SailRail and Cancellations

[Goatboy]

Chaps,

I have a SailRail Single for a few weeks time from Dublin. All booked, no issues, but it's using the 14:30 Fast Ferry. This has been cancelled both today and tommorrow which has highlighted the possibility that this might happen to me, too.

When the fast ferry is cancelled you use the cruise ferry instead. No problem - but other than the 20:45 service which dumps you in Holyhead at midnight with no chance of a train the next service is the following day at 08:05.

Presumably you can use that instead if your sailing is cancelled - but how does it work when you get on the train, as you'll have a ticket dated for the day before.

I'm guessing its no trouble - you just tell the train manager you are a day late as the booked ferry was cancelled. Can anyone confirm?

 

[wintonian]

Chaps,

I have a SailRail Single for a few weeks time from Dublin. All booked, no issues, but it's using the 14:30 Fast Ferry. This has been cancelled both today and tommorrow which has highlighted the possibility that this might happen to me, too.

When the fast ferry is cancelled you use the cruise ferry instead. No problem - but other than the 20:45 service which dumps you in Holyhead at midnight with no chance of a train the next service is the following day at 08:05.

Presumably you can use that instead if your sailing is cancelled - but how does it work when you get on the train, as you'll have a ticket dated for the day before.

I'm guessing its no trouble - you just tell the train manager you are a day late as the booked ferry was cancelled. Can anyone confirm?

You end up on the Ulysses, I'm not sure if they have an agreement with Stena or not.

As for the delay its effectively the same as if your train was delayed but you are covered by the International Convention for the transportation of Passengers (CIV) instead.

This one is more up-to date it seems.

 

[Goatboy]

Excellent thanks. That seems to suggest it wont be a problem. I'm not fussed if it is cancelled (Well, I am, but I appreciate its one of those things)- I'll simply buy another nights hotel in Dublin - but I didn't want to arrive in Holyhead and have to buy a new train ticket or something!

 

[wintonian]

Excellent thanks. That seems to suggest it wont be a problem. I'm not fussed if it is cancelled (Well, I am, but I appreciate its one of those things)- I'll simply buy another nights hotel in Dublin - but I didn't want to arrive in Holyhead and have to buy a new train ticket or something!

I would take a copy to be safe and I can tell you from experience of having done it 2/ 3 times now that spending the night on Holyhead station isn't exactly fun.

 

[Goatboy]

I would take a copy to be safe and I can tell you from experience of having done it 2/ 3 times now that spending the night on Holyhead station isn't exactly fun.

Absolutely - which is why my intention would be to completely refuse the offer of the 20:45 sailing from Dublin (Which is actually the next sailing after the 14:30 fast ferry) and instead pay for a nights accomodation in Dublin and travel the next day. A night in Holyhead sounds like the perfect way to completely ruin an otheriwse enjoyable holiday!

(Though presumably even if Irish Ferries refused this I could simply purchase a new Sailrail ticket for the next day and get a refund minus £10 on my un-used one).

 

[wintonian]

Absolutely - which is why my intention would be to completely refuse the offer of the 20:45 sailing from Dublin (Which is actually the next sailing after the 14:30 fast ferry) and instead pay for a nights accomodation in Dublin and travel the next day. A night in Holyhead sounds like the perfect way to completely ruin an otheriwse enjoyable holiday!

The coffee shop does stay open until 00:00

(Though presumably even if Irish Ferries refused this I could simply purchase a new Sailrail ticket for the next day and get a refund minus £10 on my un-used one).

Depends on where you bought the original tickets from, ticket bought in Britain can only be refunded here and those bought in Ireland can only be refunded by Iarnród Éireann under their rules, and I have no idea about ones bought from ferry companys but as Stena is British and Irish Ferries Irish I would assume logic applies.

 

[Eire Sprinter]

In case it's of help, Irish Ferries are running an additional conventional sailing on a number of days over the festive season.

It'll depart Dublin Ferryport at 13.00 and arrive into Holyhead at 16.40.

The sailing will be worked by the Isle of Inishmore.

http://www.irishferries.com/News/2012/news101020122221.asp

Dublin Bus route 53 runs from Dublin City Centre to Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 (Irish Ferries). Timetable: http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/53/

 

[wintonian]

Dublin Bus route 53 runs from Dublin City Centre to Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 (Irish Ferries). Timetable: http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/53/

About €2 and is just about the only Dublin Bus service that gives change.

