels serving routes where no other vessel was available.
“DCC has applied pressure to CalMac to investigate charter vessels, and queried why the factors requiring the modifications had in fact been in existence since its introduction onto the service over 13 years ago and had not been noticed. However the fundamental issues here are that the berthing facilities at both Gourock and Greenock are not designed to accommodate the AliCat or Argyll Flyer since their introduction and the vessels themselves are not fit for purpose for operating on this route in bad weather.”
He added: “Transport Scotland and Holyrood have let down the residents of Dunoon for over a decade with promises of new vessels, and the cancellation at the direction of the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity of a further three return sailings per day from November is actually the only tangible change to the service in over 13 years. We will continue to work with the Cowal – Gourock Transport Link in their efforts in lobbying the 16 MSP’s covering Inverclyde and Cowal, Transport Scotland and the Minister to make tangible progress towards improving the reliability of what must be the worst ferry service in Europe.” This story is continued on page 7.
CalMac has indicated the two-ferry timetable is scheduled to resume on Thursday, November 13.
It is all part of a changing transport picture as winter timetables begin on land and sea next week.
Over the past few months Dunoon Community Council (DCC) has been working with CalMac, West Coast Motors and the Cowal Transport Forum to ensure better access and connectivity for Dunoon itself and with the connecting services to Gourock for onward travel by ScotRail.
David Clough said: “The start of the winter timetables on Monday, October 20 brings with it further change to improve that access and connectivity.”
In a report shared with this newspaper, DCC is advising West Coast Motors say their changes are mainly to align services to best meet with CalMac connections, where possible, but the biggest change is to the 480 service.
Service 480 will operate a new route via Marine Parade following community requests and will serve an amended route around Milton. It will cover its current route around Cowal Place as far as John Street but will continue down to Morrison’s then via Marine Parade to Hunters Quay. Passengers who previously boarded on Cromwell Street, Hill Street or Edward Street can board from John Street or service 489 at Auchamore Road / Wellington Street. All other areas of route will continue to be served but with a new timetable.
Service 489 has minor revisions mainly to late afternoon and evening journeys to best meet CalMac connections. It has a revised Sunday timetable with reliable options for CalMac connections, with the first departure now 10 minutes earlier than before at 0840.
And the West Coast Motors service 478 has minor timetable improvements including trips previously operating to Colintraive Ferry Terminal now extending to Kyles View (previously only served on school day trips only). The last departure from Dunoon is now at 1740 (previously 1745) to maintain onward connections at Colintraive Ferry Terminal.
The DCC noted West Coast Motors advise in addition to the highlighted changes, departure times may remain the same, while the timings for subsequent stops may have slightly changed. West Coast Motors recommend checking the new timetable online.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “Integrated and well-connected public transport is a key factor in the economic and social wellbeing of communities across the West Coast.
“We are proud to work closely with transport providers such as West Coast Motors and ScotRail to ensure that our customers have the smoothest travel experience.”
CalMac’s winter timetables for the period October 20 2025 – March 26 2026 are available to view on their website.
Dunoon Community Council will publish the revised timetables on its Facebook page but is alerting users these are uploaded at a specific time and will not be updated.
