Ireland to London via ferry/train
Apr 25th, 2019, 03:11 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ireland to London via ferry/train
My DH is a huge fan of train trips, so when we are in Ireland we plan to travel from Dublin to London via ferry and train from Holyhead. Has anyone done this? I'd really like to buy tickets in advance - can I do that in Dublin? (I have found the seat61 website very helpful in planning this.)
We live in the US.
We live in the US.
Apr 25th, 2019, 03:17 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did it years ago and much same today - not sure they have 'boat trains' but if do they are timed with the short ferry ride from Dublin area. Anyway go to National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables to book own ticket through Wales and England to London. check boat site to see if they have thru tickets for boat and train. Yes www.seat61.com is great for tips on booking own tickets - general train info also BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.
book tickets for train at least far in advance of you getting to Dublin when fares will be much higher but always available.
book tickets for train at least far in advance of you getting to Dublin when fares will be much higher but always available.
Apr 26th, 2019, 10:54 AM
#3
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have a look at Sail and Rail inclusive tickets. Operated by Stena Line from Dublin Port, train from Holyhead to London.
Type in Sail and Rail. I am unable to post the URL as I do not have enough posts.
Type in Sail and Rail. I am unable to post the URL as I do not have enough posts.
Apr 26th, 2019, 11:02 AM
#4
Apr 26th, 2019, 11:15 AM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks janisj, however I think it is stenaline.ie that OP needs as s/he wishes to travel from Dublin to London.
If you can url this for OP would be great.
stenaline.ie/ferries to Britain/sail and rail.
Thanks again for your help, I just need ONE more post (I think) then I can do it myself hopefully....!
If you can url this for OP would be great.
stenaline.ie/ferries to Britain/sail and rail.
Thanks again for your help, I just need ONE more post (I think) then I can do it myself hopefully....!
Apr 26th, 2019, 11:28 AM
#6
>>Thanks janisj, however I think it is stenaline.ie that OP needs as s/he wishes to travel from Dublin to London.<<
AFAIK - one can book either direction of travel from either the 'ie' or the 'uk' site . . . I know I booked TO the UK off the UK site but that was years ago so may be different now.
AFAIK - one can book either direction of travel from either the 'ie' or the 'uk' site . . . I know I booked TO the UK off the UK site but that was years ago so may be different now.
Apr 26th, 2019, 01:03 PM
#7
All the info you need is here: https://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm
Apr 26th, 2019, 01:07 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apr 26th, 2019, 02:06 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks all! I was sufficiently encouraged to take the plunge and buy the train tickets from the Virgin website. Not cheap (last trip we had senior BritRail cards, so were automatically in First, and that kind of spoiled us!) But we're really looking forward to the trip.
Apr 26th, 2019, 04:14 PM
#10
>>last trip we had senior BritRail cards, so were automatically in First<<
Do you mean a Senior Rail Card - OR some sort of BritRail pass (different things entirely)
If you are seniors you can use Senior Rail cards on British trains (Britrail is just a retailer of -often over priced- rail passes)
https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk
But if you've already booked it is too late
Do you mean a Senior Rail Card - OR some sort of BritRail pass (different things entirely)
If you are seniors you can use Senior Rail cards on British trains (Britrail is just a retailer of -often over priced- rail passes)
https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk
But if you've already booked it is too late
Apr 26th, 2019, 05:35 PM
#11
The Senior Rail Card gets you a good discount, but it does not automatically put you in first class. You buy first or second class as you choose, and show the card/tell the online system you have one.
Apr 27th, 2019, 11:15 AM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Janis, I couldn't find a way to buy a regular Senior railcard from the US. The earlier trip, we were taking many UK trains including to Scotland, so we bought BritRail cards which then entitled seniors to travel in First. Not using enough trains this trip to be worth the railcard, so I just booked Holyhead to Euston direct on Virgin website.
Apr 27th, 2019, 12:33 PM
#14
Just an FYI for next time . . .you don't buy the rail cards from the States. You book your discounted train tix as though you had the rail card in hand . . . Then when you get to Holyhead ( or any station in the UK) you pick up the rail card before boarding the train. You can download the forms at home, have them already filled out, and the whole transaction takes about a minute.
