Rosslare to Fishguard aboard the Stena Europe
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2023
- I end my time in Ireland with an early-morning ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard. I'm travelling on a combined Sail/Rail ticket which means the crossing and the ride on the train all the way home to Devon is going to cost me just over fifty quid - which is a pretty good deal I reckon.
Anyway, this first leg sees me crossing the Irish Sea on the eerily quiet Stena Europe. Honestly, it was like being on the set of The Shining in some places or as if there was another pandemic and nobody had told me!
Departure: Rosslare Europort, Republic of Ireland
Destination: Fishguard, Wales, UK
Approx Distance: 102 km / 63 miles
Duration: 3 hrs 30 mins
Cost: Sail/Rail combined standard ticket Rosslare to any UK station £54.90 / €63,50
Date of Travel: April 2023
Operator: Stena Line
Motive power: Stena Europe Built: Götaverken shipyard, Sweden (1981)
Thank you to everybody that watches, likes, comments and subscribes. I really appreciate it!
I used to work on stena europes now decommissioned sister ship M.V. Normandy as a student for Irish Ferries. Your video has jogged some fond memories of my time at see.
@@115prettyboy pleased i can jog some fond memories!
Thanks for watching 👍
Love The Shining reference. 😂
@@PeteG143 haha! Thanks for watching 👍
Sail/rail tickets are a real bargain! Great video, thank you for sharing.
My pleasure... and yes they are!
Thanks, as ever, for watching 👍
In the glory days with Sealink, you could just walk on as a passenger. My first school trip from Ireland was a Day trip to Fishguard (everyone brought back cheap washing powder).
Haha! The wonderful things we buy abroad, especially in the old days! Thanks so much for watching and commenting 👍
My wife and I used to do this route, plus Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire, Dover - Calais, Folkestone Harbour - Boulogne and Dieppe - Newhaven quite regularly and a lot has changed, and by the absence of passengers, I can see why.
Going from London, the obvious choice was the 22.00 Paddington to Fishguard Harbour HST / IC 125, the Down Fishguard Boat Train. This used to connect with the night tub, that used to arrive in Rosslare @ 06.45 in time for the 07.15 train to Waterford and the 07.30 train to Dublin Connolly. Indeed, I invariably wanted both locos, so I took the first train to Rosslare Strand and lugged suitcases over the footbridge, to wait for the second train !
There were two railway stations at Rosslare, and these were replaced by a third. As you leave Rosslare in your video at 3:12 you can see a curving breakwater with an elevated walkway in front. This was the Rosslare Harbour Pier station that closed 1988/89. The next station was Rosslare Harbour Mainland station, located east of a level crossing. Both were replaced by Rosslare Europort station.
During my first visit, me and a mate were catching a train from Rosslare Harbour Pier to Limerick, and we walked along the track, as we could find no pedestrian access from Rosslare Harbour Mainland. The train driver rightly wanted to know WTF we were doing trespassing, so we told him we were going to Limerick. He told us the train would stop at Rosslare Harbour Mainland so there was no need to walk. I said that I knew but we wanted to ride from the Pier !
One night I was catching the Night Riviera from Paddington to Plymouth and Penzance, when a station announcement said that due to heavy seas, the tub to Rosslare was cancelled, so the boat train was also cancelled. Then they said for passengers to make alternative arrangements. Presumably that meant walk to Wales and swim to Ireland !!
There was a 22.00 from Euston to Holyhead that connected with the tub to Dun Laoghaire, but I somehow doubt whether tickets would be valid and whether you could catch the tube to Euston Square in time.
What great memories. Thanks for sharing them, much appreciated 👍
Stena Europe is back on this route since end of February -24.
I went with her a number of times in the 80ies between Gothenburg and Kiel and have only nice memories from those trips.
Crikey. Everyone was saying the comments that she was all washed up... but she rides the waves again!
