I’m planning to travel from Bristol to either Glasgow or Edinburgh. I tried putting Glasgow or Edinburgh in as a destination and the trip planner kept routing me through Liverpool, with a journey time of about 8 plus hours. I plan to take the northern route, which goes from Bristol to Cairryan, with trains to Glasgow and Edinburgh from there. This northern route is only about 2 hours on the ferry, so much more efficient. The trip planner will let me put in the Bristol to Cairnryan part of the journey, with the 2 hour ferry, so I’m surprised this didn’t work when trying to get from Bristol to Glasgow/Edinburgh. Perhaps I have to put in the Bristol to Cairnryan trip and then add a separate Cairnryan to Glasgow/Edinburgh trip? If anyone has done this route and has advice, please let me know.
Travel from Belfast to Glasgow or Edinburgh via ferry and rail
Best answer by ralderton
The only part of your journey covered by the pass is the train from Ayr, so that's the only part your add to Rail Planner.
You can get a discount on the ferry, buy you do that on the Stena website. I don't know if you get a discount on the connecting bus.
https://benefitsportal.interrail.com/benefits/stena-line/
In any case, you may find it's better to buy a Sail Rail fare, for £39, and save a pass day.
https://www.seat61.com/train-and-ferry-to-belfast.htm#london-to-belfast-via-cairnryan
+1I think you mean Belfast as stated in the title of your contribution. and not Bristol as written in the text. I guess the problem is caused by the fact that there is no train station in Cairnryan. You need to take a bus to Ayr, from there you can continue by train to Glasgow and from there to Edinburgh.
+10The only part of your journey covered by the pass is the train from Ayr, so that's the only part your add to Rail Planner.
You can get a discount on the ferry, buy you do that on the Stena website. I don't know if you get a discount on the connecting bus.
https://benefitsportal.interrail.com/benefits/stena-line/
In any case, you may find it's better to buy a Sail Rail fare, for £39, and save a pass day.
https://www.seat61.com/train-and-ferry-to-belfast.htm#london-to-belfast-via-cairnryan
The bus from Cairnryan to Ayr station is only available for sail-rail ticket holders, it is just an impractical journey to make using Interrail.
There is only one daily sail-rail connection from Belfast Port at 11.15. There is a bus to the port (Metro 96) from Upper Queen St in Belfast city centre at 09.40, pay separately.
Sail-Rail from Belfast can only be booked by telephone from Stena Line, or bought on the day at Belfast Port.
https://www.stenaline.ie/rail-and-sail#accordion-e1240fdbfa-item-b5142e3d4f
The alternatives are Scottish Citylink or Hannon Coach bus services from Belfast Grand Central to Glasgow, they run 2-3 departures daily.
https://www.citylink.co.uk/our-routes-and-timetables/scotland-belfast/
https://hannoncoach.com/belfast-glasgow-coach-express/
Hannon would be my preference as it is a through service, the coach travels on the ferry.
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