Rail & Sail - Page 5

Eddie · 19-04-2010, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by robdrysdale

The train from Holyhead to London now has to be booked in Holyhead. Big queues. You'll get on on eventually just probably not the one soon after you arrive.

Are you saying you have to buy separate train tickets from Holyhead? I'd say a walk-on fare is about £80 Holyhead to London without Rail Sail. And another £30 for the ferry.

The ferry and train companies have captive audience to demonstrate the advantages of their service all year round, not short term profiteering.

Thomas Ralph · 19-04-2010, 14:03

Walk-up single from Holyhead to London or v/v is £127 for peak time (which appears to be trains arriving in London before 10am) and £75.80 otherwise. Off-peak return is £76.80. There are advance fares as low as £12 single on sale at the moment for travel tomorrow, although some of the timings are pretty grim.

Anyone under 26 should consider getting themselves a 16-25 Railcard (issued on the spot at any staffed station on production of proof of age and a passport photo, and filling in a form which the station has). It's valid for a year and its 34% discount will get you back the price of the card if you spend over £76.50.

robdrysdale · 19-04-2010, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Are you saying you have to buy separate train tickets from Holyhead? I'd say a walk-on fare is about £80 Holyhead to London without Rail Sail. And another £30 for the ferry.

The ferry and train companies have captive audience to demonstrate the advantages of their service all year round, not short term profiteering.

That's what was going on in Holyhead yesterday, yes.

ThomasJ · 19-04-2010, 14:14

why holyhead though?

Can you get them at dublin port or british rail station?

Thomas Ralph · 19-04-2010, 14:17

With creative ticketing it can be cheaper again, since the UK allows you to travel on multiple tickets for the one journey.

Thomas Ralph · 19-04-2010, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

why holyhead though?

Can you get them at dublin port or british rail station?

You cannot get British rail tickets at Dublin Port.

You can get them at British rail stations, for example Holyhead station.

ThomasJ · 19-04-2010, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

You cannot get British rail tickets at Dublin Port.

You can get them at British rail stations, for example Holyhead station.

But irish rail have been telling people to get their tickets down the port.

robdrysdale · 19-04-2010, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

But irish rail have been telling people to get their tickets down the port.

They mean sailrail (combined sail and rail ticket) but that's a special or discount ticket. Ferry companies are not selling specials due to current overloaded demand. sailrail is suspended to my knowledge. Hence you buy a ferry ticket, likely on standby, as ferries are fully booked. If you get on and when you get to other side you buy a rail ticket at ticket booth in Holyhead Ferry Terminal. You can't get on the train without a booked ticket. Even with sailirail you used to have to exchange voucher for a booked/reserved ticket on other side. At least that's what I had to do last year.

If you think you can do better then go and try. I've simply relayed my experiences in trying to get my wife home and what I had to do.

plant43 · 19-04-2010, 16:12

Rang Irish Ferries and they are not selling Sail and Rail tickets at the moment. I am led to believe that sales of these tickets have been suspended from UK rail stations too.

dowlingm · 19-04-2010, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

The ferry and train companies have captive audience to demonstrate the advantages of their service all year round, not short term profiteering.

Let's be clear - the ferry companies are profiteering. The UK train companies might be profiteering. But I doubt IE is making much when it's running empty trains to Rosslare and back while delaying their normal schedule.

Dempsey should be on the phone with Lord Adonis figuring out how to bang heads together between the ferry and train companies on both sides of the Irish Sea - it's got to be easier than sending half of what little is left of the Royal Navy to the continent to pick folk up from there.

Thomas Ralph · 19-04-2010, 21:06

The UK train operating companies probably aren't profiteering, insofar as it's not their fault if a vastly inflated number of people come up and buy walk-up tickets from London to Fishguard Harbour.

dowlingm · 20-04-2010, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

The UK train operating companies probably aren't profiteering, insofar as it's not their fault if a vastly inflated number of people come up and buy walk-up tickets from London to Fishguard Harbour.

Fair enough - lazy construction on my part - but I bet they are profiting more than IE are.

Eddie · 20-04-2010, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by plant43

Rang Irish Ferries and they are not selling Sail and Rail tickets at the moment. I am led to believe that sales of these tickets have been suspended from UK rail stations too.

There's no suggestion on Stena's new "hgh volume" website front page that Rail and Sail is suspended.

In any case, I thought these were advertised as "all year round" fares". I don't think there's anything in the Rail and Sail literature which says they can be withdrawn at any time.