Thanks for watching 👍
I really enjoy your videos, informative and excellent - thanks Johnny
Thank you, it's really kind of you to say so. And thank you so much for watching them! 👍
Back in 2010 we were over for the Epsom Derby and missed our flight to Waterford there was five of us and Ryanair wanted €1500 to fly us back to Dublin and my car was at Waterford Airport so we got the evening train from Paddington to FIshguard Harbour, had to change at Swansea for a local service to Fishguard. We got the Stena Europe over to Rosslare, I thought it was a really good ship at that time, and the food was excellent on board. Years ago back in 70s 80s, there was an InterCity service to Fishguard direct from Paddington one in the morning and one in the evening and they used to be packed. Nowadays there are very few foot passengers as everyone tends to fly. Interestingly Geoff Marshall who did Allthestations channel, did every station in UK and Ireland, and noted that Fishguard Station is actually owned by Stena Line not a Railway Company. Very good vid again Johnny look forward to more.
Not many actual boat trains leaving London that are dedicated boat trains anymore. Maybe with climate change this may reverse?
Nice of you to share your story about your adventure home to Waterford. Sounds like you made the best of it!
Thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍
Interesting journey. Too bad the weather wasn't better..
Greatings from Hull 🤗
Yes, it didn't really stop raining all day! Thanks for watching and greetings from Devon 👍
Another great video. I always look forward to them. Keep going because I love to travel.
I will keep them coming as I'm enjoying the travel and also the process of making them!
Thank you for watching and for the kind words 👍
Great video. Many thanks.
You are very welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting 👍
I remember being inquisitive about Fishguard when my UK based cousin drove us around Wales. Sadly we couldn't get to the Port because of security fences and gates. But what I did see was great. And there's a nice view of the Harbour from Fishguard Fort. Your journey was well worth it, and Great Value!! Nice video Johnny, shame about the weather.
Thanks for the kind comment and thank you for watching. I've been lucky with the weather on other crossings on the channel, so I guess you can't win em all 😉
Very nice review - 15/20 years ago there were foot passenger links pans at both Rosslare and Fishguard. Have great memories of running down the tunnels at Rosslare to get the Stena Felicity to Fishguard ! Pity the ship is so quiet, car pricing is very prohibitive sadly when compared with Ryanair options.
Yes, it's a shame that you cannot just walk in on or up a gangway. But there is it I suppose.
I've enjoyed every ferry trip I've done on the channel though - so will def be doing more
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Be careful calling a journey from Ireland to "mainland UK." Its a sure fire way to get almost every Irish person off side.
you are absolutely right, and you are not the first one to mention it. I shall be more careful in the future with my choice of language. Thanks for pointing it out and also, thanks for watching 👍
@JohnnyHooverTravels Hey, thanks for the reply and for being mindful in the future. It was a really great video and a ensure to watch.
Should really say to britain or Wales I guess so too instead.
Never realised its nearly the exact same distance as the Dublin to Holyhead route.
Now you make me worry I used the same graphic by mistake...
...rushes off to check it...
.
.
..ah. No I didn't. phew!
Thanks for watching and commenting👍
It would be quicker for the footpassengers to get off the boat, if they used the gangway at Fishguard Houbour. There is a door for a gangway to be attached to the ship. Also it would be good if the train arrived at Fishguard Houbour station at least an hour before the ship departs, this would give the train a bit of time in case of a delay to the train, and it would not be a mad rush for the for passengers trying to get on the ship. Before check in closes for the ship. Also if the ship is too delayed leaving Fishguard, then it meant mean that passengers may miss the last train to Dublin.
Well yes, it would certainly have been quicker to walk off. But nevertheless it was a decent voyage
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Always the problem with rail.. I am looking at rail to fishguard then rosslare but have 4 rail connections.. I am.sorry to say I wouldn't risk it.
