Transport / Free foot passenger ferry fares for under 22s to be introduced next week
FREE foot passenger fares on internal ferries for island residents under the age of 22 in Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides are set to be introduced on Tuesday (1 April).
The Scottish Government said people will need to show their Young Scot or National Entitlement Card.
The scheme was included in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2025/26.
Campaigners have long felt aggrieved that the successful Scotland-wide scheme to give free bus travel to under 22s introduced in 2022 was not extended to inter-island ferries.
Although foot fares for children up to the age of 19 were already discounted on Shetland Islands Council ferries – 80p for a return journey on most routes – they will now soon be free.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: “This new scheme will enable children and young people to travel for free between islands across their local authority area, improving access to education, employment, training, health and social activities and much more.
“I am pleased that from 1 April, this scheme will give them the same opportunities as free bus travel provides for many children and young people in mainland communities and was a key commitment in the transport budget for 2025-26.
“I also remain committed to extending free ferry travel to more young people on our islands in 2025-26.
“Eradicating child poverty is the single greatest priority of this government and we are committed to giving all of our children and young people the very best chance to succeed in life.”
One of Shetland’s Scottish Youth Parliament members Bertie Summers said: “I am incredibly pleased about the introduction of the free inter-island ferry travel scheme for under 22s.
“The scheme is certainly a cause for celebration as it sufficiently levels the playing field in terms of public transportation access for young people in some of Scotland’s island communities.
“With young people in these communities no longer having to pay for inter-island ferry travel, then they could potentially become more willing to continue living in the areas that they grew up in, which will help to counter the shrinking population in Scotland’s islands, as well as the growing jobs vacancies which really need to be filled.”
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