Sir, – Michael Pigeon’s encouragement to travel by sail and rail is welcome (“Hate airports but need to get to London? Here’s a calmer, cheaper, greener way to go”, Travel, August 16th). But as a frequent sail-and-railer, the biggest barrier I see to encouraging wider uptake is not traveller apathy, but ticket availability.
At key times on the London to Dublin route (such as at Christmas), rail companies cap the number of sail-and-rail tickets, even though ferry and train seats remain available. Travelling this way then necessitates a (more expensive) London to Holyhead train ticket, along with a separate foot-passenger ferry ticket, all-in costing into the hundreds of euro. It can be multiples of the usual €40 to €60 sail-and-rail ticket and, sadly, also of an airfare.
Sail-and-rail should be an easy way to reduce transport emission between Ireland and the UK. Both governments have declared climate emergencies; surely they can find a policy to increase the availability of this lower-carbon mode of travel. Diverting some of the millions spent on aviation fuel subsidies would be a start. –Yours, etc,
BEN MITCHELL,
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London.
