Rail & Sail (Holyhead-Dublin)

[Panceltic]

Hello,

I have bought SailRail Advance tickets from London Euston to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) for a Saturday in July.

I'd just like to ask how many coupons I'll actually get when I collect them from the TVM at Euston? What is the procedure to follow once we alight at Holyhead?

I'm asking because we'll be travelling as a group of nine and I'd like to reduce any hassle to the minimum!

Thank you very much for helping.

 

[Eire Sprinter]

Per adult per single leg the usual would be:
1 coupon for Euston - Dublin Ferryport
1 coupon for rail seat reservation on specific train being used (2 if, for instance, there's a change of train)
1 coupon for ferry reservation.

I'm not sure though how this works for a group - I presume the Euston-Dublin Ferryport coupon would show the number of passengers in the group.

The collection receipt will state the number of coupons in the top left under "Description".

The ferry terminal adjoins the station in Holyhead. In the terminal there's a WH Smith's cum café, ferry desks, rail ticket office, toilets and seating area. When check-in opens (at the counters at the end of the terminal past the toilets) one presents their tickets and is issued with boarding cards and luggage labels. Round the corner's there's a security check and then one can deposit any heavier luggage. Invariably there's a member of staff at hand. Then it's a matter of catching the shuttle bus up to the berth and walking onto the vessel.

Are you ok in terms of onward travel information at Dublin?

 

[Panceltic]

Thank you for a detailed explanation, much appreciated.

It seems I'll be issued with 30+ coupons ... :roll: I think the limit for 'group' bookings is 10 people, so in our case we're still considered to be nine separate people so everybody's going to get his own EUS-DFP coupon.

So the ferry is much like an airline (check-in, boarding pass etc.) - but I presume we'll have to keep our tickets (the coupons mentioned above) till we disembark in Ireland?

We have already arranged our onward travel (from the ferry terminal).

Thanks again!

 

[Hadders]

In my experience it's far more relaxed and civilized than airport security.

No hand luggage restrictions, no need to worry about liquids or aerosols, and no need to remove clothing or shoes.

Enjoy!

 

[Panceltic]

Thank you!

We have indeed chosen train+ferry because there are no luggage restrictions

 

[Eire Sprinter]

You're welcome. 30+ coupons, wow!

Last time I sailed with Irish Ferries my ticket per se (i.e. the overall coupon stating my origin station and destination of Dublin Ferryport) was taken at check-in and the boarding card was issued in its place. I understand this is for audit purposes. (When I travelled with a ticket to a rail station in Ireland the ticket was handed back to me with my boarding card).

Hope you and the group have a good journey.

PS: if time allows Holyhead town centre is just at the other end of the Celtic Gateway pedestrian bridge which commences at the top of platform 2 (adjacent to the ferry terminal doors). This pedestrian bridge can also be accessed at the top of platform 1 (walk past the front of the train to reach the top of the platform). Virgin Trains tend to use P1 a lot.
There's a supermarket, several shops and information point adjacent to the town end of the bridge. The walls of the old Roman fort beside St.Cybi's church are also close by.

 

[CallySleeper]

Pre-warning: in Holyhead you'll need to provide a list of names (and possibly nationalities) for everyone in your group, unless you haven't done so already. It'll probably speed the process up if one person (you?) is responsible for all the tickets, also it might be an idea to write/word process a passenger list to give to the member of staff checking you in.

 

[Panceltic]

Thank you for the suggestions, Eire Sprinter. The timetable allows for 1:30 hrs stopover in Holyhead. If the train arrives on time we'll hopefully be able to take a quick walk to the town itself. However, according, we have to check-in at least 30 minutes before departure. Given that Holyhead is not so big, I guess we'll be able to see something.

@CallySleeper, thank you for that warning, most useful. It is indeed a good idea and I will have a list of passengers at hand. But do you think it will be needed for our group? If everyone receives his own coupon (rather than only one reading "nine adults"), then everybody can check-in individually, or am I missing something here?

 

[bkhtele]

You could do either. Also do remember police? like you to have some identification these days going to Ireland, although they are a lot more relaxed about it than at an airport. You will have lots of fun, have a great trip.

 

[CallySleeper]

@CallySleeper, thank you for that warning, most useful. It is indeed a good idea and I will have a list of passengers at hand. But do you think it will be needed for our group? If everyone receives his own coupon (rather than only one reading "nine adults"), then everybody can check-in individually, or am I missing something here?

I'm just thinking it might just speed the process up for the member of staff checking you all in, to deal with you as a group instead of individuals. Also may help on the train if one person is in charge of tickets.

 

[Panceltic]

Thanks again for all the responses, this forum is great!

It'll of course be quicker to check-in as a group and as to the identification, we'll all have to carry ID cards anyway because we're not British/Irish citizens.

 

[najaB]

Also do remember police? like you to have some identification these days going to Ireland, although they are a lot more relaxed about it than at an airport.

Did Fishguard-Rosslare in March and the Gardaí did come and check ID before they let us out of the port (they actually did it on the shuttle bus). It doesn't have to be a passport, just some form of photo ID (e.g. a driver's licence).

For Dublin, the port is a good 30 minute's walk from the city centre, so you're best to get the bus depending on what time your ferry arrives. It's route 53, the fare should be about €1.80 each.

 

[Panceltic]

It doesn't have to be a passport, just some form of photo ID (e.g. a driver's licence).

