Calais Day Trip

[LondonJohn]

Whilst I’d be very hesitant to support P&O after their staff debacle I was wondering if the rail sea day return tickets had been discontinued.

The only reason that I ask is the fare listed on BR Fares is £9999.99.

I travelled on this ticket many times for a few hours in Calais and enjoyed the flexibility with a Network Card and would often upgrade to HS1 on the return.

I know P&O have only got a one boat service at the moment and not sure if any other carriers take foot passengers but when more ships are returned to the route it’s something I’d like to do again.

 

[blakey1152]

Many years ago, I used to do the same trip from Dartford to Dover and P&O had a free bus service that connected with the train to take you to the docks - was the free bus discontinued?
Used to be a great day out as back then the first train from Dartford went to Dover Priory so no changing of trains but it was really early in the morning it used to leave (about 5am!)

At one point you could also choose to go via the Hovercraft - but I'm not sure if that was available as a combined ticket or not - again there was a free bus from Dover Priory station to take you to the Hoverport.

back then as well you didn't even need a passport for your day trip to Calais - just a British Excursion Document (BED) available from the Post Office was more than enough

 

[SargeNpton]

£9999.99 fares are deliberately set at that price to indicate to the retailing system that they are not to be offered. Any devent journey planner will filter them out of the public display.

That BR Fares shows them is something for that website to address.

 

[Haywain]

£9999.99 fares are deliberately set at that price to indicate to the retailing system that they are not to be offered. Any devent journey planner will filter them out of the public display.

That BR Fares shows them is something for that website to address.

BRFares is not an official source or a retailer and simply reflects what is in the fares system on any given day based (ISTR) on whether a ticket is theoretically available for travel on the day, without indicating whether it has been or can be sold.

 

[LondonJohn]

Many years ago, I used to do the same trip from Dartford to Dover and P&O had a free bus service that connected with the train to take you to the docks - was the free bus discontinued?
Used to be a great day out as back then the first train from Dartford went to Dover Priory so no changing of trains but it was really early in the morning it used to leave (about 5am!)

At one point you could also choose to go via the Hovercraft - but I'm not sure if that was available as a combined ticket or not - again there was a free bus from Dover Priory station to take you to the Hoverport.

back then as well you didn't even need a passport for your day trip to Calais - just a British Excursion Document (BED) available from the Post Office was more than enough

The bus transfer Increased to £2 a trip bUt was no longer running when I last did this trip in 2019.

 

[James H]

Not long ago in another thread I posted a link to an FOI request which yielded a lot of info about these tickets and the talks between Southeastern and P&O - including per-station sales figures.

 

[Haywain]

The bus transfer Increased to £2 a trip bUt was no longer running when I last did this trip in 2019.

The bus transfer from the station to the ferry terminal had stopped running when I went over in 2014.

 

[alholmes]

As well as the issue with availability of boats, the minimum check-in time for foot passengers has been increased from 60 to 90 minutes since P&O reopened to foot passengers in February 2022.

Travelling as a foot passenger | Dover to Calais | P&O Ferries

Find out all you need to know about travelling as a foot passenger on our Dover to Calais route!

www.poferries.com

 

[Medicy]

The latest update from Southeastern (on 23rd August):

"I understand from your comments that you would also like to know if the SailRail tickets to Calais will be re-instated. I've contacted our Fares Team and they've advised that unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that these tickets will be re-instated in the foreseeable future. This is because these tickets are sold in partnership with P&O ferries and given the uncertainty surrounding crossing the channel at the moment the product has been withdrawn until further notice. I can only apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

 

[Joe Paxton]

The latest update from Southeastern (on 23rd August):

"I understand from your comments that you would also like to know if the SailRail tickets to Calais will be re-instated. I've contacted our Fares Team and they've advised that unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that these tickets will be re-instated in the foreseeable future. This is because these tickets are sold in partnership with P&O ferries and given the uncertainty surrounding crossing the channel at the moment the product has been withdrawn until further notice. I can only apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

What uncertainty is that, specifically?

