Over the past four years the sale of these tickets has become increasingly restricted, making it harder for people to take this easy journey between Ireland and the UK that would reduce their travel emissions by avoiding travelling by plane. Currently the combined “Sail & Rail” tickets go on sale only five weeks before you can travel. Meanwhile, the ferry tickets are released more than six months in advance and the train at least three months in advance.   

Our letter outlines how providing effective Sail & Rail alternatives to air travel is a great way to reduce aviation demand and bring about immediate emissions reductions. Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, Irish Ferries and Stena Line could enable many more people to travel by Sail & Rail by simply working together to release Sail & Rail tickets as soon as the relevant train tickets become available.

July update:

In a great step forward, since writing the original, Transport for Wales, the company in charge of the service, extended all booking periods by two weeks and agreed to continue working towards a more reliable system that better facilitates travel planning by passengers. At a time when passengers are increasingly considering the climate impact of their travel, in particular air travel, this small change is a big win. Making less GHG intensive modes of transport more accessible and reliable is a key part in the reduction of aviation demand.