Wishart calls for more berth availability on Serco NorthLink Ferries

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland’s MSP, Beatrice Wishart, has today sent the second paper of a series highlighting important themes identified by respondents to Wishart’s recent Serco NorthLink booking survey to the Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop MSP. Respondents raised issues when attempting to book cabins.

Wishart is calling for an assessment of how more cabin spaces could be brought about, a return to shared cabins where requested and new vessels to ditch pods in favour of more berths on board. Over 350 comments of the over 1,000 responses commented on the need for cabins, issues with cabin bookings or wishing for the reintroduction of shared cabins, which were ended at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 60 comments referred to pods being uncomfortable or unsuitable.

Comments included passengers being unable to book a cabin with their new-born and young child, concern for safety due to the lack of privacy in pod rooms and pointing to sleeper train design in Asia with horizontal beds converted from seats or taking inspiration from youth hostels on compact design. Comments also suggested scrapping the cinema and pod rooms for more cabin space.

This follows a statement put to local media in May this year from then Minister for Transport, Kevin Stewart MSP, stating that an internal review by Serco NorthLink, and legal advice it received, concluded not to reinstate shared cabins as a booking option. Social media groups exist to arrange shared cabins for those who wish to book with a passenger whom they may not know, Serco NorthLink have indicated that they are aware of such groups.

Ms Wishart commented:

“I don’t think anyone would believe it unreasonable to seek a place to lie flat on a fourteen-hour trip where you hope to get some sleep. People very often tell me that if they have tried a pod once they don’t want to experience them again.

“We know driving while tired is dangerous and from this survey and anecdotal evidence it appears that sleeping in a pod or a chair is not the most effective way to get the sleep you need.

“Many passengers are travelling overnight on the ferry for business, family events, appointments, or holidays, and need to drive in the morning to an onward destination beyond Aberdeen.

“While I understand the offer on board of a range of options there is a clear call from passengers about increasing capacity for more berths in cabins.

“The lack of the shared cabins option is an issue that is frequently raised with me. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic it was reasonable to see why shared cabins were stopped but now, as a consequence of the reduced number of passengers in a cabin along with increasing demand, booking a trip with a cabin when you wish to travel is more difficult.

“I would like to see a return to shared cabin bookings for those wishing to travel by that means. I am also calling for an assessment of how more cabin spaces could be configured on existing vessels. Additionally I would like to see consideration given to do away with the unpopular pod rooms in favour of utilising the space for more cabins and berths on future vessels with innovative ideas investigated from similar relevant overnight accommodation.”