8 car trains for Falmer?

[8ace]

Don't they guage how much each company should receive based on how many stubs they've collected?

I thought that was case before, so I used my season ticket instead of the stub in order to try and save the club some money. I was then told that it didn't work like that - could be wrong though.

 

[The Large One]

Great - thanks for a straightforward answer.

- I would really like to see the club making full representations to Southern and Network Rail - now - on cost effective ways of increasing line capacity relatively quickly.

As BB said above, it may turn out to be a simple matter of re-scheduling signals, rather than large scale rebuilding.

One of the things we do know that has come of the discussions with one of the railway companies is that there will be an 8m wide footbridge going over Falmer Station for people who need to get to the other platform and/or the University car parks.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

That's what I've been trying to establish !

But what was the outcome of those discussions, what is the rail company's view on increasing capacity on the line for matchdays ?

I imagine, if serious money is required, that Network Rail would have higher priorities. Southern might be slightly more interested, but they don't own the railway infrastructure and are unlikely to want to stump up to pay for improvements that are only required for about 50 hours a year (less than 1 per cent of the total time they spend running services on this line).

The question is probably best rephrased ... Does Tony Bloom have the funds to pay for the required improvements?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

One of the things we do know that has come of the discussions with one of the railway companies is that there will be an 8m wide footbridge going over Falmer Station for people who need to get to the other platform and/or the University car parks.

Funded by the football club.

 

[8ace]

I imagine, if serious money is required, that Network Rail would have higher priorities. Southern might be slightly more interested, but they don't own the railway infrastructure and are unlikely to want to stump up to pay for improvements that are only required for about 50 hours a year (less than 1 per cent of the total time they spend running services on this line).

The only way I could see this happening would be for Tony to put his hand in his pocket again. If we were to increase the capacity to the rumoured 30odd thousand then would this upgrades be a prerequisite?

 

[Uter]

There will be NO available street parking around Falmer.

Granted, but if it is policed as poorly as Withdean people will abuse this. And how far will this extend? The top end of Moulsecoomb and Coldean both lie under a mile from the stadium. I am sure plenty of people will choose to park here and walk to Falmer.

 

[beorhthelm]

So... if the club knew from day 1 that there would be limited rail capacity... what is plan B for getting fans to and from the stadium?

i foresee buses a coaches filling the void. prebooked coaches from more outlying areas, such as Tunbridge wells, Crowborough and possibly even Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill (theres a fairly heavy use on the train already into Brighton Saturday afternoon). then a shuttle service running from Falmer to York Rd/London rd (walk up to station) and another shuttle down the A27 to somewhere suitable in Hove area (Greyhound stadium?). not to the Brihgton/hove stations to get a faster turnaround. Also Park and ride from Mill Rd and other locations?

Reading seemed to do OK with a fleet of buses: yes they also have a car park but they have no train.

it does seem the basic problem is capacity on the line. we can put in a cross over bit of track (technical term )Brighton side of Falmer to run a shuttle, trains can run 8 cars, falmer can be slightly extended, trains can be held at Brighton (theres a fair amount of siding capacity there...) until needed. However, there's already 4/5 trains an hour and even if you double that you still only have a capacity of 6000 (going by previous 3000 claim LB said was in the proposal) which is probably not enough on its own. So buses seems to be plan A and B.

The top end of Moulsecoomb and Coldean both lie under a mile from the stadium. I am sure plenty of people will choose to park here and walk to Falmer.

yeah, once but seriously, yeah theres a fair amount of parking capacity in the streets within 10 min walking distance.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The only way I could see this happening would be for Tony to put his hand in his pocket again. If we were to increase the capacity to the rumoured 30odd thousand then would this upgrades be a prerequisite?

Almost certainly. And if, by then, onstreet parking HAS become an issue in Coldean and Moulsecoomb, the Club would probably have to fund the introduction of metered parking (and a residents' parking scheme) in the streets that are affected. That, of course, would deliver REAL policing of the restrictions - it never happened at Withdean because Withdean is only a "temporary" stadium.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

seriously, yeah theres a fair amount of parking capacity in the streets within 10 min walking distance.

