SailRail tickets

Traincustomer · 31-01-2009, 21:57

Has anyone experiences they would like to relate vis a vis these useful tickets.
They are not the easiest to buy. Available from a small number of stations. Booking them through a travel agent is unrealistic as most agents nowadays charge an agency fee. Understandable but when the fee could be around half the ticket cost it doesn't make sense. The alternative is to ring the Dublin number to book but that forces one to use a credit card and not everyone has one or wishes to use it.The ferry companies (Stena and Irish Ferries) each have their own leaflet advertising the fares, zones and sample timings.
The traditional sea-rail package still has a lot to offer so why can't it be publicised and the booking made more accessible. Available from all staffed stations and in the future from TVMs.

For those not au fait with SailRail the tickets are "all in" i.e. one can buy a ticket from say Clonmel to Cardiff and same includes your ferry passage as well as trains on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Donal Quinn · 02-02-2009, 15:47

i've only used them once - just got the dart to dunlaoghaire and bought a ticket to carlisle (don't ask!) at the ferry terminal

not sure how much discount you get if buying from irish station - easiest way might be doing what i did

Mark Gleeson · 02-02-2009, 23:07

Call Irish Rail on 01 703 1884, europeanrail@irishrail.ie, or visit Dublin Connolly, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo or Galway stations, there are others as well

Call Stena Line on 01 204 7777 quoting 'rail' or visit them in Dún Laoghaire

Call Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 or sailrailirl@irishferries.com

Failing that Ryanair/Aer Lingus/Aer Arann/Fly Be/BMI/BA will get you there at least 6 hours faster. Birmingham is generally the best option (quiet airport, train station, rail ticket collection machine in the baggage collection hall) with either Ryanair or Aer Lingus, can get direct trains to most places from the airport or after a short trip to Birmingham New Street, or same thing to Manchester/Gatwick/Stanstead/Heathrow book with trainline.com which will accept Irish addresses and has favorable reports on this forum

Of course it would be lovely to get the TVM system to be able to handle these tickets but in reality there are major problems with routine tickets currently which need fixing, trouble enough getting a few miles down the road let alone half way across the Irish Sea.

Thomas Ralph · 03-02-2009, 09:43

I agree with everything Mark said except trainline.com, which has been known to charge booking fees in excess of the cost of the ticket. I tend to use the NXEC website.

Traincustomer · 04-02-2009, 18:47

I once bought a SailRail from Liverpool back to Dublin and it was printed on one of the standard small tickets - so guess it's integrated into the passenger ticketing system there.

Recently I priced a journey to the UK for myself and a family member and despite "cheap" air fares when I factored in coach to Dublin Airport plus train from the UK airport to final destination it was around double the SailRail cost.

I know the sea option is not everyone's cup of tea but for some destinations e.g. North Wales/Merseyside it is just as quick (City Centre to City Centre) and some parts of the UK don't lend themselves to going by air e.g. I was aghast a few years ago to hear that people had travelled to Aberystwyth in Mid Wales by going by air to Birmingham and then a few hours of a rail journey there. The journey could have been completed probably quicker by sea to Holyhead and local bus.

While respecting individual choice I feel the sea option is sometimes frowned upon by many as a "no go" - granted it's slower but it has benefits of a more relaxing journey and no constraints (within reason) with regard to luggage.

I have found the following website useful for obtaining times for Éire - UK journeys: www.nationalrail.co.uk You can also book tickets on it but I haven’t tried this to date. Interestingly in its journey planner you can also input stations in Ireland.

www.britrail.com is another site with useful info

Mark Gleeson · 04-02-2009, 19:36

You can't buy anything via www.nationalrail.co.uk, it refers you to the train company and no it doesn't work with Arriva or thetrainline.com

www.bahn.ie will do cross europe without much trouble but again it won't book tickets

Guy I work with just 'to see England' went the long way to London via Holyhead last year, booking 48 hours ahead Aer Lingus would have got him to Heathrow for the same money 12 hours faster, travel costs tube/bus more or less the same on both options