We have ID cards (passport size is so inconvenient) ... Though we've had some problems in Ireland some years ago with them, they just wouldn't accept them as a proof of age in the pub! Had to drink water instead

 

[najaB]

We have ID cards (passport size is so inconvenient) ... Though we've had some problems in Ireland some years ago with them, they just wouldn't accept them as a proof of age in the pub! Had to drink water instead

Now that IS a problem!

 

[Panceltic]

Now that IS a problem!

The bartender insisted on a passport OR a 'black ID card'. Upon asking what a black ID card is, he told us this was something only Irish people had. Very useful indeed!

 

[mister-sparky]

The bartender insisted on a passport OR a 'black ID card'. Upon asking what a black ID card is, he told us this was something only Irish people had. Very useful indeed!

So do they not accept UK driving licences? I'm going to Dublin by ferry next month and I only have a driving licence, so if they don't I'm screwed if I want some Guiness! I'm in my late 20's, but I look like a teenager, so I'd definitely be asked.

 

[najaB]

So do they not accept UK driving licences?

According to the Irish citizens information webpage (link), you should be fine worth a driving licence. "Appropriate identification includes a National Age Card, a passport, a driving licence, or a identitiy card issued by an EU member state."

 

[Panceltic]

Or a identitiy card issued by an EU member state."

As I said, this was not the case! But that happened in Westport, so hopefully in Dublin they will accept the driving licence

 

[Hadders]

I doubt you'll have an issue at Dublin Port. On the two occasions I did this route last year the first time there was a cursory glance at any document with an address on, the second there was no check whatsoever!

Unlike at Dublin airport where you have to go through passport control to get out. Now that would be an interesting one as officially a UK citizen does not require a passport to travel to the Republic of Ireland (although most airlines insist on one for identification purposes). At UK airport passengers on flights from the ROI (evidenced by showing a boarding card) can go through a separate lane to bypass passport control.

 

[mister-sparky]

Thanks for the clarification guys! Really relieved about that

Another question though, I got my "tickets" through today from Irish Ferries, but it's just a flimsy hand-written bit of paper. I was expecting an actual orangey cardboardy ticket that we're used to for the train portion. Will this "ticket" actually be valid for my travel between Holyhead and London? Or do I have to exchange it at Holyhead before I board the train?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I suspect you mean a CIV ticket stapled into a card cover? A number of ex-Dun Laogaire passengers had these on Monday and ATW guards accepted them without question

 

[mister-sparky]

I suspect you mean a CIV ticket stapled into a card cover? A number of ex-Dun Laogaire passengers had these on Monday and ATW guards accepted them without question

Well it says CIV on it, but it's not stapled into cardboard. Just hand-written thin paper.

 

[gordonthemoron]

it'll be fine

 

[SeanG]

RE driving licenses in Dublin Pubs.

I went over Easter and look about 12, however I was fine using a UK driving license for ID in the pub.
I imagine that they see UK driving licenses regularly in Dublin so that's why it isn't an issue

 

[CallySleeper]

Thanks for the clarification guys! Really relieved about that

Another question though, I got my "tickets" through today from Irish Ferries, but it's just a flimsy hand-written bit of paper. I was expecting an actual orangey cardboardy ticket that we're used to for the train portion. Will this "ticket" actually be valid for my travel between Holyhead and London? Or do I have to exchange it at Holyhead before I board the train?

Yes it's a ticket, yes it's valid and no you don't need to exchange it at Holyhead. Remember that in Ireland (except at NIR's Belfast Europa centre) they don't have the facility to print on the usual British orange ticket stock.

 

[Panceltic]

One more question sprang to mind ... The arrival of the ferry to Dublin is 17:25 - what does this mean? The moment the ship enters the port or the moment we're already off?

 

[najaB]

One more question sprang to mind ... The arrival of the ferry to Dublin is 17:25 - what does this mean? The moment the ship enters the port or the moment we're already off?

I've never sailed to Dublin, but if it's anything like Rosslare or Belfast (not the Cairnryan service) then add at least 15 to 30 minutes to the arrival time since they put you on a bus and drive you to the terminal. The Cairnryan services are more like an airline - you walk to/from the ship via a walkway, and it takes about 10 minutes to get out of the terminal if you don't have any bags to wait on.

 

[Thewanderer]

One more question sprang to mind ... The arrival of the ferry to Dublin is 17:25 - what does this mean? The moment the ship enters the port or the moment we're already off?

The ship docks at 1725.

At Holyhead you will be driven onto the ship via bus as the berth is remote from the passenger terminal. At Dublin Port (Irish Ferries terminal) you will walk off the ship into the passenger terminal. All going well I suspect you be outside the terminal by 1740.

I noted you said you have your onward travel sorted so I don't need to talk about onward connections etc.

 

[Flying Snail]

At Holyhead all ferries to Dublin require an internal bus transfer from the terminal to the ferry, checked bags are taken at the terminal and transported seperately.

At Dublin Irish Ferries Ulysees uses a gangway, Fastcraft Jonathan Swift and all Stena Line sailings require a bus transfer to the terminals. Irish Ferries other ship, Epsilon does not take foot passengers

The only remaining service that has passenger gangways at both ends is the DunLaoghaire HSS Stena Explorer which is unlikely to be around for much longer sadly.

I have on one occasion made a 5 minute train connection off the HSS at Holyhead although only 2 other passengers on that ferry also managed it.

 

[Panceltic]

Thank you very much. Yes, we've got our connections sorted, just wondered how long it would take to get out of the terminal.