The ONLY on-street "parking capacity" within 10 minutes walk of Falmer Stadium is in Falmer Village (already regulated by parking wardens with powers to hand out £60 fines), or the Woodingdean Road (where all parking will be banned - with ESCC parking wardens available to enforce the restrictions), or on the A27, which is a trunk road clearway - park there and you WILL be towed away.

 

[beorhthelm]

are you determined to have us all worry LB? maybe i should have said "within sensible walking distance".

actually, what is your solution or expection of how this will be resolved?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

are you determined to have us all worry LB? maybe i should have said "within sensible walking distance".

actually, what is your solution or expection of how this will be resolved?

The whole transport package is as good as you can get. Once things settle down, I think we will find that buses will be playing a much bigger part in people's plans than anyone is currently talking about. Not just park and ride buses, but the regular services that already run very frequently along Lewes Road - and much more frequently than the services to Withdean.

There are currently 19 buses an hour (in each direction) running to Sussex University.

 

[Uter]

The restriction zone isn't actually that big, though. You can park (as many people do) half way up Surrenden Crescent, which is only 5 minutes walk from the turnstile and outside the restricted parking zone.

I'd also like to add that the availability of booze at the stadium will reduce the amount of people that want to drive. I don't generally drink before Saturday matches but I'll be tempted to have a half time pint at Falmer.

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to think that as much as 70% of people wanted to use public transport but I just think there is a sizable proportion of the general public who have car use so ingrained in their psyche that they would drive around in their houses if only they could.

 

[Notters]

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to think that as much as 70% of people wanted to use public transport but I just think there is a sizable proportion of the general public who have car use so ingrained in their psyche that they would drive around in their houses if only they could.

You certainly have a point there.

 

[BensGrandad]

I am intrigued by this thread as I hadnt really given much thought to how I was going to get to Falmer. I assumed I would either get a train from HH to Falmer direct via Lewes or go via Brighton, no problem as I assumed the problems had been sorted out prior to obtaining the planning permission. At the worst my brother who lives in Middlesex could meet me at my home in HH and we could drive thus giving 4 in the car as it appears is going to be required for car parking. Taking into account what has been posted would it be better to go by train via Lewes or Brighton from HH or will the club possibly look into buses running direct from HH or Brighton station to Falmer.

 

[Billy the Fish]

There's loads of room in stanmer park, can't we just turn that into a car park

 

[Lord Bracknell]

There's loads of room in stanmer park, can't we just turn that into a car park

There's a gate.

 

[Uter]

I am intirgued by this thread as I hadnt really given much thought to how I was going to get to Falmer. I assumed I would either get a train from HH to Falmer direct via Lewes or go via Brighton. At the worst my brother who lives in Middlesex could meet me at my home in HH and we could drive thus giving 4 in the car as it appears is going to be required for car parking. Taking into account what has been posted would it be better to go by train via Lewes or Brighton from HH or will the club possibly look into buses running direct from HH or Brighton station to Falmer.

I think anyone from HH up getting the train would be much better advised to go via Lewes on the way home as the bulk of the trains users will be going the other way and you won't have to queue anywhere near as long at Falmer. Depends on the connections too I guess.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I think anyone from HH up getting the train would be much better advised to go via Lewes on the way home as the bulk of the trains users will be going the other way and you won't have to queue anywhere near as long at Falmer. Depends on the connections too I guess.

... is the right answer.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I think anyone from HH up getting the train would be much better advised to go via Lewes on the way home as the bulk of the trains users will be going the other way and you won't have to queue anywhere near as long at Falmer. Depends on the connections too I guess.

Probably what I'll do, might even stop for a drink as well, but only if the locals don't try and burn me.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Some people will no doubt park in Coldean or Moulsecoomb and walk.

Mmmmm, drive to the game, taxi home, buy new wheels in the morning. I'll get a cab instead.