Foot passengers on ferries – a raw deal

A chara, – The experience described by Richard Cruise of trying to access the Stena Line terminal by public transport is typical of the third-class status to which foot passengers on ferries have been relegated for some years now (“Public transport to Dublin Port”, Letters, March 30th).

It is inexplicable that a bus service funded by the National Transport Authority through a public service obligation contract does not serve a ferry terminal on its line of route. There is also a lack of connectivity at Holyhead, where foot passengers on the overnight ferries arriving around midnight face a wait of about four hours for an onward train service. Gangway access to ferries has been replaced by a shuttle bus to and from the car deck; the last time I travelled I was driven aboard on a Leyland National which would not even merit a place in a transport museum.

The situation is no better at Rosslare Europort. Passengers arriving by train, who for many years had direct covered access to the ferry, now face a long walk in the open from the station platform to the terminal building.

Ferry travel offers a sustainable alternative to flying for many journeys between Ireland and Britain. However, ferry operators and their land transport counterparts need to work together on intermodal connectivity and integration to make this a reality for passengers travelling without cars. – Is mise,