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Unread 31-07-2018, 12:34   #1
Goods
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https://www.irishtimes.com/news/plan...hness-1.623959
My point originated from seeing that no train met the incoming Stena ferry from France despite a host of people with signs looking for lifts to various parts of the country. If the service is not convenient why would anyone use it. Some of the departure times in the example look strage to me - Is some person going to stand around for one and a half hours waiting for a train to go?

The fact is that the running down of the connections to Rosslare did not begin today or yesterday its a continuous pattern over years. Previously Rosslare was connected to both Cork and Limerick through Waterford so the trend is clear.

Such recklessness is not the case either on the UK or the French side where rail to the ports is maintained including for freight but in IE the truck lobby is politically better connected.
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Unread 31-07-2018, 18:56   #2
Eddie
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Regrettably there has been no service between Rosslare and Waterford for about 4 years and before this, there was only one return service daily for some time before this, which was inadequate.

There are plenty of ways governments can and do waste plenty of tax payers money, but IMHO providing 2 or 3 return journeys to Limerick Junction daily from Rosslare to provide connections to other parts of the country would not rank high amongst those, especially when the infrastructure is still in place.

Last edited by Eddie : 31-07-2018 at 19:33.
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Unread 31-07-2018, 20:01   #3
berneyarms
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goods View Post
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/plan...hness-1.623959
My point originated from seeing that no train met the incoming Stena ferry from France despite a host of people with signs looking for lifts to various parts of the country. If the service is not convenient why would anyone use it. Some of the departure times in the example look strage to me - Is some person going to stand around for one and a half hours waiting for a train to go?

The fact is that the running down of the connections to Rosslare did not begin today or yesterday its a continuous pattern over years. Previously Rosslare was connected to both Cork and Limerick through Waterford so the trend is clear.

Such recklessness is not the case either on the UK or the French side where rail to the ports is maintained including for freight but in IE the truck lobby is politically better connected.
That sailing arrives and departs only on three days of the week and it has completely different times each day - not exactly easy to produce a rail timetable around that and keep everyone else on the line happy. I think you’re expecting a bit much.

I think 90 mins is reasonable - that’s what’s offered at Fishguard and not far off it at Holyhead too. It allows wriggle time for ships/trains being late and for getting on and off the ship.

The fact remains that the connections at Rosslare to/from Dublin since May 2017 are substantially better than they have been for years, not worse as you are implying.

We need to be realistic too - foot passenger traffic has nosedived since Ryanair arrived - I think the connections offered now on the line to/from Dublin are as good as you’re probably going to get.

I don’t see the NTA reopening the South Wexford line at this stage unfortunately - I think that ship has sailed.

Last edited by berneyarms : 31-07-2018 at 20:06.
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Unread 08-08-2018, 20:09   #4
Traincustomer
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Default Why is there still no through ticketing?

The connectivity with the Fishguard sailings is indeed much better since May of last year but through ticketing ex-UK has still not been re-enabled (it was available in 2013).

A perusal of any of the UK-based sites such as National Rail Enquiries or Arriva Trains Wales gives, for instance, an absurd Carmarthen [CMN] to Wexford [WEX] journey of 19 to 21 hours routed via Holyhead! Talk about three sides of a square...

Whereas the journey from Carmarthen to Wexford via Fishguard-Rosslare is available twice a day taking just under 7.5 hrs daytime and just shy of 9 hours overnight.

Similarly one cannot purchase a SailRail ticket at any of the stations between Connolly and Rosslare.

Last edited by Traincustomer : 08-08-2018 at 20:11. Reason: clarity
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Unread 08-08-2018, 23:16   #5
Eddie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Traincustomer View Post
Similarly one cannot purchase a SailRail ticket at any of the stations between Connolly and Rosslare.
I think any manned station in the UK would be able to sell you a Sail Rail Ticket (as well as a ticket to any other station in the UK).

What's stopping for example Dun Laoghaire, Bray etc from issuing Sail Rail tickets or tickets to any other station in Ireland? Technology?
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Unread 09-08-2018, 12:19   #6
Mark Gleeson
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There is a list of stations which can issue Sail Rails

http://www.irishrail.ie/rail-fares-a...lrail-uk-ferry

Can be purchased online with Irish Ferries or by phone with Irish Rail or Stena line

Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 09-08-2018 at 12:24.
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Unread 09-08-2018, 12:42   #7
berneyarms
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The issue is that using the Rosslare-Fishguard route it is impossible to buy a sail/rail ticket using any Irish station other than Rosslare Europort as the origin/destination, despite the connections being restored.

That is the problem - not which stations you can walk in and buy a ticket.
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Unread 09-08-2018, 14:34   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie View Post
I think any manned station in the UK would be able to sell you a Sail Rail Ticket (as well as a ticket to any other station in the UK).
What's stopping for example Dun Laoghaire, Bray etc from issuing Sail Rail tickets or tickets to any other station in Ireland? Technology?
That’s right Eddie regarding SailRail availability in the UK.

Years ago in the card ticket era one could buy a ticket from any station to any station including the UK yet despite all the investment in machines today
we have a situation where ticket vending machines are restricted to selling to stations on that line only…

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
There is a list of stations which can issue Sail Rails
http://www.irishrail.ie/rail-fares-a...lrail-uk-ferry
Can be purchased online with Irish Ferries or by phone with Irish Rail or Stena line
Thanks Mark however that list has remained unchanged for donkey’s years with not a single station retailing SailRail in either County Wicklow or Wexford... Actually O’Hanrahan station did sell them some years ago.
Stena Line only issue from Rosslare/Dublin Port onwards to the UK.

With all due respect Irish Ferries are irrelevant in this context as they don't offer SailRail via Rosslare-Pembroke (that route best caters for those using the Eurolines or Megabus coaches as the rail station is a mile distant from Pembroke Dock ferry terminal).

Quote:
Originally Posted by berneyarms View Post
The issue is that using the Rosslare-Fishguard route it is impossible to buy a sail/rail ticket using any Irish station other than Rosslare Europort as the origin/destination, despite the connections being restored.
That is the problem - not which stations you can walk in and buy a ticket.
May I ask the source of your information please?

I have personally purchased tickets (at Connolly) for travel from a station on the Dublin-Connolly line to a UK station via Rosslare-Fishguard without any issue.
Indeed the Irish Rail website currently mentions a Wexford – Cardiff ticket…

Quote:
Dublin to London €47 each way
Cork to Manchester €61 each way
Galway to Liverpool €61 each way
Limerick to Birmingham €62 each way
Wexford to Cardiff €51 each way
(link above to Irish Rail SailRail page)
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