 

[Watershed]

What uncertainty is that, specifically?

Uncertainty about whether the P&O ferry will be cancelled due to their 'fire & rehire' antics, perhaps?

 

[skyhigh]

I travelled on this ticket many times for a few hours in Calais

Given the current check-in time restrictions you'd struggle to get more than a couple of hours in Calais itself if you're travelling in from London by train on the morning you want to get the ferry. The first train arrives at 07.40 which is too late for the first sailing that allows foot passengers (09.15).

The earliest boat you'd be able to get is the 11.15 which arrives around 13.45 - then from recent experience as a foot passenger it can take up to 30 mins to get off the boat after arrival. The last sailing which allows foot passengers leaves at 19.20, so you'd need to be back at the port no later than 17.50.

 

[alholmes]

Seat61.com reports today that P&O will no longer take foot passengers from January 2023, so I guess we won’t be seeing the day trip ticket anymore.

How to travel from London to Paris by train & ferry

Train times, fares & how to buy tickets for travel by traditional train and ferry from London via Dover-Calais to Boulogne, Etaples, Amiens & Paris.

www.seat61.com

 

[paul1609]

Seat61.com reports today that P&O will no longer take foot passengers from January 2023, so I guess we won’t be seeing the day trip ticket anymore.

How to travel from London to Paris by train & ferry

Train times, fares & how to buy tickets for travel by traditional train and ferry from London via Dover-Calais to Boulogne, Etaples, Amiens & Paris.

www.seat61.com

I don't think that's any surprise. If you want a day out or weekend on the French Coast you are much much better going to Dieppe from Newhaven for the saturday market in Dieppe. Or having very carefully checked the return ferry St Malo from Portsmouth is very good.
Both are easily walkable on "the other side", have cheap cabins on the overnight sailings. Newhaven Premier Inns just over 10 mins walk from the ferry if you find it a long day.

 

[fandroid]

It's all a bit sad though. No current way to get directly from Kent to Calais without a vehicle

 

[JonathanH]

It's all a bit sad though. No current way to get directly from Kent to Calais without a vehicle

Really needs the various coach operators to add a stop somewhere before Dover.

 

[AlbertBeale]

I understand that Irish Ferries are now operating a more frequent (than when they started on the route a while back) Dover-Calais service; and that they take foot passengers and cyclists. So maybe they'll be the default option for through tickets if they're reinstituted.

 

[paul1609]

I understand that Irish Ferries are now operating a more frequent (than when they started on the route a while back) Dover-Calais service; and that they take foot passengers and cyclists. So maybe they'll be the default option for through tickets if they're reinstituted.

Dont think Irish Ferries do foot passengers on Dover Calais. Their website just returns no availabilty for every sailing.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Dont think Irish Ferries do foot passengers on Dover Calais. Their website just returns no availabilty for every sailing.

Yes - I see that on their website (but it seemed to show no availability for anyone, not just foot passengers!), but I thought there was other info of theirs which said they do take foot passengers. Maybe I misread it?

 

[Flying Snail]

Yes - I see that on their website (but it seemed to show no availability for anyone, not just foot passengers!), but I thought there was other info of theirs which said they do take foot passengers. Maybe I misread it?

Whatever you read there is no ambiguity, IF do not take foot passengers on Dover - Calais and that has been consistent since they commenced the route.

They have 3 ships on the route, 2 of them have a large passenger capacity, 2000 or more. The other is ship is under 600, a moderate loading of cars and coaches could easily max that one out, easier to just not bother with extra foot passengers.

 

[fandroid]

Whatever you read there is no ambiguity, IF do not take foot passengers on Dover - Calais and that has been consistent since they commenced the route.

They have 3 ships on the route, 2 of them have a large passenger capacity, 2000 or more. The other is ship is under 600, a moderate loading of cars and coaches could easily max that one out, easier to just not bother with extra foot passengers.

That sounds like a bit of a copout. They have to manage the vehicle numbers to fit the ferry sizes, so blocking the smaller one out of foot/cycle bookings would hardly be an IT challenge