Found you via : let’s make a trip.. I think you left a comment or saw you in the Ko Fi sponsors.. I also like : planes, trains and everything. And Steve Marsh. But I was looking for another English CZcamsr… and I’m glad I found this channel.. really entertaining and quite funny
Well thank you. You are very kind and I'm honoured to be in such illustrious company. Mark at LetsMakeaTrip has been very helpful and encouraging, so it pleases me that you found my channel through him 👍
Fab video, of course the Stena Europe is now on borrowed time as Stena Line are soon to replace the vessel on the route with the Stena Nordica. Can't believe how eerily quiet it was though, signs of the times I guess.
Yes, it felt like it was on the way out. As for numbers, maybe it was just a quiet day?
Thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍
I haven't been on any of the Seacat services but I have seen them shoot past when I was on a Ferry and thought that they would be an experience.
Indeed. Going on a cat is on my list.
Btw thank you so much for the SuperThanks. Very much appreciated 👍
You put this together well-- as you did Marsh Barton, esp considering it was your first go at new station video.
Ferry videos just seem so strange to me. Once these journeys were so familiar, even with a photo of the car boarding, which you bought on board-- which the kids loved! Or a guided tour of the bridge as a special request.
Now they just seem so dated. Its all trains and planes for me. These huge ferries seem like dinosaurs-- and so slow. You coped very well, having confessed to not being a good sailor.
I'm becoming a ferry fan. It is very relaxing just chugging across the sea. 👍
stena must be hitting themselves deciding to scrap this during peak season, now the stena nordica that replaced stena europa has been sent to replace the damaged belfast ferry so no ferry on the rosslare route until that's repaired
Terrible news for all the people with long-held bookings at what is the busiest time of the year! I had a look today and, as you say, the service is suspended and when it comes back, many sailings are fully booked.
What happened to the Belfast ferry?
I could recommend the ferry from Bergen to Hirtshals, and also Newcastle to Amsterdam.
Thank you for that. I shall add them to my list! 👍
Another great video, Johnny! I’ve travelled on both Stena and Irish Ferries to and from Ireland on the Fishguard/Pembroke Dick to Roslaire and the Holyhead toDublin Port routes; I still miss going Stena to Dun Laolaire and jumping in theDart! I would recommend the Stena Plus/IrishFerries Club Class lounges - free complementary hot and cold drinks (the tea is always gratefully appreciated on the overnight sailings!!) Also meals can be delivered to your seat from the main restaurant, you just pay at the time of delivery; although last September, when my parents and i traveled from Fishguard, we got our meals for free following a lengthy delay…
Fishguard Harbour station/ferry terminal doesn’t appear to have changed much since I was last there some 20/25+ years ago….surely Transport for Wales and Stena could give it a bit of a refresh!
Yes, I really must pay for Stena Plus next time, as a review of that is missing on the channel.
And yes, Fishguard does seem unchanged.
Thanks as ever for the kind words 👍
There are a lot of ferries/routes you should try. Here is a small list of some every ferry-fan should have on their bucketlists:
- Stockholm-Åland Islands-Turku (Viking Glory and Viking Grace)
- Kiel-Oslo (Color Magic and Color Fantasy)
- Stockholm-Åland Islands-Helsinki (Silja Serenade, Silja Symphony and Viking Cinderella)
- Kapellskär-Åland Islands-Nådendal (Finnsirius and Finncanopus)
- Bergen-Kristiansand-Hirthals (Bergensfjord and Stavangerfjord)
Thank you so much for this - I've added you comment to my (long) list of possible trips/routes.
And thank you for watching too! 👍
I went on the sail/rail Irish Ferries Dublin-Pembroke and onto London earlier in the year, and it is such a lovely way to travel; I'm converted - far more environmentally friendly than flying and a good bargain too. I'm from Galway though and I always joke with people my dream would be an overnight service from somewhere on the west coast of Ireland to Portsmouth or something, but I don't think thats very likely to happen somehow 😅 I really enjoy your videos!
Yes, I'm a new convert to sail/rail too. Excellent value.
I've been to Galway on the channel. Lovely trip, lovely place!
