SailRail Question.

[David57]

Just a query about SailRail validity.

I plan to travel on the 07.30 Befast-Cairnryan ferry next week, and the route planner (virgin) sends me from the ferry terminal on a Link coach to Ayr, to Glasgow, then to Manchester, Milton Keynes then Northampton.

I want to travel from the ferryport by taxi (at my my expense, obviously) to Stranraer, via Ayr, Kilmarnock, Carlisle, WCML to Milton Keynes (or changing at Birmingham NS, I am not fussed), then home to Northampton.

I know SailRail tickets are very flexible on return journies, but this is an outward one.

Is my itinery valid for the Stranraer-Ayr leg?

 

[Paul Kelly]

I seem to remember reading that there was a temporary easement for a while after the ferry terminal moved from Stranraer to Ayr, that tickets were still valid via Stranraer (at your own expense for Cairnryan to Stranraer) as you describe, but that this was stopped after a while. I've no idea whether it would still be accepted in practice - the Stranraer trains must be really quiet these days - perhaps the guard would just be happy of having an extra passenger.

 

[najaB]

SailRail tickets are not valid between Stranraer and Ayr, unfortunately.

 

[David57]

SailRail tickets are not valid between Stranraer and Ayr, unfortunately.

OK, I am willing to use some RTV's to cover that, but do I have to stick to the 'via Glasgow' (or via Manchester) part of the itinery?

 

[najaB]

OK, I am willing to use some RTV's to cover that, but do I have to stick to the 'via Glasgow' (or via Manchester) part of the itinery?

As long as it's not a SailRail Advance ticket then they are issued as Anytime single/returns so should be accepted on any reasonable route. Only the ship leg has mandatory reservations (which aren't really mandatory, truth be told).

 

[Romilly]

If you start with the National Rail Enquiries journey planner, and ask for Belfast Port to Northampton for an early morning next week, and using Advanced Options opt to avoid Glasgow, to avoid Manchester and to travel via Kilmarnock, you will be offered an itinerary for an Advance Sailrail ticket for Belfast Port-Cairnryan-Ayr-Kilmarnock-Carlisle and then either Carlisle-Crewe-Milton Keynes-Northampton or Carlisle-Birmingham International-Northampton. If you select the first of those options, and click through to buy the ticket, you will be offered a revised itinerary via Glasgow.

But if you try to book direct on Raileasy, and in the options choose to avoid Glasgow, you will be able to book an Advance ticket with either of the itineraries just mentioned.