Now that is a decent letter. No punches pulled there - nice one Mr. Perry
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Barber On The Warpath Over Train Disruption, Doesn't Pull Any Punches!
- Thread starter Tom Hark Preston Park
- Start date
Now that is a decent letter. No punches pulled there - nice one Mr. Perry
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
Please Mr Bloom if he visits the Amex do not I repeat not buy him a pie and a glass of water.
RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf
Get them to come along on Saturday to see for themselves first hand.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,327
- Thread starter
- #165
Same. The Albion will have the entire region cheering them on. Whole new ball game now. Reckon Southern have majorly shot themselves in the foot on this one. Up til now they've been perfectly happy to treat individual customers with the utmost contempt. Last Friday they tried to do the same with a major corporate client. Big mistake. The Albion ATTACK DOGS Barber and Perry won't back off from this one now, because they can't afford to. The future of the whole Falmer Project is at stake, from matchday sales, through season ticket renewals, to SKY telly money. And they've not even put in the call to mobilise the Albion fanbase troops yet. Nobody's even been Jamie'd. The Albion have fought and won far bigger battles than this in recent years. They'll win this one too. Be afraid, Southern, be VERY afraid...
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
RMT will be there ...
24th November 2016
Immediate
RMT ACCEPTS OFFER FROM BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION TO BROKER TALKS IN SOUTHERN RAIL DISPUTE
General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT is prepared to take up the offer of talks between ourselves, Southern Rail and Chris Grayling as suggested by Brighton and Hove Albion FC. The union has been calling for just such a meeting for months and its frankly ludicrous that it has taken the intervention of the football club, and the shocking events on Friday night at the Amex Stadium, to force the pace on this.
“The appalling situation at Falmer on Friday evening was entirely down to the lack of planning and gross-mismanagement by Southern Rail and the attempt by the company to blame it on the staff is frankly disgraceful.
“The football club are right, the responsibility for sorting the total chaos on Southern rests with the Transport Secretary himself. He has repeatedly refused to meet with the trade unions to map out a way forwards. RMT now hopes that both Mr Grayling and Southern Rail will see sense and get around the table as soon as possible. If that has to be at the Amex Stadium then I can guarantee that RMT will be there.”
“As General Secretary of Britain’s specialist transport union I meet with ministers on a regular basis and it is frankly absurd that Chris Grayling has refused point blank to meet with us while the Southern Rail dispute, which he has the power to settle as it is a direct management contract with the Government, rages on.”
Ends
24th November 2016
Immediate
RMT ACCEPTS OFFER FROM BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION TO BROKER TALKS IN SOUTHERN RAIL DISPUTE
General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT is prepared to take up the offer of talks between ourselves, Southern Rail and Chris Grayling as suggested by Brighton and Hove Albion FC. The union has been calling for just such a meeting for months and its frankly ludicrous that it has taken the intervention of the football club, and the shocking events on Friday night at the Amex Stadium, to force the pace on this.
“The appalling situation at Falmer on Friday evening was entirely down to the lack of planning and gross-mismanagement by Southern Rail and the attempt by the company to blame it on the staff is frankly disgraceful.
“The football club are right, the responsibility for sorting the total chaos on Southern rests with the Transport Secretary himself. He has repeatedly refused to meet with the trade unions to map out a way forwards. RMT now hopes that both Mr Grayling and Southern Rail will see sense and get around the table as soon as possible. If that has to be at the Amex Stadium then I can guarantee that RMT will be there.”
“As General Secretary of Britain’s specialist transport union I meet with ministers on a regular basis and it is frankly absurd that Chris Grayling has refused point blank to meet with us while the Southern Rail dispute, which he has the power to settle as it is a direct management contract with the Government, rages on.”
Ends
The Albion Roar
97.2FM
Caroline Lucas has written to Paul Maynard, the rail minister. It may have an effect, it may not...
Dear Paul
Impact of rail chaos on Brighton & Hove Albion FC
I would like to draw your attention to the impact of the rail chaos upon Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.
