Is the end nigh for High speed ferry crossing on Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead route?

Run_to_da_hills

I believe the shelf life is almost up on the Dunlaoghaire to Holyhead HSS craft. The Discovery which was used on the UK Holland route is lying idle in a sorry state at Harland & Wolf and is currently being cannibalized for spares. Fuel costs are also supposed to be astronomical and up to several times more than conventional ferries.

Being originally from Dunlaoghaire I used to witness three crossings a day from Dunlaoghaire, now it is just down to one a day. Ryanair has taken much of their foot passenger trade so I cannot see adding a longer journey making much more odds. I can't imagine Stena replacing this route other than with a conventional 3+ hour prop ferry.

Latchy

The Seacat fast ferry between Liverpool and Dublin was also scrapped 4 years ago for similar reasons .Tyring to compete with ryanair and two other passenger ferries ,the reluctance of the ferrys owners ( Isle of Man Steam Packet Company) refusal to invest in it + plus not being able to sale in winter time due to rough seas was the end of it .

L1011

The boat should have another 10 years or more except for the makers having gone to the wall - could be limited as a result.

I can't see them getting rid of it before the boat carks it realistically - worse case would be the equivalent boat the use in the North on a more profitable route gets damaged and they swipe the DL boat (as they do when its in for its annual test/refit).

I think there is enough traffic for the remaining volume of sailings between DL-HH and Dublin Port-HH by the two operators - the boats have always been busy enough (but clearly way down from their peak) when I've used them.

As goes the speed, did they not run the boat much slower during the oil price peak this summer? I think Irish Ferries are doing the same with the Swift too.

Ham'nd'egger

The chief customer of car ferries are commercial vehicles; lorries, artics, truck and vans and not foot passengers. As it is, there is plenty of route and carrier options for the trucks to enter east coast Ireland and Dun Laoghaire is a poor option for the commercial vehicles to travel through when compared to Dublin Port, Rosslare or even Drogheda.

hallstatt

I'll be sad to see it go. The sea crossings were one of the most underestimated and neglected services we ever had. I must have used nearly every company at some stage. There's probably only one or two left at this stage id imagine. I could never understand why people didnt use it more. For example there's usually never any advance booking needed. I use to just turn up buy a ticket for dirt cheap which usually had really cheap or free train connections. Theres no hussle or bussle of airports.No big ryanair queues.No arriving hours befour hand.No crumpled up "derby o'gill" type ryanair seats.No waiting around for luggage and so on ....... the list is endless. In fact the complete opposite. Full of reasonably priced restuarants, great bars, extremely comfortable seating. Beautiful views of the sea all around.Great expierence for kids. Bring your car If you like. I mean I reall cant understand why Its been neglected.Especially being an island and all.

Polar101

MYOB wrote: »

As goes the speed, did they not run the boat much slower during the oil price peak this summer? I think Irish Ferries are doing the same with the Swift too.

The crossing time was 99 minutes before, now it is 119 minutes.

Ham'nd'egger

hallstatt wrote: »

I'll be sad to see it go. The sea crossings were one of the most underestimated and neglected services we ever had. I must have used nearly every company at some stage. There's probably only one or two left at this stage id imagine. I could never understand why people didnt use it more. For example there's usually never any advance booking needed. I use to just turn up buy a ticket for dirt cheap which usually had really cheap or free train connections. Theres no hussle or bussle of airports.No big ryanair queues.No arriving hours befour hand.No crumpled up "derby o'gill" type ryanair seats.No waiting around for luggage and so on ....... the list is endless. In fact the complete opposite. Full of reasonably priced restuarants, great bars, extremely comfortable seating. Beautiful views of the sea all around.Great expierence for kids. Bring your car If you like. I mean I reall cant understand why Its been neglected.Especially being an island and all.

One of the out and out travel bargains are the "Sail and Rail" tickets that both Irish Ferries and Stena offer. With air travel being King, these bargain of bargains are cheaper even than Airline "handling charges"!

Terrontress

Hamndegger wrote: »

One of the out and out travel bargains are the "Sail and Rail" tickets that both Irish Ferries and Stena offer. With air travel being King, these bargain of bargains are cheaper even than Airline "handling charges"!

Yeah, I got a cracking deal recently to London. And it's a lovely journey across the North of Wales to Chester then a short hop to Crewe and onto the Virgin Pendolino, which really is an experience in itself. Couple to the fact that you can bring as much luggage, don't have to queue for security and can take the DART to the terminal, it's an absolute winner. Straight into the centre of London, there's not much of a time difference either.

maclek

I've been taking the HSS for years and the prices are crazy. If they have to cancel the route they've only themselves to blame. Taking a car and 5 passengers in April for a week is currently quoted at €440 with a promotion code. I'm going to start looking into Ryanair and a rental car, I suspect it will be cheaper. I much prefer the ferry though.

Terrontress

To be honest, I'm not sure if there would be that much saving. Start off with 5 return credit card fees. If you are carrying the same amount of bags, you have to pay for check in for the entire party as well as the baggage charge, either pay for a taxi / aircoach to the airport or else pay for long term car park then the cost of your hire car. That's before you have even considered the cost of the flight!

Davidth88

I have to agree with maclek.

I have been using the ferry, if you have a family ( ie YOUNG kids with a lot of gubbins ) then you almost have to use them , however.

One Christmas when it was the two of us going home to London for Christmas the Ferry was 400 euro and the flights were 200 for both of us, you go figure that out ! ( I of course flew )

The prices have moderated slightly since I think , but still they have always seemed expensive . Now I know you have the advantage of a car etc ( my family are near LHR so I never bothered hiring one ) , but still ......

This summer we ( 2 adults and one child ) flew to England and hired a car for 100 euro less than the ferry, and we got extra time at your destination.

It is a FAR more civilised way to travel , but the prices !!!

It died when we got rid of the booze cruise. Used to love that

ytareh

Scarey news with in laws in England...As someone said almost no choice but to use it for travel with young kids.Sick of airport security anyway!You will almost certainly reach British soil first on the ferry when factoring in airport car park bus transfer and security queues etc ...