Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Serco NorthLink’s decision to remove the shared cabins policy without consultation with passengers on the Northern Isles Ferry Service, what the estimated cost to ensure that one concessionary voucher can secure a sole cabin will be to (a) it and (b) per passenger, and how this compares with the cost to remove peak fares on ScotRail services.
Serco Northlink Ferries took the decision to remove their shared cabin offer option due to the health and safety of passengers, however NorthLink are aware that Shetlanders often use local knowledge to share cabins with people they know. Customers can use their concessionary ferry vouchers for free passenger travel and on overnight sailings to partially offset the cost of a cabin for sole use if not travelling with others.
The Scottish Government has not carried out a detailed assessment of the cost to allow one concessionary voucher to secure a sole cabin or how this compares with the cost to remove peak fares on Scotrail services.