Where is the HSS Stena Explorer? (Predicted summer of air chaos.)

Run_to_da_hills

It looks like this ash problem could effect the summer tourist season in Ireland. People will be less likely to book flights not knowing if they could be cancelled on departure or return.

Surely now is the time to start marketing ferry crossings on tourist brochures and advertisement campaigns. The HSS Explorer would probably do well this summer with all the uncertainty about European air travel.

My cousin is an officer on one of the ferries and was mentioning to me about the amount of people particularly the younger generation that were never on a ferry in their lives. He was telling me how passengers couldn't get over how relaxed things were compared to air travel. i.e. able to walk around, drink at a bar, no baggage restrictions and less security paranoia.

Surely all this should be marketed.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/summer-disaster-forecast-as-ash-cloud-threat-grows-2173960.html

Cookie_Monster

I'm sure if Stena thought they could justify bringing it back they would. But the combination of high fuel costs, bearthing fees and not even being full at the moment they see it as not worth it.

Maybe if the other volcano goes off and serious amounts of ash show up they may consider it but they've already got 2 other large ships and Irish ferrries have 2 and Norfolk Line and P&O etc.

Not to mention Belfast and Rosslare and Cork.
They're more likely to bring in Charisma, the HSS 900. Iirc they were planning that sooner or later

Run_to_da_hills

Something should also be done about certain rail connections on the holyhead end, The last time I took this trip the train comprised of a two carriage rail car that stopped at nearly every station between Holyhead and Chester.

rameire

the Boat is sitting in Holyhead.
and im sure the timetable on stenna line website says the dingy will be back from june for 3 or 4 months.

Oliver1985

Which boat do they use now from Dun .L instead of The hss? Last time i was on it was 2 years ago!! Great boat bring it back.....Hmmmm do i feel a facebook campaign starting:D

Run_to_da_hills

Oliver1985 wrote: »

Which boat do they use now from Dun .L instead of The hss? Last time i was on it was 2 years ago!! Great boat bring it back.....Hmmmm do i feel a facebook campaign starting:D

They are currently using the Linx, a smaller cat that will bounce about the waves on the slightest breeze. If you intend travelling on it make sure you have a barf bag.

Cookie_Monster

Oliver1985 wrote: »

.Hmmmm do i feel a facebook campaign starting:D

thankfully your not being serious but I always laugh when people suggest this anyway. Like it could ever make a difference. infact I raise your to a :rolleyes:

:P

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

They are currently using the Linx, a smaller cat that will bounce about the waves on the slightest breeze. If you intend travelling on it make sure you have a barf bag.

ahh... back when it was fun to get the ferry
Even the older ships rolled around a lot, the HSS barely moved, boring!

Oliver1985

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

They are currently using the Linx, a smaller cat that will bounce about the waves on the slightest breeze. If you intend travelling on it make sure you have a barf bag.

Yeah thats a shame!! Last time i was on it maybe 18months ago was a sunday morning and it seemed packed enough!!! Problem is maybe if Holyhead was a decent place there might be a day trip market but as Holyhead goes I dont think I have seen a more depressing town!!!

Cookie_Monster

Stena Explorer had a capacity of 1500 (not surprising considering it was a HSS 1500 ), in recent months I've heard it was averaging only about 300 per trip. Not really viable at all!

AlekSmart

Probably the core issue here is what the level of risk-aversion is within the Sea-Ferry companies.

It`s looking very likely now that the Icelandic Volcano is here for the rest of the season and even perhaps well into next year...we simply don`t know enough about the dark side of Mother Nature to predict.

However,Stena,with the HSS have the ideal machine to deploy as a replacement for the short-haul air trip.
It is expensive to operate,and we don`t know what the company regards as a viable load-factor.

I rather feel that if Stena and one of the UK Rail operators were to get commercially adventurous with a dedicated High-Speed semi-direct rail connection to London then the business is there for the taking.

The Sea Ferry people really need to begin to think Ryanair and get out there with Clear Advertising focusing on their imperviousness to Volcano`s .

