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Have your say on NorthLink ferry services
User surveys are now live to help shape the future of ferry services to and from Orkney & Shetland.
If you’ve hopped on a NorthLink ferry in the past year, Transport Scotland wants to hear from you.
They’ve launched new user surveys as part of their Community Needs Assessment (CNA) work, designed to help shape the future of ferry services to and from Orkney and Shetland. The surveys dig into travel patterns, reasons for travel, and ideas for improvement – because who knows better than the people who actually use the ferries?
There are route-specific surveys now live, covering:
- Aberdeen to Lerwick (via Kirkwall)
- Scrabster to Stromness
There are also tailored surveys for under-16s, so younger travellers can share their experiences as well.
This all feeds into the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP), which sets out how ferry services – alongside other transport modes – will be delivered and strengthened. The ICP is part of a bigger picture, tied into the National Transport Strategy, the National Islands Plan, and the Strategic Transport Projects Review. Consultation and engagement are at the heart of it, so these surveys really matter.
🗓️ The surveys are open for 8 weeks, running from 14 November 2025 until 9 January 2026. After that, they’ll close – so don’t miss your chance to have your say.
- NorthLink Ferries: Aberdeen to Lerwick (including via Kirkwall) route
- Under 16’s NorthLink Ferry Travel Survey: Aberdeen to Lerwick via Kirkwall
- NorthLink Ferry Travel Survey: Scrabster-Stromness route
- Under 16’s NorthLink Ferry Travel Survey: Scrabster-Stromness route
Find out more about the ICP at: Islands Connectivity Plan | Overview | Transport Scotland
