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Sound of Barra Ferry

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Sound of Barra Ferry
Location Map ( geo)
20180519-1705 - The new pier at Eriskay for the Sound of Barra Crossing 57.071598N 7.308599W.jpg
The new pier at Eriskay from the Sound of Barra ferry (Loch Alainn)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (3)
From:  Eriskay (South Uist)
To:  Aird Mhor (Barra)
Distance:  9.6 km (6 miles)
County
Inverness-shire
Current Operator
Caledonian MacBrayne
Toll
£25.15 (Car+driver, 2009)
On road(s)
(B888), (A888)

History

In the past, Barra was only connected to the rest of the Uist chain via the Barra and Lochboisdale triangular service out of Oban. However, a More frequent, quicker and easier route was identified as being necessary, so Calmac invested in the Sound of Barra service, starting in 2003. For a while it operated in conjunction with the Eriskay Ferry crossing, but since the Eriskay Causeway was built, the Sound of Barra Ferry crosses from that Island rather than South Uist itself.

Crossing

The MV Loch Alainn took 45 minutes to make the crossing four or five times a day in each direction. Bizarrely, this crossing was not initally covered by the RET trial, which looked like making it much more expensive than using the occasional Castlebay-Lochboisdale service. However, the prices have since been adjusted.

In 2014, the new Hybrid Ferry MV Lochinvar took over on the Portavadie Ferry route, leaving the MV Isle of Cumbrae as a spare vessel. However, from early summer in 2014, the MV Loch Alainn was lying alongside the pier in Fort William, suggesting that Isle of Cumbrae has been moved to the Sound of Barra service, in place of Loch Alainn.

Ferries

Name IMO Operator Dates Notes
Loch Alainn 9147722 Calmac 2007-2014?
in operation again by Spring 2018
20 cars
Isle of Cumbrae 7521625 Calmac 2014-? 20 cars
Loch Bhrusda 9129483 Calmac 2003-2007 18 cars
Loch Linnhe 8512308 Calmac 2003 12 cars



Links



Sound of Barra Ferry
Related Pictures
View gallery (3)
20180519-1705 - The new pier at Eriskay for the Sound of Barra Crossing 57.071598N 7.308599W.jpg20180519-1629 - MV Loch Alainn full and ready for departure from Barra 57.008617N 7.402756W.jpg20180524-1609 - Eriskay pier - Sound of Barra ferry 57.0755362N 7.3030396W.jpg
Other nearby roads
Uist
Crossings to and within the Western Isles
To the IslesBarra Ferry • Lochboisdale Ferry • Uig - North Uist Ferry • Uig-Harris Ferry • Lewis Ferry
Within the IslesVatersay Causeway • Sound of Barra Ferry • Daliburgh Causeway • Druidibeag Causeway • Eriskay Causeway • Loch Bee Causeway • South Ford Causeway • North Ford Causeway • Baleshare Causeway • Berneray Causeway • Sound of Harris Ferry • Seilebost Causeway • Scalpay Bridge • Great Bernera Bridge
Other AreasIrish Sea • Inner Hebrides • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney • North Sea • English Channel • Solent • Inland Crossings • Other Island Crossings


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