Are they still using the old-airline style ticket books?

They are! Very quaint. The guy mis-spelled Southampton as "Southamton".

:D

Theres a suprise! They did the same with me going to manchester (left out the t) !

Were you able to get them at the main desk?

I used Sail Rail a month ago and was able to get them from the regular ticket desk in Connolly.

Yep, main ticket desk is where to get them.

OK, another question. I see references to a bus to the ferryport which I think leaves from Busaras. Does anyone have a timetable for this or know where I can find one? There is no mention of it on dublinbus.ie.

Ferry connections here http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Jour...y-Connections/

This worked out pretty well in the end.

Got the Swift ferry over at 0845, arrived into Holyhead on time, got the 1123 train from Holyhead to Bangor (tiny two coach Arriva trains job with no PIS), changed at Bangor for the 1224 train to Euston. The Virgin train was nice and once it hit the mainline, it got up to quite a speed. Arrived in Euston at 1538 and I made my way quickly to Waterloo for the 1605 train to Southampton. This was Southwest Trains who I have used before. One slightly annoying thing is that it was a 10 coach train with a single catering trolley so by the time I was getting off, the trolly was only just in my coach. Anyway got to Southampton at 1725, so about 9 hours all in.

Way back, I left Southampton at 0700. Amazing the number of people that commute to London from Southampton and beyond. I didn't get a seat on the train until some people got off at Winchester. Got into Waterloo at 0815 and made my way to Euston for the 0910 train direct to Holyhead. Makes a difference not having to change trains. Got to Holyhead at 1250 and got the ferry at 1410, arrving in Dublin at 1720, so just over 10 hours all in.

I think I would use sail'n'rail again. It's a good (albeit slow) way to travel and the flexibility of the tickets is unmatched by airlines. Also I was carrying about 25kg of stuff, spread over two bags, so I dread to think what that would cost on an airline.

Good to hear All went well. My itinary for all my travels to england will involve ferry and rail or bus. I find this more peaceful and relaxing over the plane.

If you listen to the late night talk shows you will notice the increasing number of issues the cheap fair airlines are causing to make extra money.

For me sail and rail wins over !

The Virgin train you got on in Bangor would have originated in Holyhead, so you could have saved yourself the joy of the Arriva yoke and just got on the Virgin in Holyhead and had a coffee and sambo while you waited for it to leave.

That's the way it used to be anyway.

z

This one originated in Bangor. There is a direct train from Holyhead, but it's the return of the 0910 from Euston and doesn't leave Holyhead until 13xx (don't have exact time to hand)

Mis-Dated tickets bought in Connolly
 

Hello everyone, don't know if this warrants a new thread so here it is.
I bought a Sail Rail Ticket for travel next Friday, last Friday at the ticket counter in Connolly. Last time I bought one, it was from the Abbey St. travel centre so it's been a while.
The problem is, in Connolly they are under the impression that the 1 month validity of the ticket begins on the day you buy it. So they stamped it with 30th September, but also wrote 30th September in biro on the front.
I thought that wasn't right, and mentioned it, but accepted the ticket clerks assurances that that was the way it goes.
I rang the European Rail office of IE today, (Monday) to be told indeed, the date written in biro should be the day the journey begins, and the 1 month validity goes from there.
I'm wondering has anyone else recently used a Sail Rail ticket dated this way, and have you had any problems getting on the boat or on trains in the UK etc.?
I will be returning well within the month, so that's not the issue, it's beginning the journey a week later than the ticket suggests...

SailRail fares reduced by E4 to E5 for 2010
 

Stena Line have posted the 2010 fares, in effect from 2nd January next year, fares on both the central corridor are all down by E 4 per single journey and on the southern corridor (Rosslare - Fishguard) by E 4 for Zones A and B and by E 5 for Zones C and D.

Add-on Irish Rail zone fares appear to remain the same.

So this means a Waterford to Cardiff (adult) return journey will be E 92. (20 of this is for the Waterford - Rosslare section; I suspect buying a separate return for Waterford to Rosslare may be cheaper).

And a Dublin to London return is E 80.