Chamber and committees

The Outline Business Case is still being developed. Once complete, it is scheduled to report to Transport Scotland's Investment Decision Making Board and then Ministers in due course with updates being provided to stakeholders at key milestones.

The Edinburgh South Suburban Line is already open and operates regular freight services. However, in line with the Scottish Government’s 100 day commitment, a feasibility study has been commissioned to examine the challenges and opportunities of restoring passenger services on the route using tram trains.

CalMac’s annual fuel consumption associated with the operation of ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon per year since 2024 is detailed in the following table.

A timeline for delivery of new vessels will be provided following the approval of both the Outline Business Case and Final Business Case. To ensure continued safe operations, CalMac is undertaking life extension works to the current vessels, detail of which have already been publicised. Updates will be provided at the appropriate time.

The Scottish Government is committed to public service renewal, with further detail to be set out in the forthcoming Programme for Government. We will continue to work with public bodies, trade unions and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to streamline the public service landscape. All proposals will be assessed against their ability to improve outcomes, strengthen services and deliver sustainable value for money, and will be brought forward in due course.

Details of scheduled sailings, the number CalMac operated on the Gourock-Dunoon route, and the variance between them, are publicly available on CalMac’s website: Regional Performance | Performance | Corporate CalMac, selecting the Clyde South monthly performance report option.

The First Minister’s 100 Days Programme sets out this Government’s commitment to public service renewal. Work to reform the public service delivery landscape is already underway and will be reflected in the Programme for Government in September. We will continue to work in partnership with public bodies, trade unions and other stakeholders to develop and deliver reforms that improve outcomes, strengthen services and ensure long-term sustainability.

This major investment programme includes a port masterplan to redevelop Gourock, new passenger only vessels and associated harbour infrastructure adjustments at Dunoon and Kilcreggan. The number of replacement vessels for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service is being considered as part of the overall Outline Business Case and will be reported in due course.

When a disruption occurs on the Gourock-Dunoon route, a replacement bus service linking with Western Ferries will be available as it currently is during the period of scheduled works on the MV Ali Cat and MV Argyll Flyer between 2 September 2026 and 25 March 2027.

This information is publicly available within the Route and Island Performance on CalMac’s website, however the number of sailings CalMac operated on Gourock-Dunoon route, and number of passengers carried for the April to June quarter in 2024, 2025 and 2026 is: