Dorothy Harrington of Borisbeg, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, got in touch about ferry-and-rail fares
"We recently visited our daughter in Chester and decided to go as foot passengers by ferry and train using the 'low fares ferry company', Irish Ferries.
"On the SailRail website this is £24 each one-way. As you cannot book this online, I rang Irish Ferries to be told that the fare was €40 single. I rang the UK number, but I could not book the return journey starting at Dublin with them. So to save what I thought would be a few pounds, I booked the single journey Chester to Dublin with them.
The £48 also included reserved seats on the train. I then booked the outward journey with Irish Ferries in Dublin. Not only did this cost €80, but the company charged a handling fee of €4, (not mentioned at the time of booking), and the price didn't included reserved train seats. Another phone call to England and this seat reservation was made without charge.
When our sterling credit- card statement arrived, one journey was £48 and the other £68 - more than a few pounds. Another case of rip-off Ireland?"
• Declan Mescall, head of passenger sales at Irish Ferries, replies:
"Firstly, SailRail is a combined product offered by a number of rail companies in Britain together with Irish Ferries and indeed Irish Rail. The combined ship and rail fares are very substantially cheaper than buying each of the elements of the journey separately. The SailRail fares for season 2008 were set about 18 months ago, when the exchange rate between sterling and euro was very different to the current rate, which explains why sterling fares are lower than euro fares when converted at current exchange rates.
"SailRail tickets sold by us in Ireland are for journeys originating in Ireland, and, likewise, SailRail tickets sold in Britain are for journeys originating in Britain. A €4 charge applies to bookings paid by credit card. No fee applies to debit card or cheque payments.
"Unfortunately, as the reservations systems of the various British and Irish rail companies are not linked with Irish Ferries, it is not possible to book SailRail online, and we are not in a position to book train seats.
"Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention. I hope you find my reply helpful."