[Albion] AEK Post Game Leaving

[jackalbion]

OK, now that I've got your attention, can you please ask your service planners to try and lay on something over and above some shitty little three carriage cattle-trucks for the Ajax game at the Amex. Just to give you a heads-up: It's on 26th October. It's a Thursday. There will be 30,000 people there. Ta

I think the service is pretty poor to midweek games, but there simply isn’t anymore stock. There’s a plan with Gatwick Express stock being split down from southbound services (I saw it in action on Thursday). I understand it’s crap, but you can’t just take away 46 units and expect the same service which is what has been before. People can moan at Southern but until the Department of Transport approves the building of new stock then they are stumped. That’s not what people want to hear but that’s the reality of the situation, like the bus one, it’s a national problem. They know there’s a game on because there’s already two extra trains an hour on the line for every european games two hours before and after the games. It’s cost benefit analysis. Do you reduce the number of trains down from an hour on the Sutton branch so you can run extra trains to the Amex? But then have overcrowding on those lines, it’s not as simple as just rolling another train out the depot, because all of those ones have been stupidly scrapped by the DfT.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I think the service is pretty poor to midweek games, but there simply isn’t anymore stock. There’s a plan with Gatwick Express stock being split down from southbound services (I saw it in action on Thursday). I understand it’s crap, but you can’t just take away 46 units and expect the same service which is what has been before. People can moan at Southern but until the Department of Transport approves the building of new stock then they are stumped. That’s not what people want to hear but that’s the reality of the situation, like the bus one, it’s a national problem. They know there’s a game on because there’s already two extra trains an hour on the line for every european games two hours before and after the games. It’s cost benefit analysis. Do you reduce the number of trains down from an hour on the Sutton branch so you can run extra trains to the Amex? But then have overcrowding on those lines, it’s not as simple as just rolling another train out the depot, because all of those ones have been stupidly scrapped by the DfT.

Cheers for your feedback, which is genuinely always appreciated. I think the takeaway from your post is that we shouldn't expect the train service for the Ajax game to be any improvement on that provided for the AEK Athens game

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Out of interest how many fewer trains were there on Thursday and Sunday before an after the game? Definitely seemed problematic

 

[jackalbion]

Out of interest how many fewer trains were there on Thursday and Sunday before an after the game? Definitely seemed problematic

At a glance there was maybe an 8 carriage deficit from full capacity, but also at the same time I didn’t see all the trains that came through.

 

[jackalbion]

Cheers for your feedback, which is genuinely always appreciated. I think the takeaway from your post is that we shouldn't expect the train service for the Ajax game to be any improvement on that provided for the AEK Athens game

We shall see, I just tend to go as early as possible for Midweeks now, which is disappointing but it is what it is now, funnily enough there’s seems to be more new stock up north these days.

 

[The Oldman]

I looked at the Seagulls Travel website after you recommended it for the Marseille game. It also says 10.15 departure. Given the stories about coach delays after the game on here we aren’t going to risk it.

Neville I am am STH with Seagull Travel . I am not sure what you mean about coach delays after the game. As soon as the designated time to depart happens all vehicles leave. It takes about 10 minutes for all coaches and buses to get out. If that is the delay you are referring to then you cannot get all 30 to 40 out
in one go. Having sad that it’s great you are going to make the long journey down I hope you enjoy it. Trips from East Anglia must seem a life time ago. Best wishes.

 

[Nitram]

Same. Took one look at that crappily long train queue about 16:45 and headed off on the long walk to the reliable bus stop. Post-match train service is invariably abysmal nowadays. Reckon both the club and Southern have washed their hands of providing any kind of half-decent post-match service this season. It's like both parties are running down the clock til they don't have to provide any kind of service at all next season. Which is shameful

I meant to say thanks for the tip on the bus stop that I saw you posted sometime ago.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Neville I am am STH with Seagull Travel . I am not sure what you mean about coach delays after the game. As soon as the designated time to depart happens all vehicles leave. It takes about 10 minutes for all coaches and buses to get out. If that is the delay you are referring to then you cannot get all 30 to 40 out
in one go. Having sad that it’s great you are going to make the long journey down I hope you enjoy it. Trips from East Anglia must seem a life time ago. Best wishes.

Thank you, that’s a really kind message and appreciated. You’re right, East Anglia does feel like a life time ago. So much has happened since, including giving up our Season Tickets which has been a huge adjustment. Maybe that’s why I’m over thinking this travel thing for the Marseille game. It’s just a huge occasion for us and we are so looking forward to it. I thought I read about extra delays with the coaches that weren’t caused by extra time. It is entirely possible that I just misread/got confused with all the stories. A definite positive of booking Seagulls Travel would be staying until the end of the match and clapping the team off which doesn’t seem possible with the trains. My main motivation is it not being too late for my wife who has to drive us back to where we are staying from wherever we get the coach or train to. If it’s the train it will be from Lewes. If Seagulls Travel then perhaps Burgess Hill. Still mulling it over !