 

[barrykas]

Absolutely - which is why my intention would be to completely refuse the offer of the 20:45 sailing from Dublin (Which is actually the next sailing after the 14:30 fast ferry) and instead pay for a nights accomodation in Dublin and travel the next day. A night in Holyhead sounds like the perfect way to completely ruin an otheriwse enjoyable holiday!

I'd be very careful before doing that, as they could potentially say you've deliberately stranded yourself by refusing their offered alternative, and make you buy a totally new ticket for travel the next day. Whether they would is a different matter entirely, of course...

 

[Goatboy]

I'd be very careful before doing that, as they could potentially say you've deliberately stranded yourself by refusing their offered alternative, and make you buy a totally new ticket for travel the next day. Whether they would is a different matter entirely, of course...

True, but it would seem unreasonable to only offer an alternative which doesnt allow the journey to be completed in a day and involves an overnight stay on a station platform.

Nothing to lose either way as it seems my ticket is refundable if unused within 28 days of its expiry date so I can just buy another one for the following day and get a refund minus the £10 if they play hardball.

 

[island]

About €2 and is just about the only Dublin Bus service that gives change.

That and the 747.

 

[Eagle]

True, but it would seem unreasonable to only offer an alternative which doesnt allow the journey to be completed in a day and involves an overnight stay on a station platform.

Holyhead ferry terminal (which is the same building as the station) is a reasonably comfortable place to spend a night's sleep. I speak from experience here

 

[wintonian]

That and the 747.

Which makes sense.

The 53 is €3 to the Busaras and €4 to Heuston

Holyhead ferry terminal (which is the same building as the station) is a reasonably comfortable place to spend a night's sleep. I speak from experience here

It's blooming well not when all the seats have been taken!

 

[Eire Sprinter]

I perhaps ought to have mentioned in my earlier post that since late-April of this year there are two bus services available to the public to/from Terminal 1 (Irish Ferries and Isle of Man terminal) at Dublin Ferryport.

Route 53. A longstanding Dublin Bus route which previously terminated on Alexandra Road in the port area around 1km from the terminal (timetable as per link in previous post). This route operates hourly each way and is independent of the ferry schedule; as such it won't wait for an incoming ferry. It primarily serves the residential area of East Wall with a secondary function of serving the port (both the places of work along Alexandra Road and the ferry terminal). The route starts in Talbot Street and also stops outside Busáras and across the road from Connolly railway station. The cash fare is €1.65 single or €1.40 if using a LEAP card. Passengers paying in cash (only coinage accepted) without the exact amount are issued with a change receipt redeemable at Dublin Bus's Head Office in O'Connell Street.

Route 53B. The bus that Irish Ferries hire from Dublin Bus to connect with most of their sailings. A premium fare applies to this service. Timetable and fares here:http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/Ferry-Connections/ Only the early-morning journey each way runs to/from Heuston station. (Change is given).

In an ideal world the transfer between the port and Dublin city/railway stations would be available as an add-on to a Sailrail ticket. Perhaps similar to Plusbus. Ditto for passengers travelling from Irish country locations - the transfer between Heuston/Connolly and the port should be an integral part of the Sailrail fare.

The bus to Terminal 2 (Stena Line) used to be complimentary but nowadays a fare is payable. Timetable and fares here:http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/holyhead/ It'll extend to Heuston on request but there is no journey that commences at Heuston.

Waiting facilities at Holyhead:
The upstairs waiting lounge at Holyhead (at the terminal at the rail station) is quite comfortable but it only seems to be open for HSS Stena Explorer sailings.

 

[bkhtele]

You could try the travelodge about 5 mins from Holyhead station if you exit from the opposite end of the platform from the ferry terminal. Clean & comfortable, booked in advance I had a good nights sleep for £12! Open 24 hrs. I then travelled on train c 8am much more civilised.

 

[wintonian]

You could try the travelodge about 5 mins from Holyhead station if you exit from the opposite end of the platform from the ferry terminal. Clean & comfortable, booked in advance I had a good nights sleep for £12! Open 24 hrs. I then travelled on train c 8am much more civilised.

Yeh but it takes the fun out it!