Stug Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Just thought I would share the interesting bit if news I heard today. Serco Northink have reduced the discount for Senior citizens, disabled passengers and students from 25% to 10%. Apparently there was an announcement but when I told them the only announcement I had seen was about the group travel the response was 'It's all part of the same thing!' I read the article in both The Shetland Times and The Shetland News and there was nothing mentioned about the reduction.So the first most people will be aware is when they book and discover the cost has gone up 15%Pretty sneaky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Jingles Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 They have also increased the length of the mid and peak seasons. Yet another sneaky move by Serco to pass fare increases under the radar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyboy Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Don't those groups get 2 free return journeys a year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 If you qualify for a free bus pass you get two free trips a year. Group discounts are being abolished. http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/03/21/serco-abolishes-group-discounts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stug Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Some of the people in these groups get the 2 trips a year but not all. The free trips for young people are only until you are 19 and you do not have to be a student to qualify - all young people form the age of 15 ( I think) to 19 receive the two trips but if you are a student over the age of 19 you do not get any free trips. Students had their funding for travel they receive from SAAS cut last year and they are now being hit with an increase of 15%. Senior citizens and disabled passengers may qualify for the 2 trips but this does not include a vehicle which , depending upon their disability, may be a necessity rather than a luxury. My main point is that this is another example of price increase being brought in under the radar when we were assured that Serco were committed to improving the lifeline service! Unfortunately that improvement appears to be to their profit margins and not the service provided to islanders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suuusssiiieee Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Very sneaky indeed. They may as well run the Jolly Rodger flag fae da mast as to my eyes and ears Serco seem to think us islanders are mugs ready to line their shareholders pockets with a dividend. I for one will not be conned by their waffle and spin statements. As it goes if you don't require an immediate journey south for instance it's probably just as well flying nowadays.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exciseman Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Very sneaky indeed. They may as well run the Jolly Rodger flag fae da mast as to my eyes and ears Serco seem to think us islanders are mugs ready to line their shareholders pockets with a dividend. I for one will not be conned by their waffle and spin statements. As it goes if you don't require an immediate journey south for instance it's probably just as well flying nowadays.. No point in complaining on Shetlink - SIC councillor for transport is Allan Wishart and he was singing NorthLinks praises in the press last week so have a go at him, after all that is what you are paying him for - his contact details are:Phone: 01595 694224 Mobile: 07825088930 Email: allan.wishart@shetland.gov.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stug Posted March 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 Very sneaky indeed. They may as well run the Jolly Rodger flag fae da mast as to my eyes and ears Serco seem to think us islanders are mugs ready to line their shareholders pockets with a dividend. I for one will not be conned by their waffle and spin statements. As it goes if you don't require an immediate journey south for instance it's probably just as well flying nowadays.. No point in complaining on Shetlink - SIC councillor for transport is Allan Wishart and he was singing NorthLinks praises in the press last week so have a go at him, after all that is what you are paying him for - his contact details are:Phone: 01595 694224 Mobile: 07825088930 Email: allan.wishart@shetland.gov.uk I've already contacted both him and Tavish Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheltie53 Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 Do might as weel wee ida wind as pit wirds tae dat ein as leist Tavish ill offer support fir wir Shetland! da ein idder is owr wishy washy.Self preservation is just the Grains of the iceberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suuusssiiieee Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 sheltie 53 well said. Although i have already contacted Chaz n Dave i doubt it will do much good whatsoever. What was a lifeline ferry service has now been turned into a profit driven, greedy, glorified take us for as much as we can exercise. Serco have to run the service cheaper than before following Scottish Government budget requirements, but i can't think of a worse company to have given this service to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 They're not the only way of this rock. Get a plane and hire a car at the other end. I still think that it is an amazingly cheap journey. It could be cheaper if we weren't having to subsidise free tickets for many with plenty of money in their pockets to pay their own way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheltie53 Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 Just checked the cost of our family holiday with our caravan to the UK mainland. Including food and drinks of some kind, return will be around £900 inc Islander discount! Which is Blo^^£ ridiculous. How can we expect a tourist to industry to survive, would you "Visit Shetland" given the real cost of actually getting here. The consequences of the Scottish Government placing this contract within the "for more profit" sector is a disaster for us. I only hope the Wishy Washy person will react with SHETLAND as a priority but doubt it will make any impression upon the Scottish Government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chookyargyll Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 Now now now, Serco Northlink are the best company for the job. Remember the new £18 a night seats, (blanket not included) and the lovely showers (tokens available from reception), the upgraded menu with no Shetland lamb,the excellent two class seperation in the magnus lounge, the relocation of those really comfy "recliner" seats and the seperation boards between the seats around the ship to stop all those pesky islanders who cannot get a cabin stretching out because 3 bus loads of pensioners from deepest Surrey have decided to descend on the Northern Isles.Not to mention the 36 staff they are without now with the busy time fast approaching. All this and the crews got no support from the Islanders, so I cant help but think you got the company running this route you deserved.This mob are going to get worse. You were informed from the start what they were like,but it did not concern you then until now when it starts to hit your pocket. Serco are only interested in the pursuit of profit, and they do not care where this money comes from and it is far too late to start greeting now when things dont go your way. Karma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ledi Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 Erm, no.... I think you'll find that many Shetlanders were happy with Northlink, fully supported the crews and rue the day Serco got their hands on the contract..... In other words we're in the "same boat" as you - stuffed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoogler Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 Now now now, Serco Northlink are the best company for the job. Remember the new £18 a night seats, (blanket not included) and the lovely showers (tokens available from reception), the upgraded menu with no Shetland lamb,the excellent two class seperation in the magnus lounge, the relocation of those really comfy "recliner" seats and the seperation boards between the seats around the ship to stop all those pesky islanders who cannot get a cabin stretching out because 3 bus loads of pensioners from deepest Surrey have decided to descend on the Northern Isles.Not to mention the 36 staff they are without now with the busy time fast approaching. All this and the crews got no support from the Islanders, so I cant help but think you got the company running this route you deserved.This mob are going to get worse. You were informed from the start what they were like,but it did not concern you then until now when it starts to hit your pocket. Serco are only interested in the pursuit of profit, and they do not care where this money comes from and it is far too late to start greeting now when things dont go your way. Karma If you hadn't put across such an aggressive attitude when you started slagging off Shetlanders on here you might have got a different response, ya t*ss*r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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