Navan Junction · 17-02-2009, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavanrailbus

Has anyone experiences they would like to relate vis a vis these useful tickets.

http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showth...ight=sail+rail

Traincustomer · 25-02-2009, 16:33

I came across the following news item (of 12th Feb this year) on the Irish Ferries website. I have removed one or two lines to comply with the non-advertising rule of this forum. The full text is available at http://www.irishferries.com/news090212a.asp

"Irish Ferries has recorded a noticeable upturn in the volume of passengers choosing Sail/Rail travel to Britain, a development which the company attributes to the numerous restrictions, hidden charges and delays being imposed on air travellers.

Under their Sail/Rail arrangement, passengers travel city to city from Dublin to some 2,400 rail stations located throughout Britain, crossing from Dublin to Holyhead with up to four sailings daily.

Commenting, Irish Ferries Head of Passenger Sales, Declan Mescall said “with Sail/Rail, the fare you see is what you get, free of any hidden taxes or added extras. Passengers travel by luxurious cruise or fast ferry and onwards to their destination by modern, comfortable mainline trains. In an era of hassle and congestion, it has got to be the stress-free way to travel”.

A further news item in relation to SailRail but from a Great Britain perspective is at:

http://www.irishferries.com/news090212.asp

plant43 · 31-08-2009, 15:26

Does anyone know if it is still possible to buy these tickets in Connolly Station? I have been trying to ring Irish Rail european travel but getting no response despite holding for 10 minutes on a couple of occasions.

Thanks.

Colm Moore · 31-08-2009, 16:21

I understand its at the corner of Amiens Street and Sherrif Street - a black door up some steps.

ThomasJ · 31-08-2009, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by plant43

Does anyone know if it is still possible to buy these tickets in Connolly Station? I have been trying to ring Irish Rail european travel but getting no response despite holding for 10 minutes on a couple of occasions.

Thanks.

Its not too long ago that i bought sailrail tickets for manchester in the ticket office in connolly (the old type ticket slips) nearly sure you still can!

plant43 · 01-09-2009, 10:46

thanks. Just bought the tickets in Connolly. Heading Dublin-Southampton next week.

31-01-2009, 21:57	#1
Traincustomer Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ar an traein Posts: 602	SailRail tickets Has anyone experiences they would like to relate vis a vis these useful tickets. They are not the easiest to buy. Available from a small number of stations. Booking them through a travel agent is unrealistic as most agents nowadays charge an agency fee. Understandable but when the fee could be around half the ticket cost it doesn't make sense. The alternative is to ring the Dublin number to book but that forces one to use a credit card and not everyone has one or wishes to use it.The ferry companies (Stena and Irish Ferries) each have their own leaflet advertising the fares, zones and sample timings. The traditional sea-rail package still has a lot to offer so why can't it be publicised and the booking made more accessible. Available from all staffed stations and in the future from TVMs. For those not au fait with SailRail the tickets are "all in" i.e. one can buy a ticket from say Clonmel to Cardiff and same includes your ferry passage as well as trains on both sides of the Irish Sea.

02-02-2009, 15:47	#2
Donal Quinn Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 267	i've only used them once - just got the dart to dunlaoghaire and bought a ticket to carlisle (don't ask!) at the ferry terminal not sure how much discount you get if buying from irish station - easiest way might be doing what i did __________________ It's the little things....

02-02-2009, 23:07	#3
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Call Irish Rail on 01 703 1884, europeanrail@irishrail.ie, or visit Dublin Connolly, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo or Galway stations, there are others as well Call Stena Line on 01 204 7777 quoting 'rail' or visit them in Dún Laoghaire Call Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 or sailrailirl@irishferries.com Failing that Ryanair/Aer Lingus/Aer Arann/Fly Be/BMI/BA will get you there at least 6 hours faster. Birmingham is generally the best option (quiet airport, train station, rail ticket collection machine in the baggage collection hall) with either Ryanair or Aer Lingus, can get direct trains to most places from the airport or after a short trip to Birmingham New Street, or same thing to Manchester/Gatwick/Stanstead/Heathrow book with trainline.com which will accept Irish addresses and has favorable reports on this forum Of course it would be lovely to get the TVM system to be able to handle these tickets but in reality there are major problems with routine tickets currently which need fixing, trouble enough getting a few miles down the road let alone half way across the Irish Sea. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

