Ben Lowry: Axeing of Troon ferry service will mean a more tedious drive northwards

The handful of times I used the boat it was busy. It gives a big journey time saving to motorists heading north to Glasgow and beyond, cutting out the twisty and tedious (but beautiful) sections of the A77 route between Cairnryan and Ayr.

The Troon ferry deposited motorists at the point where the northbound dual carriageway begins, which links seamlessly to an extended M77 motorway.

The closure of this ferry means a further concentration of boat services at Cairnryan, which is at least 20 minutes closer to Glasgow than Stranraer was.

There have been small road upgrades between Cairnryan and Ayr but the vast bulk of the route is single carriageway, and will remain so for decades to come.

Similarly, the great bulk of the A75 from Cairnryan to Dumfries and on to the M6 motorway is single lanes. It will also be that for decades to come, so that motorists embarking on a long drive to England have no prospect of an end to the frustration of getting caught behind lorries. A 100-mile drive that should take 90 minutes at an average 65mph can take 2.5 hours, at an average speed nearer 40mph.

There have been upgrades on the Dumfries road, but they too are mostly short overtaking schemes.

It is ironic that the route to Larne is now dual carriageway, but there are fewer ferries leaving the port.

Meanwhile, motorists going from Northern Ireland to England now have the attractive option of Belfast-Dublin Port-Holyhead-M6 which is motorway or top dual carriageway the entire route.