Transport / Transport Scotland rows back pledge to offer free NorthLink travel to all under 22
A PROMISE to offer free NorthLink ferry vouchers to everyone under the age of 22 in Shetland has been quietly rowed back by the Scottish Government.
It was announced on Tuesday that the concessionary ferry vouchers would be extended to people aged between 19 and 21 from June, with 16-18 year olds already eligible.
However Transport Scotland – the Scottish Government’s transport body – had announced in late 2023 the scheme would soon be rolled out to everyone under-22.
Asked by Shetland News if everyone under the age of 22 would still be eligible, Transport Scotland admitted it would just be 19-21 year olds who would receive the vouchers.
“Careful consideration was given to how to ensure the available resource to extend free ferry travel achieved the greatest benefit,” Transport Scotland said.
“Currently children under five travel for free and children and young people under 16 only pay half price fares on NorthLink services.
“Young people aged 16-18 also benefit from four free ferry journeys a year so it made sense to extend the eligibility of the scheme to 19-21 year olds, allowing more young people to move more freely between their homes and the mainland for education, work and leisure.”
Transport minister Fiona Hyslop had said in October 2023 she was pleased to say the scheme would be rolled out to everyone under the age of 22.
She added ferries were an “essential part” of the transport network, and a “vital lifeline for island residents”.
All islanders aged under 22 to receive NorthLink ferry vouchers
On Tuesday the Scottish Government announced the concessionary ferry vouchers would be extended to 19-21 year olds living on Scottish islands – but made no mention of the full roll-out.
It said young people aged 19-21 would receive vouchers for four single, or two return, free ferry trips a year from 23 June.
The scheme currently supports people aged 16-18 and full-time volunteers up to 25.
Hyslop welcomed the move yesterday (Tuesday), saying it would “support even more young people to sustainably access work, connect with family and friends, and experience new opportunities which they may otherwise not have access to.”
“We are doing all we can to ensure young people growing up on our islands can access similar opportunities to their peers on mainland Scotland.
“I recognise that many will want us to offer more free ferry travel to and from the mainland and we will keep that under review, but this latest concession is additional to the free bus travel that many young island residents also benefit from.”
The Scottish Green’s had initially announced the move to extend free ferry vouchers to all islanders under 22 in late 2023, when they still formed part of the Scottish Government with the SNP.
Everyone under the age of 22 can travel for free on inter-island ferries in Shetland, after a Scottish Government announcement last month.
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