If this continues as predicted I could well see Mick O Leary chartering a mothballed HSS and breaking a bottle of Bolly across the bow at Dun Laoighre...Ryansea.....SeaRyan....Ryanuisce...the possibilities are endless.........unless perhaps Christoph Mueller gets there first ?

Cookie_Monster

the other issue is that the HSS (and every other ferry on the Irish sea*) is designed for trucks and cars, they don't really care about foot passenger to the same extent.

The HSS may get 1500 people a day on board due to the volcano but if it car and freight lanes aren't full they are going to make any money of it period. They will also not prioritise foot traffic over vehicle traffic as that would be a very short term gain but would lose out long term by displacing vehicle and freight traffic and possibly alienating regular users.

*except possibly the Steam Packet

Run_to_da_hills

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

the other issue is that the HSS (and every other ferry on the Irish sea*) is designed for trucks and cars, they don't really care about foot passenger to the same extent.

The HSS may get 1500 people a day on board due to the volcano but if it car and freight lanes aren't full they are going to make any money of it period. They will also not prioritise foot traffic over vehicle traffic as that would be a very short term gain but would lose out long term by displacing vehicle and freight traffic and possibly alienating regular users.

*except possibly the Steam Packet

Commercial Truck drivers have issues using any high speed craft, particularly union members as their journey times are shortened. In Belfast they would favour the conventional ferry over the HSS. I heard this from my Cousin. The only real business HSS would have would be from tourist traffic, coaches and
self employed truckies.

Oliver1985

If it continues all this carry on Wonder how quick the hss would make France and a rail contection from there onwards!!!:cool:

Lurching

Any looking into it that ive done has lead me to believe that Stena are still thinking of selling the Explorer.

Does anyone know the situation with Celtic Link? The Diplomat was still sitting in waterford last time I was down there (about a month ago). Have they gone bust too?
It was never a hugely busy vessel at the best of times over the last few years.

Vic_08

Lurching wrote: »

Any looking into it that ive done has lead me to believe that Stena are still thinking of selling the Explorer.

Does anyone know the situation with Celtic Link? The Diplomat was still sitting in waterford last time I was down there (about a month ago). Have they gone bust too?
It was never a hugely busy vessel at the best of times over the last few years.

They replaced Diplomat with Norman Voyager some time ago, a larger and much newer (2008) ship so not out of business.

All of which you could have found out by typing http://www.celticlinkferries.com/ into your browser.

Fratton Fred

I have used the ferry and in particular the sail rail ticket a few times lately, it is a very cheap way to travel.

the rail connections at Holyhead are geared up for the big ferry though which is a pain, but other than that it is fine. I caught the direct Euston to Holyhead train on Friday and used the big Stena ferry and it was great. The virgin train had power sockets and WiFi as did the ferry so you can work all the way.

Going back to London i caught the ferry from Rosslare to fishguard which has excellent rail links, the only problem there is the stupid Irish Rail timetable which gets you to Rosslare four hours earlier than you need to be there.

Oh yeah, the HSS is back in June, but only one crossing a day I believe.

Atlantic Dawn

It's gone the way of concorde I am afraid, crippling fuel costs and small capacity have made them no longer viable, bit of history on the class of boat here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_Sea_Service

SimonMaher

HSS Explorer will be back on June 28th until September 5th on the Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead run. Will be great to see her back, really is the nicest way by far to cross the Irish sea. The points about the economics of the situation are well made, the cost of running HSS is undeniably high.

Its a real shame though that she will only do one trip a day while Lynx does 2 up to that date (and when she comes back in September). The return service leaving Holyhead just after 4pm is very useful for anyone arriving by train or indeed driving to the port. With the ash based uncertainty likely to continue for the summer, this would seem to be a missed opportunity.

Saw a quote in the paper on Sunday saying that passenger numbers were up about 300% this year and that vehicle bookings were up 50% for the Summer too. I think a previous poster makes an excellent point with regard to how the ferry services should be marketed for the current season and I do think that there is serious potential revenue, good PR and repeat business to be gained by all the ferry companies.

