By train and ferry via Rosslare

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Another reason for closing such lines is the staffing costs. Crossing keepers and signallers were being paid for doing little for much of the time.

Really? We may be saddened by the loss of loops and signals and the need to stop and proceed at crossings, but at least we still have the Heart of Wales line ... and on the Heart of Wessex we have Maiden Newton which is a crossing loop, used actively as such, without staff.   And take a look at how those two lines have grown.

Losses in Ireland in this decade look like some of the later closures in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rundown after "Beeching" - lines like Oxford to Cambridge and Carlisle to Edinburgh via Hawick.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I'm in Rosslare, doing an Irish trip inspired by others. On Tue I went from Reading to Leeds on a couple of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s, then on to the Settle and Carlisle.  A pretty good 158 was turned out for this and the support the S & C gets from volunteers etc was impressive. Then on to Glasgow for overnight. On Wed got the earlier 0938 to Stranraer, again, a pretty good 156/8 (I've forgotten already!). I was surprised by the number of manned block posts south of Girvan, but maybe there is freight traffic which justifies this. A very scenic route which is worth doing.

Stranraer is interesting - going up the castle, around the museum and a bit of lunch soon whittles away 2 hours until the electric bus (I was the only person on it) takes you to the Stena terminal for the 1530 sailing to Belfast. Overnight in Belfast, then the 1035 to Dublin Connolly.  The Enterprise train (unrefurbished) was poor and the scenery to Dublin boring.

The 1335 train from Connolly to Rosslare was great.  A class 22 as pictured above, and probably the best medium distance DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) I've ever travelled on.  Powerful, quiet, air-con, wi-fi, seats align with windows (OK it was low density).  Sit on the left leaving Dublin, the scenery is great all the way.

I'm on the 0900 Stena to Fishguard tomorrow.  I'm expecting the 1329 from Fishguard to be an awful 150.

[Rhydgaled]

On Wed got the earlier 0938 to Stranraer, again, a pretty good 156/8 (I've forgotten already!). I was surprised by the number of manned block posts south of Girvan, but maybe there is freight traffic which justifies this. A very scenic route which is worth doing.

I've never been to Stranraer, but I think the stock used currently is class 156s.

I'm on the 0900 Stena to Fishguard tomorrow.  I'm expecting the 1329 from Fishguard to be an awful 150.

Last time I asked (on this forum or RailUK), I was told the booked stock is a class 158, but I think that was several timetable changes ago and even then the diagram seemed to be bottom of the pile and first to end up with a 150 vice 158 (understandably since most ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 158 diagrams involve the Cambrian line which cannot be worked by anything else). On the plus side, the previous service on the diagram doesn't seem to have changed in the new timetable, so maybe the diagram hasn't changed meaning you at least have a chance at getting a decent unit. A few years back it was booked for a 150, which was a disgraceful suituation if you ask me.

[Rhydgaled]

We may be saddened by the loss of loops and signals and the need to stop and proceed at crossings, but at least we still have the Heart of Wales line ... and on the Heart of Wessex we have Maiden Newton which is a crossing loop, used actively as such, without staff.

The Heart Of Wales has such passing loops too, five of them if I remember correctly (only 2 timetabled to be used I think, thanks to the infrequent service).

[WEX-RSB-FGH-BPW-PAD]

SailRail summer offer

For the summer you can now buy your Irish Rail travel between Rosslare and Dublin with SailRail Advance! Just search for your journey online or at any rail booking office.

Tickets are available as Advance tickets only, so buy as far in advance as you can. Once they^re gone, they^re gone!

*Tickets available up to 31st August 2015. Limited availability, once allocations are sold no more are available.
          MONDAY ^ SATURDAY    SUNDAY ONLY
ROSSLARE EUROPORT    Departs    18.35    18.35
Rosslare Strand    Departs            18.41    18.41
WEXFORD O'Hanrahan    Arrives    18.59    18.59
WEXFORD O'Hanrahan    Departs    19.00    19.00
Enniscorthy    Departs            19.25    19.22
Gorey    Departs                    19.45    19.42
Arklow    Departs                    20.11    19.58
Rathdrum    Departs                    20.27    20.15
Wicklow    Departs                    20.38    20.26
Kilcoole    Departs    . .    . .
Greystones    Departs            20.51    20.40
BRAY Daly    Departs                    21.02    20.50
DUN LAOGHAIRE Mallin Departs    21.22    21.04
DUBLIN Pearse    Departs            21.38    21.21
Tara Street    Departs            21.40    21.24
DUBLIN Connolly    Arrives    21.44    21.28

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/SailRail-Summer2015/

The through tickets to stations on the Rosslare to Dublin line became available on an unknown date this Summer but are only available as advances (tickets just as far as Rosslare Harbour are available as both advances and standby).