Thanks for watching and commenting. It's much appreciated 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels the only thing about Dublin Port (North Wall) is that there are no LUAS lines (nor even DART Underground) from the Irish Ferries/Stena Terminals and no transfers to the Dublin Docklands Station for the M3 Parkway trains and the LUAS from Broombridge - there is a freight line near the port but it’s not used for passenger trains, which is weird given the port’s expansion to take cruise ships - I just don’t understand why passenger only ferries can’t sail further up the Liffey at high tide, up to the Custom House, about which I’ve written to all the relevant bodies involved including Transport for Ireland and Irish Rail - aside from HS2 in the U.K. and the high speed rail tunnel from Holyhead to Dublin, I suspect they are waiting on the Irish government to ban shorthaul flights between Ireland and the U.K. (in compliance with EU “climate change” rules) to totally overhaul the current SailRail product offering, as the demand would then massively increase - with ever larger ships placed on the Holyhead - Dublin route alone in the past few years, even with increased frequency, it still can’t cope with the ever increasing demand
Coming from London and going to Galway, I thought there was more direct trains and coaches to Holyhead, but again the problem lies at Dublin North Wall - with coaches from London driving off the ferry direct to Dublin Busaras to get the connection to the Galway coach, I’ve seen almost comical scenes at Dublin Port, with passengers heading to Galway and Westport/Ballina desperate to get to Dublin Hueston for those trains, which again needs a LUAS from the Irish Ferries/Stena Terminals - it seems that Fishguard/Pembroke - Rosslare is a better option from London, as Bus Éireann has better coach interchange points via Rosslare, Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Cahir, Roscrea, Athlone to Galway
@@michaeljohndennis2231 Absolutely, there is a sad lack of rail/Luas interconnectness with the port! But then again Dublin doesn't even have a rail connection with the airport which confuses everyone coming into the country! I think in Ireland we're still very attached to cars. It is annoying having to switch between different buses alright, but there is a shuttle bus that serves city centre (where there's a good direct bus to Galway) as well as Heuston.
@@lisainbookland even with the direct Bus Éireann coaches from the airport outside of rush hours, it takes an hour to get out of the airport which is eternally busy car wise, before one reaches the airport perimeter roads, but once near the M2 south of Ashbourne towards Rathoath, it’s a clear run to Dunshaughlin and Navan - I stopped flying in 2010 because of the hassle of airport security and the hassle of getting to Manchester Airport from Manchester Piccadilly/Victoria
I swear blind they used to have enclosed gangways that let you walk from the terminal building to the ferry at Rosslare without needing to be bussed on board.
@@MasterofSpiders Yes, I'm sure they did. Indeed the old positioning of the ferry was much closer to the station itself too.
Thanks for watching 👍
She’s long in the tooth At 40. I am ex MN (Years ago!). Great video again. Cheers from Oz.
Yes. Other commenters have said she's due to be replaced.
Cheers back from Devon 👍
@finnyus has tweeted that this ferry will shortly be replaced by Stena Nordica.
Great video, Johnny. I have plenty of childhood and teenage memories of Rosslare when my family took the (Irish Ferries)boat to France from there in those summers of yesteryear. Would you recommend Stena Line? I have never sailed with them.
Thanks for the kind words.
Yes Stena has been just fine on all the routes I've used them on.
And thanks for watching too 👍
Neat thank you. I was wondering, if traveling the other direction, what facilities does fishguard harbour have for waiting for passengers. Many thanks.
I think you wait in the station building area that you saw just after I left the bus from the ferry. It doesn't look that smart, but hopefully they will load you onto the ferry fairly quickly so you can relax onboard before departure.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsoook, thank you, I didn't think I had seen a posh terminal building like rosslare. So long as it works. 😀
Brilliant video once again. May I ask how you booked the rail and sail fare please. Many thanks
It is actually really easy. It is just like buying a train ticket. If you go into a rail booking system (like Trainline or whatever) you can type in Rosslare Europort as the start or end of the journey and you literally just get a train ticket. Same is true for the other to, for example Dublin. you just type in Dublin Port to the train ticket app.
