The Kintyre Forum

From BBC news 22nd December at 13.41

Argyll and Northern Ireland ferry service planned

A plan has emerged to run a ferry service from Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsular to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland next summer.

Years of effort by campaigners and the offer of a government subsidy have so far failed to re-start the service, which ended in 1999.

But local business Kintyre Express plans to run a commercial service four days a week from May until September.

It intends to run two return journeys each day on the 90-minute crossing.

A car ferry service ran from Campbeltown to Ballycastle each summer between 1997 and 1999.

The Conservative government of John Major worked hard to establish the ferry service but it did not receive a public subsidy. The hope was it would aid economic regeneration on both sides of the North Channel.

But the operators - Sea Containers - pulled out after two years. Extensive efforts by the former Scottish Executive, the current Scottish government and the Northern Ireland Executive did not manage to resurrect the service.

According to the Kintyre Express website, the new service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 27 May to 26 September.

It recently became clear that it would be difficult to subsidise the route because of the current pressure on public spending.

However campaigners will be hopeful the Kintyre Express service proves commercially viable.

West Coast Motors key players in this?

Bitter End wrote:From BBC news 22nd December at 13.41

Argyll and Northern Ireland ferry service planned

A plan has emerged to run a ferry service from Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsular to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland next summer.

Hey, that's great news.

So it looks like we may get back for a few tunes in Campbeltown next Summer, after all!

Cheers
Dick
{Ballycastle}

Well that sounds like good news.... 90 Mins seems a bit quick though going back to the last Ferry (Which did the cars etc)

How long was the crossing all these years back ? I thought it was 2-3 hours, anyone remember ?

I wonder if it's the small boat that KE was using to go back and forward to Ayrshire etc...

Anyone know anyting else ?

maxmix

Ah.... Just found this..... so no cars then !

http://www.kintyreexpress.com/ (Timetable starting April 2011)



maxmix

Split this and started a new thread as it deserves a thread of its own. Great to hear this. As maxmix says more detail can be found at the new Kintyre Express website by clicking the image link below

http://www.kintyreexpress.com/ferry%20s ... html#troon

You can listen to Managing Director Colin Craig being interviewed this morning on Radio Ulster at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster/

Click on LISTEN LIVE on the right hand side.

Here is the official press release from Kintyre Express, hot off the press as they say...

Kintyre Express are pleased to announce the launch of a new passenger ferry service from Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland next summer.

The commercial service will run four days a week from May 27th until September 26th incorporating two return journeys each day on the 90-minute crossing. Extra journeys will be operated on demand.

The service will be operated using a custom built Redbay Stormforce 36 foot RIB with a capacity of 12 passengers and a top speed of 37 knots. The boat is currently in build at Redbay Boats in Cushendall, N. Ireland.

Managing Director Colin Craig said:

"There have been a number of consultancy reports investigating the requirement for a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle since the car ferry service stopped running in 1999 with much talk of government funding - all to no avail. I feel this service is vital to the economies of Kintyre & Antrim and that by starting with a passenger vessel and minimal infrastructure costs we will prove that the demand exists for this service."

Further information is available and seats may be booked on line at http://www.kintyreexpress.com or by telephoning 01586 552319.

Kintyre Forum Notes : The Kintyre Express is a Redbay Stormforce (Northern Ireland) 11 metre rigid inflatable boats (R.I.B.'s), with centrally heated fully enclosed cabins and coded to the M.C.A. required standards and crewed by fully qualified, experienced skippers.

The image below shows the Kintyre Express berthed in Campbeltown this morning, 23rd December 2010. What a wonderful crossing it would have been today!

Brilliant! Another one to add to the activity list for visitors!

Does anyone know if there is a regular public transport service from Ballycastle to Belfast?

No indication of how much the fares will be?

EMDEE wrote:No indication of how much the fares will be?

Its on the website Emdee at

http://www.kintyreexpress.com/ferry%20service.html

£30 single or £55 return to Ballycastle. Good price, now to plan the golf trip to Portrush!

Just to bump this along, received this poster/advert for the Kintyre Express. Click on the image to visit the Kintyre Express website to find out more about this exciting new service!

£30 one way, £55 return, bit steep, would be better off flying

petewick wrote:£30 one way, £55 return, bit steep, would be better off flying

Flying from where? As far as I know there are no direct flights from Campbeltown to Nothern Ireland.

petewick wrote:£30 one way, £55 return, bit steep, would be better off flying

Peter, you have to be joking? That is brilliant value. What are the alternatives to get to Northern Ireland from here? Travel to Glasgow and fly which will cost alot more or go by car to one of the main ferry routes. Now that is expensive!