The increase in passenger numbers (forward bookings are reported as being strong) as well as the PR benefits and the potential repeat business would seem to easily justify reintroducing the HSS a few weeks early. Passengers have been impressed with the levels of comfort and service on board ferries, so why not give them the best thats available. Get punters to use the service when they have to, give them a good experience and they will come back with their cars.

Simon

Lurching

Vic_08 wrote: »

They replaced Diplomat with Norman Voyager some time ago, a larger and much newer (2008) ship so not out of business.

All of which you could have found out by typing http://www.celticlinkferries.com/ into your browser.

Ok, cool, so it means they're making good using of the new linkspan at berth 2 in Rosslare now.

Cookie_Monster

There is no need to introduce it early even with the additional demand, unfortunately. bookings may be up 300% but thats probably still only up to less than half capacity. If they had the demand to run it 3-4 times a day then re-introducing it may be valid.

Bear in mind that for a crossing that only shortens the route by 1.5 hours it uses 4 times the fuel of a normally ferry, and much higher grade at that too. In the current environment that just totally unsustainable and Stena knows it.

If they ever get round to drilling for oil off Dalkey then it may become viable again :D

Pablo Sanchez

Oliver1985 wrote: »

Yeah thats a shame!! Last time i was on it maybe 18months ago was a sunday morning and it seemed packed enough!!! Problem is maybe if Holyhead was a decent place there might be a day trip market but as Holyhead goes I dont think I have seen a more depressing town!!!

If your looking for depression then head to Stranrar via Belfast.

Terrontress

Don't even get on the boat. Just go to Larne!

Terrontress

But to be serious, while Holyhead is an utter dump, you can take a short train journey to Bangor which is a lovely place on a good weather day.

The areas around Stranraer and Larne are beautiful as well. It just seems that port towns themselves are universally awful.

Cookie_Monster

Terrontress wrote: »

But to be serious, while Holyhead is an utter dump, you can take a short train journey to Bangor which is a lovely place on a good weather day.

The areas around Stranraer and Larne are beautiful as well. It just seems that port towns themselves are universally awful.

Don't forget Dun Laoghaire too, its an awful junky and skanger filled ghost town these days.

Oliver1985

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Don't forget Dun Laoghaire too, its an awful junky and skanger filled ghost town these days.

Cookie Monster are you up for setting up Bring back the Hss Facebook group??? :D:D:D:D:D

Breezer

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Don't forget Dun Laoghaire too, its an awful junky and skanger filled ghost town these days.

Sadly true. Dundrum Town Centre killed it

Big Pat

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I have used the ferry and in particular the sail rail ticket a few times lately, it is a very cheap way to travel.

the rail connections at Holyhead are geared up for the big ferry though which is a pain, but other than that it is fine. I caught the direct Euston to Holyhead train on Friday and used the big Stena ferry and it was great. The virgin train had power sockets and WiFi as did the ferry so you can work all the way.

Going back to London i caught the ferry from Rosslare to fishguard which has excellent rail links, the only problem there is the stupid Irish Rail timetable which gets you to Rosslare four hours earlier than you need to be there.

I don't think the rail connections at Holyhead are geared up for the big ferry at all! I used the rail sail ticket both ways last week and I had to wait nearly two hours at Holyhead for the Irish Ferries connection, then on my return to the UK, I had a 4.5 hour wait. On checking the train timetable, there wasn't a departure from Holyhead towards Chester for nearly 8 hours!
Almost as bad as at Rosslare!
If the rail and ferry companies want to promote their cheap turn up and go all-in tickets, then they really do need to amend the timetables, so that there is minimal waiting times and seamless journey's!
I could have been to Euston and half way back to Holyhead in the time I was waiting for the next train.

Brian CivilEng

Went over on a rail and sail ticket this past Monday, back on Wednesday. There definitely isn't a need for the HSS yet, very comfortable despite being on the small boat. I'd estimate about 40 foot passengers on the way out, half that on the way back. There was an hour of a wait for the train to Chester on arrival in Holyhead. I really think that they would be much better to have a coach waiting for the arrival of the ferry that would bring people to Chester, rather than relying on the train which in fairness does have to be on time for locals also.