And thanks again for the kind words and for watching another! 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels you're most welcome as always!! I assume the ticket includes the crossing and do you have tickets for travel or is it just a ticket on an app?? Apologies for all the stupid questions.
I assume you get a boarding card at the port on giving over tickets and passport details
@@peterdnreynolds777 I ended up with an ordinary orange rail ticket, but it has the port as the departure or destination station. And, as you say, you just show that rail ticket at the ferry checkin and you are given a boarding card. Couldn't be easier!
What most people don't realise is that when you dock at FISHGUARD harbour you are NOT in FISHGUARD but in GOODWICK as is the little station usually called Fishguard and Goodwick station. Fishguard is a good mile and a half from there. The original Fishguard harbour is across the other side of the bay below Fishguard and is called Lower Town. Did you record your train journey back to Devon, I'd love to watch that.
Haha yes, others have said the same. Of course that's what Stena call it, so that's what I had to call it!
I see from another comment that you discovered the follow on video!
Thanks for watching 👍
Isle of man steam packet, heysham to Douglas or Liverpool to Douglas
Will add that to my list 👍
I've done out from Heysham and into Liverpool with them
Brilliant vlog. Definitely going to be a sad day when the Stena Europe will be replaced on the route. Even though a sister ship is on the rosslare to Cherbourg route.
It seems there's a lot of love for Stena Europe in the comments. So I'm pleased I got a ride in before she get replaced.
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels my parents retired to Ireland from England and I used to use the Irish ferries route from Pembroke but changed over to Stena due to the constant delays. Hoping to try out the new Oscar Wilde shop before it gets pulled off the route and up to Dublin and will see how the Stena Nordica fares on the Fishguard route too
I would like to go to Ireland on the ferry. The weather looks bit gloomy.
Of course the weather might be better when you do it. Remember tbe one i did on Stena Superfast when there wasn't a cloud in the sky!
Always luck when it comes to the weather!
Thanks for watching another 👍👍
I’ve went on the Stena Adventurer and on the Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore when it operated Holyhead - Dublin - I’ve found a workaround with SailRail, in that I get Northern Rail from Manchester Victoria (my nearest mainline station) to Chester and Avanti Trains Wales from Chester to Holyhead, then on Irish Ferries to Dublin, as TfW have tiny and very busy trains and not much time for connections, with very few direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead - arriving at Manchester Piccadilly by Metrolink Tram from Shudehill is a real pain, as all the tickets and information is at one end (after coming up all those sets of stairs and escalators) and then Platform 13 for Chester/Holyhead is up two travelators and stairs down to platform level, miles away from the main station
That sounds like a neat workaround. It really is quite a long shlep from the main concourse at Piccadilly to those distant platforms - I've had a few rushed transfers in my time too.
Thanks for watching and adding the helpful comment 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels The other thing is that TfW trains from Manchester Piccadilly (I believe they start at Manchester Airport) although they call at Manchester Oxford Rd, they don’t call at Deansgate/Castlefield (across the bridge from the Metrolink stop) - and Manchester Oxford Rd, while being incredibly busy, also has a pretty weird platform layout, especially the island platforms
Thanks for another, er, refreshing video :)
A definite Mary Celeste vibe going on there. Couldn`t you get even a cup of tea or coffee?
Oh don't worry. The Barista coffee bar was open throughout the sailing for drinks, snacks, sandwiches and pastries. So it wasn't the end of the world when the Metropolitan closed up.
I got an Earl Grey...
I travelled Essex to Wales, coat me £117
If that was a return, then that is comparable to two Sail/Rail tickets. If it was one way, then I wonder if you can sneakily just use the ticket instead of a normal rail ticket. 🤷♂️
That was an oddly quiet ferry. As you said, where was everybody?? We've used Stena a few times going from Northern Ireland to Scotland or vice versa. We used the "rail and sail" although it was actually "sail and coach) and were happy with the price and the experience. They've always been VERY busy crossings. Very clean, good food, friendly staff. This year we'll be taking the Northlink Ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick and back plus a few ferries whilst in the Shetland Islands. Looking forward to those adventures.
