Hello Alastair

Welcome to the latest selection of The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday's leading transport coverage.

I began the week with a 4am start on Monday to meet audio visual colleague John Devlin to head to Troon - to board a ferry some thought would never sail.

Yes, Glen Sannox, which should have been carrying passengers in 2018, was to make its official maiden voyage to Brodick in Arran.

In fact, the vessel had made an unannounced preview trip the previous day - and until we got to the South Ayrshire port at 6am we didn't know for sure whether it would sail because of strong winds.

There were probably as many media as other passengers among the 104 who clambered up the steep gang plank - to find an impressively bright, comfortable interior, as I explained in my report and video.

But while the ship got a resoundingly positive reaction on the day, I had set the scene on Sunday by highlighting that an upgrade of Ardrossan harbour - the normal port on the main Arran route - has still to be agreed despite discussions starting before Glen Sannox was ordered, with significant downsides for passengers.

Back on dry land, I was heartened to see my Inside Transport column on a way to beat the January - and any other month's - blues also received a warm response.

It involved taking the plunge into something that's proved to be transformational.

Elsewhere, Scotland's largest city is finally getting its act together in announcing the start of enforcement of the pavement parking ban, a year after Edinburgh led the way.

But unlike the capital, Glasgow is taking a rather more lenient approach, and you can see which streets are affected in the link in my story.

Also on the roads, there was a further setback for campaigners who want completion of the A9 dualling between Inverness and Perth speeded up after it was put back a decade, in a new official assessment of the project - although one junction could be upgraded sooner.

I'm always keen to hear your thoughts about our transport coverage - along with tip-offs and suggestions for stories, which you can send in confidence if preferred.

Please email adalton@scotsman.com or message me on X/Twitter at @AlastairDalton or on Bluesky at @alastairdalton.bsky.social

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thanks

Alastair