Took me 8 hours door to door to get to my destination in Preston Lancs. If I had flown it would have taken around half the time, but it would have cost more than the €76 I paid, and the ferry was way more relaxing. All in all, I will deffo use this service again, especially if I ever need to make a last minute trip.

Big Pat

abitofacomedian wrote: »

Went over on a rail and sail ticket this past Monday, back on Wednesday. There definitely isn't a need for the HSS yet, very comfortable despite being on the small boat. I'd estimate about 40 foot passengers on the way out, half that on the way back. There was an hour of a wait for the train to Chester on arrival in Holyhead. I really think that they would be much better to have a coach waiting for the arrival of the ferry that would bring people to Chester, rather than relying on the train which in fairness does have to be on time for locals also.

Took me 8 hours door to door to get to my destination in Preston Lancs. If I had flown it would have taken around half the time, but it would have cost more than the €76 I paid, and the ferry was way more relaxing. All in all, I will deffo use this service again, especially if I ever need to make a last minute trip.

That's a good idea, having a coach to Chester for any wait of more than an hour at Holyhead!
Is the railsail ticket advertised in Ireland? Where can it be bought?

Run_to_da_hills

Ash cloud is back !!

Expected disruptions Sunday to Tuesday mornings at major London airports.

Was supposed to go to London for weekend leaving this evening.....Not now. :mad:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8684540.stm

Brian CivilEng

Big Pat wrote: »

That's a good idea, having a coach to Chester for any wait of more than an hour at Holyhead!
Is the railsail ticket advertised in Ireland? Where can it be bought?

I bought it in the terminal in Dún Laoghaire, however you can also purchase it over the phone from Stena Line on 01 204 7744. Irish ferries also offer the sail and rail if you are departing Dublin port.

KC61

Big Pat wrote: »

I don't think the rail connections at Holyhead are geared up for the big ferry at all! I used the rail sail ticket both ways last week and I had to wait nearly two hours at Holyhead for the Irish Ferries connection, then on my return to the UK, I had a 4.5 hour wait. On checking the train timetable, there wasn't a departure from Holyhead towards Chester for nearly 8 hours!
Almost as bad as at Rosslare!
If the rail and ferry companies want to promote their cheap turn up and go all-in tickets, then they really do need to amend the timetables, so that there is minimal waiting times and seamless journey's!
I could have been to Euston and half way back to Holyhead in the time I was waiting for the next train.

It depends on which sailing you take. It tends to be an idea to check the times first before you travel, rather than blindly assuming that there are connections.

For information, the overnight ferries do not have connections in Holyhead anymore and have not for several years. I can only assume that you are talking about Saturday nights when there is no connection whatsoever out of the night ferry at Holyhead.

Most of the other sailings have fairly good connections.

Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line have very clear timetables on their websites showing the connections.

The problem has been that for many years foot passenger traffic has been in decline and as a result that is not the main focus of the rail operators' timetables.

Amending the timetables is not quite as easy as you might think, but if the volcanic ash is going to continue to cause long term problems I would imagine that Virgin Trains and First Great Western may look at reinstating direct boat trains to/from London with Arriva Trains Wales providing improved connections to other cities.

However, the next rail timetable change in the UK is this coming weekend and there are few changes on the "boat train" routes, while the next is due in December 2010.

murphym7

Big Pat wrote: »

I don't think the rail connections at Holyhead are geared up for the big ferry at all! I used the rail sail ticket both ways last week and I had to wait nearly two hours at Holyhead for the Irish Ferries connection, then on my return to the UK, I had a 4.5 hour wait. On checking the train timetable, there wasn't a departure from Holyhead towards Chester for nearly 8 hours!
Almost as bad as at Rosslare!
If the rail and ferry companies want to promote their cheap turn up and go all-in tickets, then they really do need to amend the timetables, so that there is minimal waiting times and seamless journey's!
I could have been to Euston and half way back to Holyhead in the time I was waiting for the next train.

