just a suggestion that may be of help if using the 02.45 out of Fishguard you could consider getting a cabin. It's not going give a full night's sleep but it'll give a few hours. 2-berth en-suite cabins are €40/£32.

Re: Rosslare-Pembroke Dock - SailRail was tried around the turn of this century (shuttle bus between Pembroke Dock ferry terminal and station) but it was then dropped due to poor/low demand. Megabus run an overnight shipside service between London and Pembroke Dock in connection with the night-time Irish Ferries sailing each way. The plus of the Eurolines and Megabus services is that they run through to London. The downside is that they take longer than the train from Fishguard though rail passengers must change trains in South Wales.

The Rosslare-Pembroke route is handy for anyone travelling to the immediate area and the likes of Tenby.

Good news about a third Irish Ferries vessel on the central corridor. Presumably foot passengers and SailRail will be accepted though I could understand if they're not as there's already several options between Dublin and Holyhead. The press release mentions targeting the freight and tourism markets, though the latter is very broad and you'd expect it implies tourists travelling by all means.

At one point, Stena seemed to be considering a different sailing plan, which would see them cut their turnaround times and then have a longer overnight sailing that would have made getting a cabin and 6 hours sleep more practical.

It would also have brought back the arrival time of the afternoon sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare.

I would guess that as we haven't seen it appear in any 2014 timetables that it's not going to happen now, which is a pity from the rail integration perspective.

Maybe they might look at it again in the future (that's just what I hope and not based on anything). It would be quite appealing.

Have learned that it's only available to passengers travelling with/in a vehicle. That said I don't see it as an issue (but it was good to mention it) as the Stena Nordica sails at very similar times (SailRail available on Stena Nordica).

When the Nordica started it didn't allow foot passengers so expect the same will follow from IF.

Additional sailings from Irish ferries coming 24th November. Seems to be a response to the changes stena line made for foot passengers earlier this year.

http://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/ro...blin-holyhead/

I wonder what the point of that is meant to be.

Times for purchasing SailRail at Connolly
 

A notice advising the times during which SailRail tickets may be purchased at Connolly has been on display at the ticket office in recent times:

Mon-Sat inclusive: between 09.30 & 12.30 and between 14.30 & 16.30
Sunday: between 11.30 and 15.30

Basically off-peak times.

Makes sense - buying a sail'n'rail ticket there is quite a long process.

Some months ago when I was buying one at Connolly a second staff member came to issue the ticket. This seems a more customer-friendly approach than limiting the hours for purchases.

Does anyone know if you can break a journey overnight using sail'n'rail if you cannot complete the journey on the same day?

I'm planning to get the 1510 Stena Line ferry to Holyhead and I won't be able to reach my destination on the same day (the National Rail planner confirms as much).

Thanks.

While on the subject, does anybody know if I can buy a one-way UK to Ireland SailRail ticket in Ireland? I'm going to the UK by other means in the next month or so and wanted to SailRail home,

You should be via the Arriva Trains Wales website

That should be perfectly allowable, provided you resume your trip at the first opportunity.

Or Irish Ferries, they do online sail/rail bookings.

Not for journeys originating from the UK.

From 3 June to 31 August the evening service between Rosslare and Dublin is defered to 18.35 Monday-Sunday to connect with the ferry. However regular customers on the 17.36 ex Connolly won't be to pleased with a long wait in Gorey.

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/08_-_d....pdf?v=ga4dkqy

Guessing haveing it 40 minutes earlier than last summer is to keep costs the same all year round?

And the good news is that it is set up on the British National Rail Enquiries planner, so through sail/rail bookings can be made on it.

Stena Line SailRail brochure
 

The Stena Line 2014 SailRail brochure (edition 1 published in April) is available from the leaflet racks in Connolly and details fares on their routes ex Rosslare, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin and Belfast (into Scotland via Cairnryan).

It's been a few years since I've seen any SailRail take away literature at stations here so this is welcome.

Just saw this now and maybe I'm already too late to help for your forthcoming journey.

A few years ago I bought an England-Ireland SailRail from Irish Rail over the 'phone without any issues (was posted out to me but deadline for this method is a week before travel). Normally buy a return from here or buy single over there/online.

Longford station should be able to issue one too.