Just last Friday a number of my constituents were caught up in queues that Brighton paper The Argus described as “snaking as far as the eye can see” after trains at the end of an evening match were cancelled at very short notice. Albion fans are a diverse group and include families with small children: unacceptably, these were just some of the thousands of people left waiting until late in the evening. A constituent has described the scene as “totally shambolic” and said “Brighton supporters are a good natured bunch and have an excellent reputation as football fans, but you can feel the frustration building when there is simply not enough rail capacity”.
As well as the safety concerns arising from such chaos, this situation damages Albion’s economic position. For example, in August the club’s director speculated that the impact of train cancellations during three matches at that time would be in the order of £300,000 made up of £250,000 in lost revenue and £50,000 in increased costs, such as providing replacement buses, additional park and ride sites and stewarding. With Albion’s home matches gaining a reputation for unreliable transport provision, it is possible that away fans, such as the approximately 3000 who were at the match last Friday, might think twice before coming again, adding to the economic losses that Brighton & Hove is already suffering as a result of the chaos on our railways.
For home fans, the atmosphere at the matches and overall morale will inevitably suffer if there is uncertainty over whether they can even get to and from the game. Yet this morale is vital: Albion came close to joining the Premier League last season and hopes to make it this season. I am, of course, fully behind the club in this aspiration, which would be a fantastic boost both to fans and to the city as a whole. I do not underestimate the importance that services around the match can make in supporting the club to achieve that ambition.
It is time for the DfT to directly address the rail crisis affecting our city and our region. The DfT cannot continue to hide behind GTR, and their seemingly never to be decided application to the DfT for Force Majeure – GTR’s attempt to shift the blame and to be excused from failing to meet performance benchmarks.
Is the reason the Force Majeure decision is taking so long, because it suits the Government to leave it undecided, which allows GTR to continue, so Ministers don’t have to enforce the contract and take direct responsibility?
It is clear that the DfT is very closely involved in the running of the Southern part of the GTR franchise via a management contract. Yet the whole thing is shrouded in secrecy and the DfT is not directly accountable. Operational matters central to the current industrial dispute remain censored when they have nothing to do with commercial confidentiality. Meanwhile, passengers, including Albion fans, suffer. This cannot just go on and on.
It’s time to end that contract and for the DfT to be upfront and accountable: the people who use the trains, and the businesses that rely upon them, such as Brighton & Hove Albion, deserve better than this.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Lucas MP
Dear Paul
Impact of rail chaos on Brighton & Hove Albion FC
I would like to draw your attention to the impact of the rail chaos upon Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.
Just last Friday a number of my constituents were caught up in queues that Brighton paper The Argus described as “snaking as far as the eye can see” after trains at the end of an evening match were cancelled at very short notice. Albion fans are a diverse group and include families with small children: unacceptably, these were just some of the thousands of people left waiting until late in the evening. A constituent has described the scene as “totally shambolic” and said “Brighton supporters are a good natured bunch and have an excellent reputation as football fans, but you can feel the frustration building when there is simply not enough rail capacity”.
As well as the safety concerns arising from such chaos, this situation damages Albion’s economic position. For example, in August the club’s director speculated that the impact of train cancellations during three matches at that time would be in the order of £300,000 made up of £250,000 in lost revenue and £50,000 in increased costs, such as providing replacement buses, additional park and ride sites and stewarding. With Albion’s home matches gaining a reputation for unreliable transport provision, it is possible that away fans, such as the approximately 3000 who were at the match last Friday, might think twice before coming again, adding to the economic losses that Brighton & Hove is already suffering as a result of the chaos on our railways.
For home fans, the atmosphere at the matches and overall morale will inevitably suffer if there is uncertainty over whether they can even get to and from the game. Yet this morale is vital: Albion came close to joining the Premier League last season and hopes to make it this season. I am, of course, fully behind the club in this aspiration, which would be a fantastic boost both to fans and to the city as a whole. I do not underestimate the importance that services around the match can make in supporting the club to achieve that ambition.
It is time for the DfT to directly address the rail crisis affecting our city and our region. The DfT cannot continue to hide behind GTR, and their seemingly never to be decided application to the DfT for Force Majeure – GTR’s attempt to shift the blame and to be excused from failing to meet performance benchmarks.
