Latest news with #Scotsman
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
CalMac ferries crisis: 'Never-ending storm of disruption' for key route as timetable changes hit
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Passengers on one of CalMac's busiest routes are facing a 'never-ending storm of disruption' by being forced to switch several times between ports 15 miles apart, an MSP has complained. It comes amid fears the operator's ferries crisis could get even worse when several major vessels are taken out of service for annual overhauls this autumn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Extended repairs to Caledonian Isles could take almost two years | John Devlin/The Scotsman A shortage of ferries because of breakdowns and refits, along with with harbour maintenance work, means sailings on the main ferry route to Arran will be shifted between Ardrossan and Troon several times until October. It will also result in a single, smaller ferry providing the service for a week compared to the normal two. The service to and from Brodick will only run from Troon until September 7, then it transfers to Ardrossan for a week before returning to Troon from September 15. Many passengers prefer travelling from Ardrossan because it is a shorter crossing and the port has a rail link with Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, CalMac was forced to suspend the service in January because of a shortage of ferries during mammoth repairs to Caledonian Isles, the route's main vessel, which could continue until November - nearly two years. Another vessel, Isle of Arran, was drafted in to serve the route for three weeks until Thursday last week, but it was then switched to cover the main Islay route. The ferry will return to temporarily resume Ardrossan-Brodick sailings from Sept 8-14 while the Troon linkspan, which enables vehicles to drive on and off vessels, undergoes maintenance. Winter timetable plans due But there will be no Ardrossan sailings again from September 15 to at least October 19, with CalMac reviewing its planned winter timetables because of Caledonian Isles' extended absence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ferry operator said it planned to share the information with affected communities in the next couple of weeks. Troon sailings are handled by the new Glen Sannox ferry and chartered catamaran Alfred, neither of which can use Ardrossan. Alfred has been on charter to CalMac from Pentland Ferries in Orkney since 2023 | John Devlin/The Scotsman Isle of Arran will be out of service from September 18 to October 23 for annual maintenance, followed by Loch Seaforth, CalMac's largest vessel, which operates the Ullapool-Stornoway route, from October 18. 'The latest downpour' That will further reduce capacity on the main Arran route as Alfred is due to help cover for Loch Seaforth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene said: 'Islanders are facing a never-ending storm of disruption and this news is just the latest downpour. 'The hard-working staff at CalMac are doing their very best, but they have been let down by a chaotic SNP Government that broke its promise to build new ferries on time and on budget. 'Islanders are now stuck with an ageing fleet that's constantly breaking down and causing havoc. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The Scottish Government are treating my constituents along the west coast like second-class citizens. I have spoken to so many islanders who don't have any faith in the government's ability to deliver for them.' 'Significant disruption' A CalMac spokesperson said: "We have shared a vessel deployment plan for the last few weeks of our summer timetable with communities on our network. 'This plan meets projected demand on all routes and has been designed to provide people with certainty of service levels during what we acknowledge is a period of significant disruption.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Young crash victim identified as Scotsman who moved to WA
A Scotsman and former Royal Marine who moved to WA last year has been revealed as the young driver who died in a crash near Coral Bay on Sunday morning. James Robert Reynolds, 25, was behind the wheel of a Toyota HiLux utility when it collided with a Volkswagen T-Cross station sedan on Coral Bay Road, Lyndon, about 9.30am. Mr Reynolds was critically injured and died after being rushed to Coral Bay Nursing post. His 25-year-old female passenger received minor injuries in the crash, before being taken to the same facility. The 50-year-old female driver and sole occupant of the Volkswagen was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to the Daily Record, Mr Reynolds was in the Royal Marines for six years — an elite section of the United Kingdom's navy — after leaving school in Scotland. James Robert Reynolds died in a crash east of Coral Bay on Sunday morning. ` Unknown Credit: Unknown / Facebook Mr Reynolds had moved to Australia just last year before taking up a job as a mechanical fitter. His heartbroken mother, Kerry Renolds, said 'we are all absolutely broken' when sharing a post announcing her son's death on Monday. Her post has gathered more than 600 comments from people extending their condolences. The post said Mr Reynolds leaves behind his mother Kerry, two siblings and his 'partner and best-friend' Katie. Tributes online described Mr Reynolds as 'one of the best' and the 'loveliest guy'. Major crash investigators are appealing for anyone with video or information about the crash to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online here.
