Let me present a lighthearted comparison that any parent doing the school run would understand:
IMAGINE IF MUM’S SCHOOL RUN CAR OPERATED LIKE THE STRANGFORD FERRY…
Based on the 2023/24 statistics from “DFI 2024-0366 – Barry – Response.pdf”:
“Sorry kids, we can’t go to school today because…”
- “The car will only start if we have two qualified drivers” (staffing issues)
- “We need to wait 30 minutes for the next available car slot” (capacity issues)
- “The car union is on strike” (550 cancelled sailings due to industrial action)
- “It’s too foggy to find the school” (108 cancellations due to weather)
- “The car’s broken again” (158 mechanical failures)
And just like no parent would accept:
- Having to apply for a “multi-journey ticket” to use their own driveway
- Only being allowed to leave home between 7:30am and 10:45pm
- Paying £1.43m in fares but spending £3.52m to keep the car running
- Having to drive 75km around the block if the car won’t start (the alternative route)
- Being told “the car’s in annual refit” for 6 weeks every autumn
According to “Strangford Lough Ferry Service Strategic Review Report March 2013”, if Mum’s car was the MV Strangford:
- It would be 55 years old (built 1969)
- Could only carry 21 other school run cars at once
- Would need a backup car (MV Portaferry II) just in case
- Would cost more to maintain than buying a new one
As one parent noted in “SLC Comments Summary 458 6th Nov 24.pdf”:
“every year at Christmas we have to decide which side to stay on for dinner/visiting family”
The reality is, while we might joke about Mum’s unreliable old car, the ferry service unreliability affects:
- 650 vehicles daily commute
- School children’s education
- Healthcare access
- Emergency services
- Family connections
At least Mum can trade in her unreliable car – the communities of Strangford and Portaferry are stuck with their temperamental ferry service until someone finds a better solution!
Perhaps it’s time to give Mum (and the local community) a more reliable way to get the kids to school?