Dublin Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe has premiered SailRail Europe, a 10-minute documentary hosted on YouTube. SailRailing, or travelling to and from Ireland by rail and ferry, has become an increasingly popular low-carbon alternative to flying in recent years. The new documentary aims to give viewers an insight into the SailRail experience, warts and all.  

Since his election as MEP for Dublin in 2019, Cuffe has chosen the slow-travel commute to his office in Brussels as much as possible. A seasoned SailRailer, he invited independent rail commentator Jon Worth to experience the highs and lows of low-carbon travel with him on a trip to Ireland in September. This documentary follows them on their journey from Brussels to Dublin, via Paris, Roscoff (France), and Cork. 

Alongside the documentary, MEP Cuffe launched the 14-point ‘SailRail Manifesto’ below, a how-to guide for improving SailRail services. This manifesto incorporates valuable feedback delivered to Cuffe by audiences who attended two SailRail events he hosted in Dublin and Cork in September. Cuffe will deliver the manifesto to key stakeholders with a role to play, including the relevant ferry, port and rail companies, transport ministers, and acting European authorities. 

MEP Cuffe remarked:

“Journeys by rail and ferry are a sustainable alternative to flying as they produce one fifth of the emissions of a flight. There’s real potential to make improvements that can benefit  those travelling to and from Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. Integrated ticketing as well as better internet connectivity could make a huge difference, and provide a quality alternative to flying.”

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A SailRail Manifesto

Recognising the environmental benefits of affordable journeys by ferry and train between Ireland and the rest of Europe, the following improvements are proposed for services to and from Ireland.

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1. Single ticket travel for an entire journey

2. Fairer fares for foot passengers

3. Improve ferry port connections to rail and bus services

4. Wi-Fi connectivity

5. Facilitate foot passengers

6. Accessibility for all

7. Bikes on board

8. Upgrade terminals

9. Preparation for high-speed rail

10. Better connectivity for Ireland

1. Single ticket travel for an entire journey

Establish a single ticket to cover entire journeys to and from continental Europe across multiple transport modes.

Action: European Commission, Irish, UK and French Ministers for Transport

2. Fairer fares for foot passengers

Reduce fares for foot passengers as they require less space and have a lower carbon footprint compared to carrying trucks and cars.

Action: Ferry companies

3. Improve ferry port connections to rail and bus services

Invest in ‘last mile’ rail and bus links to ferry ports to ensure foot passengers can travel easily to nearby towns and transport hubs. Improve timetabling and data sharing between operators of trains, buses and ferries to reduce waiting times at ferry ports and ensure that the first ferry of the day is accessible via public transport. Reinstate the former rail lines on services between Roscoff and Morlaix in France, and Rosslare and Rosslare and Waterford in Ireland to improve trail connectivity to and from ports.

Action: Transport for Wales, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Région Bretagne, Irish Rail, SNCF, French and Irish Governments

4. Wi-Fi connectivity

Provide for cutting-edge levels of internet connectivity throughout all routes in order to make SailRail a viable option for telecommuters.

Action: Transport for Wales, Irish Rail, Eurostar, Ferry companies, Port companies

5. Facilitate foot passengers

Ensure pedestrian infrastructure including footpaths and pedestrian crossings is improved to facilitate foot passengers of all ages and abilities. Review security procedures so that foot passengers are not subject to more onerous checks than those who travel in cars and trucks. Install signage in and around ferry terminals to direct foot passengers to the connecting services that they need.

Action: Local Authorities, Port, ferry, and travel companies

6. Accessibility for all

Lifts, ramps, and on-site passenger assistance at ports and stations should be sufficient to deliver comprehensive, on-demand travel opportunities to disabled people and service animal users, as well as to those who travel with pets.

Action: Port, rail, bus and ferry companies

7. Bikes on board

Provide those with bicycles with better facilities, such as secure and sufficient bicycle storage spaces, and reinstate bicycle carriage on Eurostar trains.

Action: Port and travel companies

8. Tackling terminals

Improve facilities and appearance of ferry terminals, in particular the Holyhead Stena-owned building. Improvements could consist of improved wi-fi, more power points for passengers, replacement of soiled furniture, modern buses for transfers to the ship, and clearer passenger announcements and information boards.

Action: Stena Line and other Port companies

9. Preparation for high-speed rail

Ensure proper ferry and rail connections are in place for the commencement of high speed rail services on the High Speed 2 line between Crewe and London in the late 2020s

Action: Ferry Companies, Transport for Wales, Network Rail, UK and Irish Government

10. Better connectivity for Ireland

Explore new routes and expand existing ones to better connect Ireland to mainland Europe, and to connect rural Ireland to ferry terminals. This could include night-trains that would be carried on ferries (similar to services in Italy and Denmark). The use of long-distance coaches with sleeping facilities could also be considered.

Action: UK and Irish Governments, European Institutions

Ciarán Cuffe and Jon Worth, November 2023