Thomas Ralph · 20-04-2010, 08:46

Rail and Sail are still on sale for journeys commencing in the UK, maximum £30.50 for Holyhead-Dublin/Dun Laoghaire (with 7-day advance booking). Any enquiries I've made about tickets originating from Ireland have been given the run-around.

Mark Gleeson · 20-04-2010, 08:51

Call Stena on 01 204 7744 quoting rail

There are quotas in place and since there is no integrated booking system you have to go direct via Stena to book.

The offer as always is subject to availability and turn up and go is suspended for foot passengers you must book. Foot passenger prices have not changed, but as we all know short notice tickets in the UK are shockingly expensive

ThomasJ · 20-04-2010, 12:22

for reference this note is on the stena line sail and rail website
http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/

Quote:

Special Notice: Irish Rail have delayed the last train departure at 17.55hrs from Rosslare Harbour to 18.45hrs departing to facilitate customers that wish to travel to Dublin. This arrangement will apply until further Notice. When checking in at Fishguard Harbour it would be very useful to mention to the Stena Line staff that you are travelling onward to Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny etc. by public transport. This destination information will be passed on to Bus Eireann and Irish Rail in Rosslare Harbour to help them make their normal transfer arrangements.

dowlingm · 20-04-2010, 13:04

That's good news.

Mark Gleeson · 20-04-2010, 13:11

I have referred the breakdown of rail+sail ticketing to the European Passenger Federation in Brussels to ensure it is discussed at the highest level.

purplepanda · 20-04-2010, 16:26

http://seat61.com/Ireland.htm

The online booking links suggested by seat61.com all refusing find any travel options via Paddington / Euston to Ireland. Virgin Trains online is the same.

Virgin automated phoneline just cuts you off, after asking for return fare to Dublin????

What a rip off!!

Thomas Ralph · 21-04-2010, 08:20

There does not appear to be a single-ticket option for surface transport from London to Dublin at present.

19-04-2010, 14:03	#82
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	Walk-up single from Holyhead to London or v/v is £127 for peak time (which appears to be trains arriving in London before 10am) and £75.80 otherwise. Off-peak return is £76.80. There are advance fares as low as £12 single on sale at the moment for travel tomorrow, although some of the timings are pretty grim. Anyone under 26 should consider getting themselves a 16-25 Railcard (issued on the spot at any staffed station on production of proof of age and a passport photo, and filling in a form which the station has). It's valid for a year and its 34% discount will get you back the price of the card if you spend over £76.50. Last edited by Thomas Ralph : 19-04-2010 at 14:09.

20-04-2010, 08:51	#95
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Call Stena on 01 204 7744 quoting rail There are quotas in place and since there is no integrated booking system you have to go direct via Stena to book. The offer as always is subject to availability and turn up and go is suspended for foot passengers you must book. Foot passenger prices have not changed, but as we all know short notice tickets in the UK are shockingly expensive __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

20-04-2010, 13:11	#98
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	I have referred the breakdown of rail+sail ticketing to the European Passenger Federation in Brussels to ensure it is discussed at the highest level. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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19-04-2010, 14:14	#84
ThomasJ Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Clonsilla Posts: 2,812	why holyhead though? Can you get them at dublin port or british rail station?

19-04-2010, 14:17	#85
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	With creative ticketing it can be cheaper again, since the UK allows you to travel on multiple tickets for the one journey.

19-04-2010, 16:12	#89
plant43 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 278	Rang Irish Ferries and they are not selling Sail and Rail tickets at the moment. I am led to believe that sales of these tickets have been suspended from UK rail stations too.

19-04-2010, 21:06	#91
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	The UK train operating companies probably aren't profiteering, insofar as it's not their fault if a vastly inflated number of people come up and buy walk-up tickets from London to Fishguard Harbour.

20-04-2010, 08:46	#94
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	Rail and Sail are still on sale for journeys commencing in the UK, maximum £30.50 for Holyhead-Dublin/Dun Laoghaire (with 7-day advance booking). Any enquiries I've made about tickets originating from Ireland have been given the run-around.

20-04-2010, 13:04	#97
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	That's good news.

20-04-2010, 16:26	#99
purplepanda New to the board Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 9	http://seat61.com/Ireland.htm The online booking links suggested by seat61.com all refusing find any travel options via Paddington / Euston to Ireland. Virgin Trains online is the same. Virgin automated phoneline just cuts you off, after asking for return fare to Dublin???? What a rip off!!

21-04-2010, 08:20	#100
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	There does not appear to be a single-ticket option for surface transport from London to Dublin at present.