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
James Robert Reynolds: Lyndon crash victim identified as Scotsman and former Royal Marine who moved to WA
James Robert Reynolds: Lyndon crash victim identified as Scotsman and former Royal Marine who moved to WA
Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The best EIF classical concerts - Scotsman critic David Kettle previews the 2025 programme
Scotsman critic David Kettle picks his classical music highlights from this year's EIF programme Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Veil of the Temple It takes a festival with the ambition – and the means – of the Edinburgh International Festival to launch its classical programme with an eight-hour, stage-filling mystical choral meditation from one of the UK's most idiosyncratic composers. John Tavener's The Veil of the Temple straddles world religions in search of a universal truth, taking its listeners on a spiritual journey to a hair-raising, conscience-altering state of enlightenment. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience, with the combined might of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Monteverdi Choir (below) and National Youth Choir of Scotland plus the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and numerous international soloists – and it's surely the most profound contemplation of the EIF's theme, 'the truth we seek'. Usher Hall, 2 August Monteverdi Choir Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy Spiritual contemplations continue in a stage-shuddering two-piano recital from keyboard and life partners Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy in a rare live performance of Messiaen's mighty Visions de l'Amen. The beautiful austerity of Bach and the volatile playfulness of Kurtág join forces in a typically unconventional first half. Queen's Hall, 5 August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy Hanni Liang: Dreams The Rite of Spring famously came to Stravinsky in a dream, as did Yesterday to Paul McCartney. The recital by German-born pianist Hanni Liang (pictured above) might give you the chance to delve into your own night-time visions and hear them realised at the keyboard. Debussy's tender Rêverie provides a starting point, but after that it's down to you, Liang and your subconscious… The Hub, 7 August Hanni Liang Aurora Orchestra: Shostakovich Inside Out Was Shostakovich an obedient line-toer or a snarling subversive in Soviet Russia? The Aurora Orchestra and founding conductor Nicholas Collon surely won't attempt a simple answer in their conversational dissection of the composer's Fifth Symphony (after all, there isn't one), but they'll set out to examine the music amid the terror and turmoil of its times. The full piece will be played uninterrupted in the evening concert along with a piece by Abel Selaocoe. Usher Hall, 18 August The Dunedin Consort
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Prats aplenty in chaotic, witty whodunit
The Fire Station Theatre in Mosgiel. PHOTO: ODT FILES I admit to being a regular fan of TV "whodunits", so was very happy when invited to review the Sunday matinee of Death by Fatal Murder, a Taieri Dramatic Society production currently mid-season at Fire Station Theatre, Mosgiel. The play is loosely based on an Agatha Christie novel and is considered a spoof, one of a trilogy written by Peter Gordon. The entire action takes place in a very authentic 1940s drawing-room set (which reminded me of my grandmother's sitting-room) designed by production and stage manager Christine Wilson. Directed by Alison Ayers, the incompetent, bumbling Defective Inspector Pratt (Matt Brennan) is called to Bagshot House where he leads a murder investigation aided by Constable Thomkins (Tabitha Littlejohn) and local amateur sleuth Miss Joan Maple, a dear little old lady excellently played by Gloria Harris. The first act is an hour long and rather chaotic and convoluted but all the "red herrings" are dismissed in the second act and the storyline is brought to a climax. The cast of eight all have prominence, and their roles are appropriately portrayed throughout. Other characters are the owner of the house Nancy Allwright (Maxine Sannum), her husband Squadron Leader Roger Allwright (John Rowe), Ginny Farquhar (Hannah Schoullar), Enzo Garibaldi an Italian gigolo (Kaiser Coles) and Welsh clairvoyant Blodwyn Morgan (Lorraine Johnston). The inspector is indeed an incompetent blundering prat and Brennan's lines, heavily overlaid with malapropisms and puns were delivered with clarity and precision throughout, causing the attentive audience to groan or chuckle as appropriate. Blodwyn suggests conducting a seance and makes contact with a Scottish poltergeist called Dougal McDougal. This calls for her strong Welsh accent to alternate with that of the voice of an elderly Scotsman, creating more humour and chaos but giving clues to the eventual outcome of whodunit. Amateur theatrics are indeed alive and thriving in Mosgiel and this was an enjoyable presentation from a very dedicated cast and production team. The season continues later this week from Friday to Sunday.
