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Is the HSS Explorer finished for good at Dún Laoghaire?

  • 22-03-2010 10:04PM
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    I haven't seen sight of it for a while also have seen the smaller Lynx in its place this morning at the old dock.

    I was on Explorer last May and at that time there was only a hand full of foot passengers. Unfortunately the timing is not good for me if i need connecting trains to London particularly at weekends when there are engineering works on thee lines, The last time I didn't reach London until 9PM.

    0.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,483 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    The Lynx is covering the winter season. I'd expect they need it for Rosslare over the summer so the Explorer will be back.


  • #3
    Breezer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,244 ✭✭✭Breezer


    There's talk of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company charging Stena a reduced fee next year, which will hopefully see a better timetable return. As it is, with reduced passenger numbers and the high fees charged by Dun Laoghaire, Stena can't afford to run the HSS on a regular basis, so it just sits rotting in Holyhead all day.

    TBH I'll be sorry to see it back this summer. Two trips a day is far better than one (though nothing on what there used to be), even if it is the Lynx.


  • #4
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Breezer wrote: »
    There's talk of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company charging Stena a reduced fee next year, which will hopefully see a better timetable return. As it is, with reduced passenger numbers and the high fees charged by Dun Laoghaire, Stena can't afford to run the HSS on a regular basis, so it just sits rotting in Holyhead all day.

    TBH I'll be sorry to see it back this summer. Two trips a day is far better than one (though nothing on what there used to be), even if it is the Lynx.
    Hopefully they will get a pre 11am crossing.


  • #5
    Breezer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,244 ✭✭✭Breezer


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Hopefully they will get a pre 11am crossing.
    Yep, that would be preferable. Do you remember what time the earliest crossing used to be? I distinctly remember pulling out of Dun Laoghaire at about sunrise before, it'd come in very handy for me this summer :(


  • #6
    Shifty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 487 ✭✭Shifty


    Looks like it will operate:

    Fastcraft 28 Jun-5 Sep 2010
    Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead
    HSS Stena Explorer Dep 13:15a Arr 15:15

    Fastcraft 28 Jun-5 Sep 2010
    Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire
    HSS Stena Explorer Dep 10:00a Arr 12:00


    http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/routes/dun-laoghaire-holyhead/timetable/


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  • #7
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,596 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Hard to know if it's feasible with rising fuel costs, previously they reduced the speed down to conserve fuel. There's another HSS lying in Belfast waiting to be sold as it wasn't commercially viable to run, think this ran from Holland to a Scandinavian port.


  • #8
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    Hard to know if it's feasible with rising fuel costs, previously they reduced the speed down to conserve fuel. There's another HSS lying in Belfast waiting to be sold as it wasn't commercially viable to run, think this ran from Holland to a Scandinavian port.
    That was the HSS Discovery whick fimished up in 2007, it's now sold off to a Venezuelan company.


  • #9
    Vic_08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,154 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    Hard to know if it's feasible with rising fuel costs, previously they reduced the speed down to conserve fuel. There's another HSS lying in Belfast waiting to be sold as it wasn't commercially viable to run, think this ran from Holland to a Scandinavian port.


    Long gone now. The HSS Discovery was sold to a Venezuelan company last year, no worries over fuel costs there thanks to uncle Hugo.


  • #10
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,740 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    and the third one is still running from Belfast to Scotland.

    There is talk of bringing the Charisma, the smaller HSS 900 (compared to the 1500) as a permantent replacement in DL.


  • #11
    Rud
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 937 ✭✭✭Rud


    it will be terrible sad to see that ship go.i could be mistaken but was that fine vessel in Dun Laoghaire when the JFK aircraft carrier paid a visit in the 90s?


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  • #12
    Breezer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,244 ✭✭✭Breezer


    Rud wrote: »
    it will be terrible sad to see that ship go.i could be mistaken but was that fine vessel in Dun Laoghaire when the JFK aircraft carrier paid a visit in the 90s?
    JFK came in July 96, Explorer entered service in April 96, so presumably it was. I'll be sorry to see it go as well, it's a lovely ship, but the current timetable is headwrecking. I'd much rather a smaller ship with lower running costs and a more frequent service.


  • #13
    paulm17781
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭paulm17781


    Rud wrote: »
    it will be terrible sad to see that ship go.i could be mistaken but was that fine vessel in Dun Laoghaire when the JFK aircraft carrier paid a visit in the 90s?

    Yeah it was. I worked on the pier that summer so remember it pretty well.


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