Is the reason the Force Majeure decision is taking so long, because it suits the Government to leave it undecided, which allows GTR to continue, so Ministers don’t have to enforce the contract and take direct responsibility?
It is clear that the DfT is very closely involved in the running of the Southern part of the GTR franchise via a management contract. Yet the whole thing is shrouded in secrecy and the DfT is not directly accountable. Operational matters central to the current industrial dispute remain censored when they have nothing to do with commercial confidentiality. Meanwhile, passengers, including Albion fans, suffer. This cannot just go on and on.
It’s time to end that contract and for the DfT to be upfront and accountable: the people who use the trains, and the businesses that rely upon them, such as Brighton & Hove Albion, deserve better than this.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Lucas MP
Ohhh! Now THAT is a very good idea ...
Uncle Spielberg
Well-known member
I have a sneaking suspicion the trains will be running fine and dandy on Saturday. What a brick you have dropped Southern, you do not mess with BHAFC, you simply don't do it. Barber and Perry have owned you and we haven't even asked for back up for our WAR DOG, Dick Knight yet. He will DESTROY you !
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
It's the Friday night Leeds match which will be the one which asks serious questions of Southern.
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
Which I think will officially be a reduced match day service as per the Huddersfield game. What happens after the game will be the crunch.
yxee
Well-known member
I've already written to my MP and suggest everyone does. It gets noticed.
Has anybody been to Villa Park by train from Birmingham New Street?
Distance and normal frequency and length of trains seems to be about the same although he cost for regular customer is half.
http://www.footballgroundguide.com/...ionship/villa-park-aston-villa.html#aby-train
NB; Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A nightmare. Witton station was absolutely crammed with queues. Many missed their trains back from Birmingham New Street to London, in fact we we only just about got on ours. I would suggest booking a later train back from New Street, to save you trouble and have a couple drinks near the ground after the game to avoid queuing for ages at Witton Station. http://www.footballgroundguide.com/...lla-park-aston-villa.html#chen-chelsea-2-4-16
PS: from reports the trains are just as shit at Villa. Huge queues and cancelled trains.
Distance and normal frequency and length of trains seems to be about the same although he cost for regular customer is half.
http://www.footballgroundguide.com/...ionship/villa-park-aston-villa.html#aby-train
NB; Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A nightmare. Witton station was absolutely crammed with queues. Many missed their trains back from Birmingham New Street to London, in fact we we only just about got on ours. I would suggest booking a later train back from New Street, to save you trouble and have a couple drinks near the ground after the game to avoid queuing for ages at Witton Station. http://www.footballgroundguide.com/...lla-park-aston-villa.html#chen-chelsea-2-4-16
PS: from reports the trains are just as shit at Villa. Huge queues and cancelled trains.
Last edited:
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
Good news.
I think he could have stopped the reply after the first three lines though.
There is going to have to be compromise on both sides to get this matter resolved.
The Andy Naylor Fan Club
Well-known member
Good to hear that a meeting could be attended by all parties at the Amex. Perhaps, what with the train issues, Seagulls travel could arrange transport. After all it's a very important meeting and we don't want any possible slip ups now, do we?
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Predictable .....
A Southern spokesman said: "Over the past 10 months we've met face to face with the RMT leadership countless times, including many times at (conciliation service) ACAS."
He added: "We've made a full and comprehensive offer which they have repeatedly rejected. Nothing will be solved until the RMT agrees to let go of the past and help deliver a better service for our passengers. Until that happens more meetings are pointless."
A Southern spokesman said: "Over the past 10 months we've met face to face with the RMT leadership countless times, including many times at (conciliation service) ACAS."
He added: "We've made a full and comprehensive offer which they have repeatedly rejected. Nothing will be solved until the RMT agrees to let go of the past and help deliver a better service for our passengers. Until that happens more meetings are pointless."
Yoda
English & European
FFS!!!
The Albion Roar
97.2FM
In the context of last Friday, that reply is irrelevant - it had nothing to do with the strikes. So what it looks like is... because SASTA won't meet with the RMT, they won't meet with the club.
Outstanding.
I'd hope that at the very least, they'd have had the good grace to have sent their reply directly to the club, rather than in the form of a press release.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Therein lies the problem.