Ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, has started a Sunday service from Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. Up until yesterday (23 October) Tarbert was the only Outer Hebrides port without a Sunday sailing, usually a boat would leave empty and head to Lochmaddy, on North Uist, from where a Sunday service to Uig on Skye was provided.
The introduction of this final Sunday service is controversial with locals, where Sabbath observance is still an important way of life for some. CalMac said that the decision to start taking passengers at Tarbert on a Sunday was taken after consultation with the local community and that only 100 representations had been received. The ferry company declined to say what the split between the consultation responses had been. This summer, ferries to the Outer Hebrides where operating at full capacity, with visitor numbers boosted by the lower price Road-Equivalent Tarrif and a number of TV programmes and other publicity about the islands.