Holyhead closed!

[MegCleary]

Anyone nearby with inside track?? Will it re open?? Cannot believe it is shut till the 19th. We are meant to be heading home for Christmas the 22nd and am terrified we won’t make it!

On the six one news it said, the re opening of Holyhead on Friday is very optimistic, stenaline who operate the port there will give an update between now and Wednesday, the worst case scenario is could be early spring before it reopens, the best is that normal services resume on Friday.

DS’s girlfriend is meant to be travelling Dublin-Newport on Saturday to spend Christmas with distant family. Her immediate family are all in the US but she’s at college in Dublin and rather than going all the way home, she’s spending most of the Christmas break in Dub, but seeing these family for a week. (Think they are her mum’s cousins or something) She’s booked onto the ferry and train. No money to book flights and I’m not sure her parents are really aware of the situation - pretty sure she’s downplaying it so they don’t worry.

I’m preparing some extra bits and pieces in case she ends up here with us which is looking more and more likely by the day

My family all live in Trearddur, just a stones throw from the port and I used to work on Stena before I moved to Belfast, I still have some friends who currently work with Stena.

As usual, the staff aren’t told much more than what you hear in the news by the company. But, the guys actually working on the repairs have been very vocal about the unlikely idea that it will all be sorted before new year. The significant part of the damage is under the water level, making it exceptionally difficult to work on at the best of times, let alone during choppy weather in cold December.

My advise is to get your updates via Irish news outlets, because the UK side are only talking to Stena representatives who are of course trying to downplay it because so much is at stake financially. Where as the Irish news have been much more realistic and honest with the dire situation.

Are they increasing the number of sailings from Fishguard/Pembroke and Liverpool? I know Belfast and Rosslare are a couple of hours from Dublin, but it might help somehow. And I do realise that not everyone is going to Dublin either! Looking unlikely that Holyhead will be up and running before Christmas.

The local news (north Wales) were saying it may be closed past Christmas.
There's still lots of damage being fixed around here.

I'm not completely up to speed about the issues at Holyhead but have alternative arrangements not been made using Fishguard and Birkenhead?

Saw this update in today's Indo ....
https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/christmas-travel-fears-flight-prices-rising-rapidly-as-minister-warns-holyhead-port-could-stay-closed-until-spring/a396180457.html

I hope everyone planning to travel manages to make alternative arrangements, without exorbitant costs 😔

Pat Kenny interviewing Ryanair's Michael O' Leary on Newstalk just now.
PK asking the hard questions.
MO'L defending the Ryanair higher prices and bangjng on about the Dublin Airport Passenger Cap.

Holyhead port closed until 15th January at the earliest 😢

Don't know what postage costs are in Ireland but Evri will deliver 5kg for about £10 - could that plus a flight be an option @GinaDreamsofRunningAway

The port of Holyhead is to remain closed until Jan 15th 2025 at the earliest

https://www.thejournal.ie/ferries-holyhead-dublin-cancelled-6574773-Dec2024/

😣

Some people will be having much long journeys bless. I do wonder though my email says we will be offered alternative, now the alternative a journey from hell so we have flights booked. But does that mean no refund then?

@MegCleary please do update us with what alternative they offer you. DS’s girlfriend had been holding out hope of switching to a different sailing free of charge but wasn’t sure if she’d get a refund for her train tickets or how easy it would be to rebook for a different train line.

I’m gutted for her - this is a whole lot of stress and 19 year old doesn’t need. We’re happy to host her, but I know she’d feel awkward and like she was imposing (which she totally wouldn’t be) so would probably rather go to these relatives.

@TamiTaylorIsMyParentingGuru i will update when I get any news

We're going on Friday (20th) and have been moved to Pembroke to Rosslare crossing. Pain in the arse. Longer journey to Pembroke. Longer crossing then 2 hours back up to Dublin.

Irish Ferries didn't get their act together like Stena to put alternatives in place

To those of you saying that Stena Line put alternatives in place quicker than Irish Ferries, are you aware that the owners of the ferry port in Holyhead is actually Stena Line?

Of course it's in their interest to offer an alternative so that they can keep their ports open.

In this instance, Irish Ferries couldn't do a thing until they were told when the port is scheduled to re-open.

I don't know if they can even run their ferries from Dublin to Fishguard or any other port in the meantime. They must pay Stena for the use of their port facilities like any airline would have to pay the airport for landing slots and so on.

They may then be eligible to be compensated for lost revenue from the port?

So frustrating.

I couldn't understand why Amazon was giving a 2 week delivery time suddenly. Its dropped down now, they must have figured out alternatives.

Stena line seem to be offereing a direct route Dublin-Liverpool but not sure why Irish Ferries are not doing that. Do they have boats that are stuck in Holyhead and can't move?

Don't really want to drive via Pembroke or Belfast. We are going to Manchester which is very close to Holyhead and closer to Liverpool.

(Haven't booked tickets yet but were planning to travel)

There used to be another company (p and o?) with a direct Dublin Liverpool route. Is that not running anymore?

Yes the boat ride takes longer but you can sleep.

its ridiculous how dependant we are on ONE company running one port.

We're not. We can fly to several airports using multiple airlines, or sail to multiple ports using multiple ferry companies.
Let's keep some perspective

DS’s girlfriend is switching to the Liverpool sailing with Stena - just needs to sort her (lengthy) train journey now

Not talking about travelling so much but packages and goods coming into the country. Its a lot more expensive for hauliers to detour.

its had a massive impact on Holyhead.

She didn't book a sail and rail ticket? That wouldn't need changing.

Please tell me she didn't book the ferry and train tickets seperately. They are available as one inexpensive sail and rail ticket.

BTW when I go on to stena they say the liverpool boat is only taking motorists. But maybe that is for new bookings.

Oh flip I’ve no idea! I had forgotten about rail & sail - that’s how I used to get to and from university. I’m getting all this info from DS so he could well have not understood - or GF hasn’t understood! Will get her to check