There was jubilation and celebration on many ferry quays in the district when the news came last year that there would be free ferry journeys on routes with less than 100,000 passengers a year. The government was to set aside NOK 39 million for the purpose. Also in Hardanger and at the ferry quays Utne and Kinsarvik in Ullensvang, many were happy when the news came. But the joy may be short-lived. For now, commuters and the business community in Ullensvang are reacting to the proposal to Vestland County Council to close down the ferry connection between Kinsarvik and Utne from next year. The ferry between Utne and Kinsarvik has been running for 85 years Photo: Tale Hauso / news Reiseveg every day – I got a drop in my chin and thought that this must be wrong. That they want to shut down such an important local ferry connection, I almost didn’t think it could be true, says Øyvind Svartveit. He lives in Jåstad on the west side of Sørfjorden and takes the half-hour long ferry trip to Kinsarvik in Ullensvang to and from work every day. He works for Indre Hordaland Kraftnett, which is responsible for the grid on both sides of the fjord. – In order to get the weekday going, both operationally and in terms of emergency services, the ferry connection is important. And it is just one of many companies. The ferry service is both a commuter route and a tourist route. Figures from Skyss show that so far this year, over 50,000 passengers and 20,000 vehicles have used the ferry. – Alternatively for me there is a nine-mile detour on a rut-prone west country road, Svartveit. The alternative for those going to the opposite side of the fjord is to either drive over 80 km around Odda on a dangerous road, or 44 km via the Hardangerbrua and then ferry between Kvandal and Utne. – Willing to contribute if it can help The aim of the free ferry was to make everyday life and business development easier in the districts. Several of the commuters say they would rather pay for the ferry trip again to be able to keep the offer. – Now it is not the large sums they take in from ticket revenue, but of course we are willing to contribute if it can help the situation, says Svartveit. There was a good turnout at the quay in Kinsarvik when there was a campaign to keep the ferry across the fjord. Photo: Tale Hauso / news He adds that many millions have been spent on new infrastructure at the ferry quay for a new electric ferry, and that the ferry was built for this particular connection. – We were supposed to get an electric ferry so as not to pollute, and then they intend to shut it down so that we have to drive around the entire fjord. What is the logic here, asks Inge Nedrevåg who has also turned up at the ferry quay and is reacting to the cut proposal. Ferry connections in Norway with less than 100,000 passengers According to ferjedatabanken.no, these ferry connections in Norway had fewer than 100,000 passengers in 2019. Hisarøy – Mjånes (Vestland) – 8480 passengers Barmen – Barmsund (Vestland) – 8741 Mekjarvik – Kvitsøy (Rogaland) – 10356 Digermulen – Finnvik (Nordland) – 12859 Stokkvågen – Træna (Nordland) – 18159 Mosjøen – Hundåla (Nordland) – 18453 Igerøy – Tjøtta (Nordland) – 18629 Nordnesøy – Kilboghamn (Rødyøysambandet) (Nordland) – 18649 Ortnevik – Måren – Nordeide (Westland) – 23244 Sund – Horsdal – Søarnøy (Nordland) – 33122 Klokkarvik – Lerøy – Bjelkarøy – Hjellestad (Vestland) – 36678 Abelnes – Andabeløy (Agder) – 38206 Daløy – Haldorsneset (Vestland) – 38384 Molde – Sekken (Møre and Romsdal) – 38540 Fjelberg – Sydnes – Utbjoa (Vestland) – 45495 Kinsarvik – Utne (Vestland) – 45710 Festøya – Hundeidvika (Møre and Romsdal) – 46854 Fedje – Sævrøy (Vestland) – 49585 Småge – Orta – Finnøya – Sandøya – Ona (Møre and Romsdal) – 50498 Florabassenget (Vestland) – 52640 Ørnes – Vassdalsvik – Meløysund – Bolga – Støtt (Nordland) – 55177 Larsnes – Åram- Voksa- Kvamsøy (Møre and Romsdal) Arasvika – Henset (Møre and Romsdal) – 63539 Svolvær – Skrova – Skutvik (Nordland) ) – 64936 Skei – Gutvik (Trøndelag) – 67051 Sæbø – Leknes – Skår – Trandal – Standal (Møre and Romsdal) – 77207 Nesna – Nesnaøyene (Nordland) – 77868 Masfjordnes – Duesund (Vestland) – 81132 Drag – Kjøpsvik (Nordland) – 81423 Rysjedalsvika – Rutledal – Krakhella (Vestland) – 84633 Stokkvågen – Onøy – Sleneset – Lovund (Nordland) – 84799 Husavik – Sandvikvåg (Vestland) – 87913 Jektvik – Kilboghamn (Nordland) – 94276 Tjøtta – Forvik (Nordland) – 95223 Horn – Igerøy (Nordland) – 95292 Source: Ferjedatabanken.no/statistikk Must save money But the cut proposal from the county director in Vestland can save the county NOK 19 million, which is in a difficult financial situation. – 19 million is a size that is important when we are to save a total of approx. 100 million within the public transport area, says Rune Haugsdal, the county director in Vestland. He points out that Vestland county council has significant financial challenges that they must resolve, due to higher costs and higher interest rates. – We are forced to make a number of savings measures now to bring the budget into balance, says Haugsdal. This is the collective transport cut the county councilor is proposing: Close the ferry route Kinsarvik – Utne Cut departures on the fast boat route to Sunnhordland Reduce departures on the Bybanen in Bergen at weekends to every 10 and 15 minutes Close bus routes 13 and 26 in Bergen Close several express bus routes in the Bergen region Reduce parallel bus offer and departures on long district routes Cut tourist boat route Hardanger Cut goods boat Bergen Gulen/Solund The county director says that the county is already covered by the ticket income from the state, but that they still have expenses on the connection which means that the offer should be cut. Rune Haugsdal is county director in Vestland. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news Responds – We understand that the budget must increase, but we feel that the districts must bleed unnecessarily much for these savings measures, says Svartveit. Mayor of Ullensvang municipality, Roald Aga Haug (Ap) reacts to the cut proposal. – It is absolutely horrible to shut down a ferry route here in Ullensvang. We need the ferry that binds the municipality together, says Aga Haug. In a week’s time, the politicians in the county will present their budget proposals. – I am in daily contact with the county and have sent in letters. We must be heard in this case, says the mayor. Mayor of Ullensvang, Roald Aga Haug (Ap), is dismayed by the cut plans. Photo: Tale Hauso / news
ttn-69
The ferry was free last year. Now the county council wants to close it down. – news Vestland