04-02-2009, 18:47	#5
Traincustomer Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ar an traein Posts: 602	various I once bought a SailRail from Liverpool back to Dublin and it was printed on one of the standard small tickets - so guess it's integrated into the passenger ticketing system there. Recently I priced a journey to the UK for myself and a family member and despite "cheap" air fares when I factored in coach to Dublin Airport plus train from the UK airport to final destination it was around double the SailRail cost. I know the sea option is not everyone's cup of tea but for some destinations e.g. North Wales/Merseyside it is just as quick (City Centre to City Centre) and some parts of the UK don't lend themselves to going by air e.g. I was aghast a few years ago to hear that people had travelled to Aberystwyth in Mid Wales by going by air to Birmingham and then a few hours of a rail journey there. The journey could have been completed probably quicker by sea to Holyhead and local bus. While respecting individual choice I feel the sea option is sometimes frowned upon by many as a "no go" - granted it's slower but it has benefits of a more relaxing journey and no constraints (within reason) with regard to luggage. I have found the following website useful for obtaining times for Éire - UK journeys: www.nationalrail.co.uk You can also book tickets on it but I haven’t tried this to date. Interestingly in its journey planner you can also input stations in Ireland. www.britrail.com is another site with useful info

04-02-2009, 19:36	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	You can't buy anything via www.nationalrail.co.uk, it refers you to the train company and no it doesn't work with Arriva or thetrainline.com www.bahn.ie will do cross europe without much trouble but again it won't book tickets Guy I work with just 'to see England' went the long way to London via Holyhead last year, booking 48 hours ahead Aer Lingus would have got him to Heathrow for the same money 12 hours faster, travel costs tube/bus more or less the same on both options __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

03-02-2009, 09:43	#4
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	I agree with everything Mark said except trainline.com, which has been known to charge booking fees in excess of the cost of the ticket. I tend to use the NXEC website.

25-02-2009, 16:33	#8
Traincustomer Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ar an traein Posts: 602	Upturn in passengers choosing SailRail travel to Britain I came across the following news item (of 12th Feb this year) on the Irish Ferries website. I have removed one or two lines to comply with the non-advertising rule of this forum. The full text is available at http://www.irishferries.com/news090212a.asp "Irish Ferries has recorded a noticeable upturn in the volume of passengers choosing Sail/Rail travel to Britain, a development which the company attributes to the numerous restrictions, hidden charges and delays being imposed on air travellers. Under their Sail/Rail arrangement, passengers travel city to city from Dublin to some 2,400 rail stations located throughout Britain, crossing from Dublin to Holyhead with up to four sailings daily. Commenting, Irish Ferries Head of Passenger Sales, Declan Mescall said “with Sail/Rail, the fare you see is what you get, free of any hidden taxes or added extras. Passengers travel by luxurious cruise or fast ferry and onwards to their destination by modern, comfortable mainline trains. In an era of hassle and congestion, it has got to be the stress-free way to travel”. A further news item in relation to SailRail but from a Great Britain perspective is at: http://www.irishferries.com/news090212.asp Last edited by Traincustomer : 25-02-2009 at 16:41. Reason: to add date of news item and minor info

31-08-2009, 15:26	#9
plant43 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 278	Does anyone know if it is still possible to buy these tickets in Connolly Station? I have been trying to ring Irish Rail european travel but getting no response despite holding for 10 minutes on a couple of occasions. Thanks.

31-08-2009, 16:21	#10
Colm Moore Local Liaison Officer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,442	I understand its at the corner of Amiens Street and Sherrif Street - a black door up some steps. __________________

01-09-2009, 10:46	#12
plant43 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 278	thanks. Just bought the tickets in Connolly. Heading Dublin-Southampton next week.

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