Interrail UK/Ireland

[soup6]

I am sure this question has been answered elsewhere but nevertheless I can't find the answer so I apologise for asking it again. If I have an English residential address and a UK passport, am I allowed, on an Interail pass, unlimited travel in Ireland (NI and ROI) or would (say) a journey from Belfast to Dublin use up my "outward travel" day from the UK?

 

[Flying Snail]

Ireland (whole) is considered a different country than Britain for Interrail purposes.

Journeys in Ireland won't use your GB home country days.

Interrail may not be a good option for travel within Northern Ireland as a day I-Link Zone 4 (all of NI) ticket costs £19 and is also valid on Translink buses.

 

[mad_rich]

Indeed, the UK and Ireland is a bit of an anomaly as far is Interrail is concerned. GB is one territory and Ireland is another.

It sort of makes sense from a geographical and administrative (RDG vs Translink) point of view, but it's odd that these are the only countries that are treated like this.

 

[30907]

Indeed, the UK and Ireland is a bit of an anomaly as far is Interrail is concerned. GB is one territory and Ireland is another.

It sort of makes sense from a geographical and administrative (RDG vs Translink) point of view, but it's odd that these are the only countries that are treated like this.

From a visitor's POV (eg the OP) it also makes good sense - and for a NI resident it's no disadvantage, rather the reverse.

 

[stadler]

Interrail is very poor value in the Republic Of Ireland too. Irish Rail sell their own rover tickets for much cheaper.

Irish Rail sell a four day rover (Trekker) for EUR88.00 each and five day rover (Explorer) for EUR128.00 each.

Interrail is more expensive and sell a four day rover for EUR165.00 each and five day rover for EUR191.00 each.

So it is much cheaper to just buy an ordinary rover ticket. You can buy the Trekker and Explorer at Irish Rail ticket offices.

 

[DeverseSam]

Interrail is very poor value in the Republic Of Ireland too.

Interrail starts at £7.50 per day!

 

[Watershed]

Interrail is very poor value in the Republic Of Ireland too. Irish Rail sell their own rover tickets for much cheaper.

Irish Rail sell a four day rover (Trekker) for EUR88.00 each and five day rover (Explorer) for EUR128.00 each.

Interrail is more expensive and sell a four day rover for EUR165.00 each and five day rover for EUR191.00 each.

So it is much cheaper to just buy an ordinary rover ticket. You can buy the Trekker and Explorer at Irish Rail ticket offices.

It depends on how long you are travelling for, and whether you're also visiting other European counties. If you can add on enough "marginal" days to cover the Irish portion of a trip, it might be worthwhile using Interrail.

 

[30907]

Interrail starts at £7.50 per day!

...for a 3 month continuous pass at 15% off.

The marginal cost on a flexipass is of the order of £20/day.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Interrail is very poor value in the Republic Of Ireland too. Irish Rail sell their own rover tickets for much cheaper.

Irish Rail sell a four day rover (Trekker) for EUR88.00 each and five day rover (Explorer) for EUR128.00 each.

Interrail is more expensive and sell a four day rover for EUR165.00 each and five day rover for EUR191.00 each.

So it is much cheaper to just buy an ordinary rover ticket. You can buy the Trekker and Explorer at Irish Rail ticket offices.

Although you can do NI and ROI on the same ticket with Interrail, I concur. I would recommend 2 days of the all zones Ilink and the 4 day Rover to do the whole island of Ireland rail network (and visit places by bus in NI due to the iLink covering all of that and the Belfast Glider too).

 

[Segedunum]

Be warned that in NI, the pass doesn't scan (believe an 'invalid' error or similar comes up) and staff have seen so few of them that it might take some persuasion for it to be accepted. Thankfully NI Railways staff are by and large reasonable people and unlikely to cause any unnecessary grief, but you might have to do a bit of explaining as I did last year.

 

[soup6]

Thanks for all the advice. I had a spare day on a non-continuous pass so I used it to travel from Belfast to Dublin this morning. Ticket was checked 3 times but no-one attempted to scan it and all accepted it without a second glance.

 

[Capybara]

This is timely and really helpful. I came onto ask almost exactly the same question and have never seen it definitively answered before. I have more days on my pass than I'm likely to use (that's what happens when you buy one months in advance when they are on offer) and happen to be in NI/Ireland next week so can use it for a couple of days. The ticket does say that that it is not valid in Great Britain (ie not UK) but it is good to have it confirmed, so thanks.