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Thank you, that’s a really kind message and appreciated. You’re right, East Anglia does feel like a life time ago. So much has happened since, including giving up our Season Tickets which has been a huge adjustment. Maybe that’s why I’m over thinking this travel thing for the Marseille game. It’s just a huge occasion for us and we are so looking forward to it. I thought I read about extra delays with the coaches that weren’t caused by extra time. It is entirely possible that I just misread/got confused with all the stories. A definite positive of booking Seagulls Travel would be staying until the end of the match and clapping the team off which doesn’t seem possible with the trains. My main motivation is it not being too late for my wife who has to drive us back to where we are staying from wherever we get the coach or train to. If it’s the train it will be from Lewes. If Seagulls Travel then perhaps Burgess Hill. Still mulling it over !

Also a ST season ticket holder and happy to confirm it’s totally a non issue with non regulars taking the departure guidance literally!

Coach would never leave whilst a game was still being played. It’s 30 mins after expected full time but with extended injury time it’s tightened things up for some.

ST have confirmed today if injury time is <10 mins then it will be the published time (you have 20 mins to get on the coach) and if injury time is more than 10 mins, 5 mins will be added on incrementally.

We use the Burgess Hill coach and have never had any issues. Was back in BH around 16:45 yesterday after leaving the Amex at 16:15

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I looked at the Seagulls Travel website after you recommended it for the Marseille game. It also says 10.15 departure. Given the stories about coach delays after the game on here we aren’t going to risk it.

I just looked. Fair enough, it says 1015 prompt but that’s only to gee people up. It’s another way of saying "Don’t hang around afterwards to have a pint with your mates." Every time I’ve travelled with them they’ve emphasised before we get off at the Amex that everyone should stay to the end and applaud the team off (if they want to) and/or go to the loo if need be before making their way back to the coach. After the game they count everyone on the coach and depart when they have everyone. They also have everyone’s name and phone number. Presumably if someone was much later than everyone else they’d call them but I can’t imagine them just driving off and leaving someone behind. I’m not sure what you mean about coach delays — wasn’t that for the park and ride? With Seagull you get the same coach there and back which is waiting for you after the game. But anyway, I’m not a salesperson for them. I find the service excellent myself and will continue to use them.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

For the Europa League games, they want to get away sharply as that way the coach park is clear for the away fans who will come up the steps to get their buses back into the city.

However, while 10:15 is the planned departure, they will drop this back as needed if the game is delayed through added time as it was last Thursday, ST is still the most reliable way of getting to and from an evening game at the Amex and I am happy to pay for the convenience and reliability of their service.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

For the Europa League games, they want to get away sharply as that way the coach park is clear for the away fans who will come up the steps to get their buses back into the city.

However, while 10:15 is the planned departure, they will drop this back as needed if the game is delayed through added time as it was last Thursday, ST is still the most reliable way of getting to and from an evening game at the Amex and I am happy to pay for the convenience and reliability of their service.

I came to he same conclusion after the advice on this thread. Just booked 2 seats from Petworth on ST for the Marseille game.

 

[dwayne]

@jackalbion it's bus replacement from London in 2 Sundays time Vs Liverpool ?

 

[jackalbion]

@jackalbion it's bus replacement from London in 2 Sundays time Vs Liverpool ?

Yes it is, there is the direct long way round train via Littlehampton running as well.

 

[Skuller]

I’m told (don’t know whether it’s true) there’s a reason for the lack of carriages for the last two home games. There’s the generic issue of shortage of carriages because of the recent scrapping of the ghastly old trains on the Seaford line. But overlaid on that is that many carriages were put out of action recently by a bad bit of electric rail somewhere or another which ripped loads of conductor shoes to pieces, so loads of carriage sets are in for repairs. If that’s true, then why doesn’t someone tell us that story and we might, just might, understand and forgive. It’s the complete lack of communications that is so annoying.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

OK, now that I've got your attention, can you please ask your service planners to try and lay on something over and above some shitty little three carriage cattle-trucks for the Ajax game at the Amex. Just to give you a heads-up: It's on 26th October. It's a Thursday. There will be 30,000 people there. Ta

Yeah….and can you have a word with Michael Fish as well

 

[amexer]

Have any on here emailed the club about poor matchday transport

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Have any on here emailed the club about poor matchday transport

Club always fills the ground to capacity. Everybody always eventually gets home at some ludicrous time after the game finishes. Club don't give the tiniest shit beyond that.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Club always fills the ground to capacity. Everybody always eventually gets home at some ludicrous time after the game finishes. Club don't give the tiniest shit beyond that.

In fairness to the club, they already do a lot with the travel subsidy for match day travel. The club will control what it can control.

The Albion is not responsible for the infrastructure failure that public transport in this country suffers from. I am not sure what more the club can do, @jackalbion has already explained the train situation (and flipping heck it's not even Southern's fault that do not have enough trains.)

We are screaming at the wrong people here. What we need is a government that believes in the value of public transport and will make the necessary investments to make it usable. Although between this govt and the 'fiscally' responsible next one we may be waiting a long time.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

In fairness to the club, they already do a lot with the travel subsidy for match day travel. The club will control what it can control.

The Albion is not responsible for the infrastructure failure that public transport in this country suffers from. I am not sure what more the club can do, @jackalbion has already explained the train situation (and flipping heck it's not even Southern's fault that do not have enough trains.)

We are screaming at the wrong people here. What we need is a government that believes in the value of public transport and will make the necessary investments to make it usable. Although between this govt and the 'fiscally' responsible next one we may be waiting a long time.

No government is going to fix this one. We're sadly stuck with an out-of-town gorgeous stadium with deeply shitty transport links