Through tickets from UK to Rep. of Ireland

[tom3107]

Hi,

I was told that there was a way of getting through tickets from stations in the UK to stations in Ireland. I did a search for this and came through to the Raileasy website, but don't seem to be able to find any fares.

The journeys which I am trying to find are Flitwick to Cork on Saturday 27th October and from Limerick Junction to Flitwick on Friday 2nd November. I will be getting a lift from Cork to Limerick.

I don't suppose anybody can tell me the fares for this journey and whether it is actually possible to book a through ticket. Also, does anyone know if I can book these at a ticket office?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give

 

[pkkelly]

Hi,

I was told that there was a way of getting through tickets from stations in the UK to stations in Ireland. I did a search for this and came through to the Raileasy website, but don't seem to be able to find any fares.

The journeys which I am trying to find are Flitwick to Cork on Saturday 27th October and from Limerick Junction to Flitwick on Friday 2nd November. I will be getting a lift from Cork to Limerick.

I don't suppose anybody can tell me the fares for this journey and whether it is actually possible to book a through ticket. Also, does anyone know if I can book these at a ticket office?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give

The online systems are generally pretty useless at selling these SailRail tickets, but a ticket office should be able to sell them (big station probably safer, I would try Euston), or else telesales of the ferry company that you intend to use.

See http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm for detailed information.

These tickets are priced as one-ways, returns are double. Fares are (via Holyhead-Dublin):

Cork (via Stena Line) - £52.50
Cork (via Irish Ferries conventional ferry) - £53.50
Cork (via Irish Ferries Swift) - £58.50

These fares are "SailRail Advance". "SailRail Standby" is £5 more expensive. (Above URL explains the difference - the advances are not the same as a normal advance ticket.)

Limerick Junction is £5 cheaper than Cork.

 

[bkhtele]

You may find it beneficial to buy the return portion in Ireland, the tickets have less restrictions and are a little more flexible. Buy in a major Irish City like Cork or Dublin.

The tickets via Fishguard from the UK are now very restrictive as on arrival you need to buy a ticket to complete the journey. In Ireland you can still buy a through ticket using Rosslare. You might like to try to Cork via Dublin and use Rosslare for the return.

 

[tom3107]

Thanks for the replies! I will try and buy the outward journey from Flitwick - they have never let me down yet when buying 'out of the norm' tickets!

And I will probably do as you suggest and buy the return when I'm out their because it would give me the flexibility of changing my date of travel and the departure station if necessary.

 

[pkkelly]

You may find it beneficial to buy the return portion in Ireland, the tickets have less restrictions and are a little more flexible. Buy in a major Irish City like Cork or Dublin.

The tickets via Fishguard from the UK are now very restrictive as on arrival you need to buy a ticket to complete the journey. In Ireland you can still buy a through ticket using Rosslare. You might like to try to Cork via Dublin and use Rosslare for the return.

But the Waterford-Rosslare line has closed so he would need to get a bus for that stretch (http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm has timings) or go via Dublin which seems a long way around. If he doesn't mind the bus, the Limerick Junction to Waterford line is a nice ride.

 

[Eire Sprinter]

Sailrail tickets from Cork/Limerick etc… to stations in Britain via Rosslare-Fishguard are available from Irish Rail. The ticket is valid on the 17.30 route 370 (rail replacement) Bus Éireann service from Waterford to Rosslare port (but one must make their own way between Waterford rail and bus station – about 10 mins. walk – taxis available too but not really necessary for the short distance unless heavy luggage or heavy rain comes into play).

Bus timetable here: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf

To check a particular Sailrail fare ‘phone 353 1 8366 222 0900-1700 Mon-Fri or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]
Flitwick is in Zone D ex Rosslare so the advance fare from Limerick Junction is €57 single (€15 Irish Rail add-on Limerick Jct - Rosslare + € 42 Rosslare - Flitwick).

Map of zones ex Rosslare here: http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/~/media/ROI/pdf/2012%20Sail%20%20Rail%20map%20via%20Fishguard%20with%20zones%20re%20SailRail%20Manual%20SOUTH%202011%20dated%2014%20Dec11.ashx

The Sailrail tickets are sold at the Irish Rail stations shown here: http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=249#SailRail

Would advise to book the ticket the day before and in case of any difficulty at the ticket office politely request the member of staff to contact the European Rail section in Connolly station, Dublin (their phone lines are open 09.00-17.00 Mon-Fri ).

In terms of itinerary the train departs Limerick Junction at 13.55hrs reaching Waterford at 15.33hrs. Bus departs Waterford Bus Station at 17.30, reaching Rosslare port at 19.10 and the ship sails at 21.00. If this proves too early a departure from Limerick Junction on the Friday the same journey is possible on Saturdays but there's a prolonged wait at Cardiff Central early Sunday morning between 04.10 (arrival of the boat train from Fishguard) and the departure of the first Great Western train (07.45) to Paddington.

 

[tom3107]

Just to say that I successfully bought the outward tickets from my small local FCC ticket office - it took the booking clerk a while but she didn't give up, so well done FCC

I bought the return tickets from Irish Ferries from Carlow (slight change of plan) through to Flitwick and they are non-standard tickets. I know they'll be fine on Virgin, but can't wait to see the reaction of the FCC RPI's

Thanks everyone!

 

[route101]

Just wondering but tickets bought in Ireland for Ireland>UK journeys , what ticket stock are they on ?

 

[Eire Sprinter]

Here's an example of the ticket stock (coupon booklet) used by Irish Rail, Stena Line, Irish Ferries and any travel agents who still sell SailRail over here (very few travel agents seem to sell the product anymore due mainly to the understandable need of travel agencies to impose a service fee of 10/15/20 euro per booking of any type to maintain business viability. A booking fee of this level is ok perhaps for a holiday costing hundreds of euro but appreciably can be around 50% of the actual fare for a low cost product such as SailRail).

There have been, I think, a few minor variations to the ticket stock over the years.

(Booking reference number covered over for privacy)


tom3107, hope you have a good trip.

 

[route101]

Here's an example of the ticket stock (coupon booklet) used by Irish Rail, Stena Line, Irish Ferries and any travel agents who still sell SailRail over here (very few travel agents seem to sell the product anymore due mainly to the understandable need of travel agencies to impose a service fee of 10/15/20 euro per booking of any type to maintain business viability. A booking fee of this level is ok perhaps for a holiday costing hundreds of euro but appreciably can be around 50% of the actual fare for a low cost product such as SailRail).

There have been, I think, a few minor variations to the ticket stock over the years.

(Booking reference number covered over for privacy)


tom3107, hope you have a good trip.

Thanks for Pic. Had CIV stapled to some tickets ive bought in Europe.

Are Rail staff in Ireland knowledgeable about the railways in the UK?

 

[tom3107]

Are Rail staff in Ireland knowledgeable about the railways in the UK?

I've been told that the Irish rail staff are more knowlegable about the UK tickets then the UK staff are of the Irish tickets!