From the horses mouth, RE trains from Falmer.

[Magicman]

Today there was a major signal failure just outside of Brighton preventing trains entering or leaving on the Lewes line. I had to take a guard and driver to Lewes in the cab and bring one back to Brighton and used the time to chat about the chaos on matchdays.
This may already be common knowledge but both drivers said that the problems could be eased but at a huge cost to the club .

First , the platforms at Falmer need extending to get longer trains in. (quite obvious really) and secondly the fact that there is only ONE signal between Falmer and Brighton (positioned just before the viaduct at Brighton). Trains are not allowed to leave Falmer until the previous one has passed this signal and is effectively inside Brighton station .
Both guys reckoned that the installation of a second signal at Moulsecoomb would enable them to run 2 trains in almost the same time they currently run one .
Would it be the club that needed to pay though ?
They both raised concerns regarding safety issues with so many fans crammed into trains , i use the P+R so have no experience of this , but think the situation needs to improve massively if the ground expansion is to get the green light ?

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I really don't understand this perceived 'chaos on matchdays'. I haven't yet failed to get a train half an hour after a match and I don't rush. I see that as entirely reasonable.

As to extending the platform and installing signals, that would require talks with Rail Track, and anyone who works in Transport will tell you that can be prohibitively expensive.

 

[Gazwag]

It would help if they loaded the trains properly. I always head to the end of the lewes bound platform and always get a seat in the almost empty carriage and I noticed on Saturday night the last carriage of the Brighton train which was in the platform at the same time only had about 10 people in it

 

[Gus is god]

tbh i must admit heading towards Lewes its a headache but its worth it

 

[Wilko]

'Chaos'? 45mins-an hour to get away from a football stadium full of over 20,000 people is not chaos surely?

 

[Easy 10]

I really don't understand this perceived 'chaos on matchdays'. I haven't yet failed to get a train half an hour after a match and I don't rush. I see that as entirely reasonable.

As to extending the platform and installing signals, that would require talks with Rail Track, and anyone who works in Transport will tell you that can be prohibitively expensive.

Yup, totally agree. I've got the train every Saturday and not once had a problem. Arrive early-ish, stay back for a pint after, its an absolute breeze.

As long as you're not expecting to arrive at 2.55 and get away at 4.45 without there being a bit of a crush, its a cinch.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

'Chaos'? 45mins-an hour to get away from a football stadium full of hour 20,000 people is not chaos surely?

At the absolute WORST. I have not once waited for more than half an hour to be on a train.

 

[Wilko]

At the absolute WORST. I have not once waited for more than half an hour to be on a train.

On Saturday the match finished at 7.20. I was at the Brighton Dome ready to watch a comedy show at 8. Not bad really is it.

 

[eastterracemike]

I just need someone from southern rail to tell me why they can't put on more carriages to Lewes and run trains more frequently. I know about the platform issue and admittedly I got on a 6 coach train on sat but have looked up times of trains for west ham game and there isn't one to Lewes between 10.15 and 10.45 approx. laughable. I would like to stay for a drink for a change and not rush out on the whistle.

 

[eastterracemike]

Fine ironically if you're going to brighton but the other way is a nightmare still.

On Saturday the match finished at 7.20. I was at the Brighton Dome ready to watch a comedy show at 8. Not bad really is it.

 

[Billy the Fish]

They both raised concerns regarding safety issues with so many fans crammed into trains

I'd take issue with that. The trains are no busier than the London rush hour, and often leave with empty seats despite a massive queue of people. If anything they need to be cramming more people on trains

 

[CheeseRolls]

These guys need to commute to London. Every day there is a worse crush in the underground at major stations than you will ever experience at Falmer. Things could be better if gangs of fat blokes would move away from the doors, but otherwise this is a big fuss over nothing.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

 

[Bakesy]

A was chatting to a driver i know while waiting for the connection at Lewes following the Palace game, and he said that the problem with bigger trains on the east coast line is that there isn't enough current to run them.
i suggested that surely they could run a diesel unit on the line but he said it wasn't in their interest to.
Difficult to see a solution that wouldn't cost the club a small fortune.

 

[Working class pride]

Today there was a major signal failure just outside of Brighton preventing trains entering or leaving on the Lewes line. I had to take a guard and driver to Lewes in the cab and bring one back to Brighton and used the time to chat about the chaos on matchdays.
This may already be common knowledge but both drivers said that the problems could be eased but at a huge cost to the club .

First , the platforms at Falmer need extending to get longer trains in. (quite obvious really) and secondly the fact that there is only ONE signal between Falmer and Brighton (positioned just before the viaduct at Brighton). Trains are not allowed to leave Falmer until the previous one has passed this signal and is effectively inside Brighton station .
Both guys reckoned that the installation of a second signal at Moulsecoomb would enable them to run 2 trains in almost the same time they currently run one .
Would it be the club that needed to pay though ?
They both raised concerns regarding safety issues with so many fans crammed into trains , i use the P+R so have no experience of this , but think the situation needs to improve massively if the ground expansion is to get the green light ?

Yep. The trains need sorting out, being in denial is not an option

 

[Working class pride]

'Chaos'? 45mins-an hour to get away from a football stadium full of over 20,000 people is not chaos surely?

Thats 45 minutes before you have started your journey. I also know people after the leeds game that only just made it into brighton for 11.30 after the game. That way longer than 45 minutes. Not that its a problem for me as I drive to coldean and have written off going to midweek games as it is now far too much of a hassle from London. If the trains worked well however then I would go to an evening game

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Going to Brighton is easy, I've never had to wait longer than 30 minutes.

 

[Ernest]

Would it be so simple as just installing one signal

 

[Lush]

If it's running OK for now, then improving the line would depend on if we thought we could sell more tickets/got promoted, presumably.

 

[Beach Hut]

It is running very well, for the first time on Saturday we caught the first train off Falmer to Brighton post match.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

There is signal on the viaduct. I lived under it for 5 years.