I know the bus (eurolines) isn't for everyone but if I was heading over to London on the ferry I would use the bus. No waiting times for connections at the other side, there are obviously people who can't stand that long on a bus though.

BenShermin

murphym7 wrote: »

I know the bus (eurolines) isn't for everyone but if I was heading over to London on the ferry I would use the bus. No waiting times for connections at the other side, there are obviously people who can't stand that long on a bus though.

I took the overnight bus to Birmingham once, the boat arrived in Holyhead at around 0035, it was 0150 by the time the bus was leaving the port grounds:eek:!

0150 was the exact time that the old Virgin Trains service to Birmingham left Holyhead train station. I would have much prefered to have been on the platform bantering with fellow overnight train nuts like myself smoking stupid amounts of cigarettes and drinking riddiculous amounts of shíte vending machine coffee, than have been on a bus where there was arguements about seats, stringent boarder control checks and an alcohol free policy.

To make matters worse the bus stopped for 45 minutes in a service station which was minutes away from my destination Birmingham.

I know that the bus i now the only means of overnight travel via Holyhead, but during the day you'd be mad to take the bus, the hours wait in Holyhead will be nothing when your whizzing down the West Coast Main Line at 110mph and the bus is stuck in a traffic jam on the M6.

SimonMaher

SimonfromPhantom wrote: »

HSS Explorer will be back on June 28th until September 5th on the Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead run. Will be great to see her back, really is the nicest way by far to cross the Irish sea. The points about the economics of the situation are well made, the cost of running HSS is undeniably high.

Its a real shame though that she will only do one trip a day while Lynx does 2 up to that date (and when she comes back in September). The return service leaving Holyhead just after 4pm is very useful for anyone arriving by train or indeed driving to the port. With the ash based uncertainty likely to continue for the summer, this would seem to be a missed opportunity.

Saw a quote in the paper on Sunday saying that passenger numbers were up about 300% this year and that vehicle bookings were up 50% for the Summer too. I think a previous poster makes an excellent point with regard to how the ferry services should be marketed for the current season and I do think that there is serious potential revenue, good PR and repeat business to be gained by all the ferry companies.

The increase in passenger numbers (forward bookings are reported as being strong) as well as the PR benefits and the potential repeat business would seem to easily justify reintroducing the HSS a few weeks early. Passengers have been impressed with the levels of comfort and service on board ferries, so why not give them the best thats available. Get punters to use the service when they have to, give them a good experience and they will come back with their cars.

Simon

HSS Explorer returns on May 26th (Wednesday week) to the Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead route. One sailing each way at present - 1000 ex Holyhead and 1315 ex Dun Laoghaire. Good to see her back a full month early even just single-tripping.

Simon

Run_to_da_hills

SimonfromPhantom wrote: »

HSS Explorer returns on May 26th (Wednesday week) to the Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead route. One sailing each way at present - 1000 ex Holyhead and 1315 ex Dun Laoghaire. Good to see her back a full month early even just single-tripping.

Simon

I actually booked Ryanair the following weekend, at least if thats cancelled there is something decent to go or come backon.

murphym7

BenShermin wrote: »

I took the overnight bus to Birmingham once, the boat arrived in Holyhead at around 0035, it was 0150 by the time the bus was leaving the port grounds:eek:!

0150 was the exact time that the old Virgin Trains service to Birmingham left Holyhead train station. I would have much prefered to have been on the platform bantering with fellow overnight train nuts like myself smoking stupid amounts of cigarettes and drinking riddiculous amounts of shíte vending machine coffee, than have been on a bus where there was arguements about seats, stringent boarder control checks and an alcohol free policy.

To make matters worse the bus stopped for 45 minutes in a service station which was minutes away from my destination Birmingham.

I know that the bus i now the only means of overnight travel via Holyhead, but during the day you'd be mad to take the bus, the hours wait in Holyhead will be nothing when your whizzing down the West Coast Main Line at 110mph and the bus is stuck in a traffic jam on the M6.

Good point - bus is pretty cheap though.