Oh wow, yes, Northlink sounds like a wonderful trip, especially if you get the weather. For myself I've only ever seen Northlink parked up at Aberdeen when i was there for American football last year. 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels we're fairly good sailors but are still keeping fingers crossed for decent weather going and coming.
So, is there any culinary service available during the voyage or just empty bars & restaurants?
Yes there is always a food service on ferries across the Irish Sea 👍
Thanks for watching
That Sail/Rail fare is stunning value, does it work in reverse?
It sure does! Yes, it is stunning value, given the cost of UK rail tickets in general.
Thanks so much for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels That certainly beats the offering on the Harwich route which appears to be limited to Greater Anglia services.
A real shame you didn’t just video the town a little at Fishguard and then the train arriving at Fishguard and Goodwick station.
Don't worry. We can continue the journey on Friday. The next instalment from Fishguard to Cardiff is the next video on the channel 👍
Thanks for watching 😀
Stena Europe is now retired.
I got there just in time! I will have to return to try the replacement!
Thanks for watching 👍
Stena europe is my favourite ship of all time, it is really sad she is being replaced sometime this month I believe, I know almost everything about it, any questions ask me 😊
You are not the only one that has commented that they are sad she is being removed from service. The ship obviously has a lot of fans out there!
I hope you think my video gave her a reasonable review, given that I suppose I may be one of later trip reports in her illustrious career.
best wished and thank you for watching and commenting.
Sorry mate! at 01:31 you stated that you were crossing to "Mainland U.K" Ireland is not part of the UK. The mainland of Ireland is Ireland. The UK is not the mainland. Other than that, another great video.
Pedants are welcome here, so no need at all to say sorry! You are right! And after seeing so many reminders of the way Irish people were treated by the British over many years, I should have been more mindful than give the impression that the Republic of Ireland is still some kind of satellite state.
I suppose I could argue that Fishguard is on "mainland UK" and that there are many small islands around the UK that are not on that mainland. So I could say you were wrong, but I think the spirit of the sentence conveys the wrong message anyway, and so that is not a valid argument.
Thank you for the clarification and thank you too for the kind words. 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels Keep up the great work mate!
Stena Europe is gone now retired the ship
Yes indeed. I was unaware at the time that I was chronicling one if her last trips, but I was pleased I got the chance.
Thanks for watching 👍
same@@JohnnyHooverTravels
This must of been a while ago right ? The Oscar Wilde runs from rosslare now not the blue star 1 ???
It was April this year. Am I missing a joke here?
Either way, thank you for watching and commenting 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels no sorry it’s just I’m a regular ferry traveller and enthusiast and you have just posted it and great video btw but I seen the blue star one in rosslare when you departed on the Europe and realised this couldn’t have been recent as Irish ferries replaced that ship with the Oscar Wilde 🙋🏻♂️ cheers mate
@@argyle83 ah ok. So they just put Oscar Wilde on the route. Great name for a ferry! Thanks for the kind comment 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels yes the blue star one was on charter to Irish ferries and they have just got the star (renamed Oscar Wilde) on charter from Tallink beautiful ship and big too . No worries prob will sub to your channel just for the ferry videos alone 👍
@@argyle83 I'm going to be rail/sail out of Harwich later this year. So hopefully your sub will be justified!
One of the best ships sadly she leaving :(
Yes, so I have heard from others.
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels it’s okay I saw one of your videos of Marsh Barton i was there on that day
Don't eat the food...It's dreadful, most off it goes back.
Haha! I just had a quick sandwich and saved myself for second big breakfast at the Station Café.
Thanks for watching 👍
You should get your facts right ,You were actually in Goodwick