The Joys of Rail and Sail Holidays

Europe has never felt closer. Ferry services have long been the most obvious option for car drivers, but cyclists and foot passengers can also enjoy the benefits of the improved services. The ports on both sides of the crossing are mostly well connected by public transport, so it’s easy to travel by bus or train to the ports in the UK, as well as disembark on the other side and continue the journey overland – see Green Traveller’s guide to travelling as a foot passenger.

One of the most popular initiatives in recent times to encourage passengers to take the train to and from a ferry crossing is Stenaline’s Sail & Rail ticket to the Netherlands. Known as the Dutchflyer, it’s a combined train and ferry ticket from London Liverpool Street (or any National Express East Anglia station, such as Cambridge, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich) to Harwich International port, from where you can catch either the morning or overnight Stena Line ferry service to the Hook of Holland, and travel onwards to elsewhere in Holland.

Harwich International Railway Station is immediately adjacent to the port, so it is a quick transfer from the train platform to the ferry check-in, and on the other side, it’s the same quick transfer off the ferry to the Hook of Holland railway station, which has train services to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and beyond.

There’s a similar initiative for travelling from the UK to Ireland. Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries allow you to book both the rail and ferry legs of your journey in one go, known as a Sail & Rail ticket, at a price that is much lower than if you booked the two legs separately. This combined train and ferry ticket can be for journeys from anywhere in Great Britain to anywhere in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland via the UK ferry ports of Holyhead, Fishguard or Cairnryan. The Sail & Rail option is also available back from Ireland to the UK.

There is no option to upgrade with these special Sail & Rail fares, but one of the distinct advantages of this Sail & Rail package is that the fares come at a fixed price, which doesn’t increase in peak travel periods or are dependent on how far in advance you book. There’s a 50 per cent discount for children aged 5–15, while those aged 0–4 travel free. Happy green travelling!