Coach travel to Norwich

[Bry Nylon]

Drove up this morning. Left Worthing at 10.

30 minute stop and was here by 2.15. The a11 was crap too.

So, 4-ish hours by car, mid-morning on a Thursday.
On that basis, I reckon coaches leaving the south coast at 2pm on a Friday at the end of the Easter holidays is pushing it close. Hitting the Dartford Crossing anything after 3pm on Friday is usually the recipe for a complete clusterfvck.

Hope I am being overly pessimistic for all concerned.

 

[albionalbino]

Unless there are problems on M11/A14/A11 avoid A12/A14/A140 route. North of Ipswich A140 is single carriageway and can be a pain in the Whatsits.

Thanks, that was my prefered route.

 

[Frankie]

This may or may not put peoples minds at rest but i travelled from Brighton to Colchester today by car leaving brighton at 1 pm had a clear run pretty much all the way which included the M25 dartford tunnel then A12 , straight through not stopping once arrived at Colchester at 3.15pm after a 10-15 minute stop , obviously one small accident and you are in the lap of the gods but it's not exactly the road to hell , i think Colchester is about a hour and a half away from Norwich so with a clear run those leaving by coach at 2pm should be in Norwich around 6 ish .

 

[Is it PotG?]

Oh no! We might not get there. Tena's packed. We are (P) so we need something to be concerned over.

 

[The Oldman]

Drove up this morning. Left Worthing at 10.

30 minute stop and was here by 2.15. The a11 was crap too.

Best I have ever done Seaford to Norwich is 3.30 hours in the daytime. So you did ok. PS do the run 6 times a year.

 

[The Wookiee]

I'm only passing on what I have been sent. I have no say in the policies for away supporters coach parking arrangements.

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Sorry I wasn't questioning you, was questioning the logic from NCFC

 

[LamieRobertson]

This may or may not put peoples minds at rest but i travelled from Brighton to Colchester today by car leaving brighton at 1 pm had a clear run pretty much all the way which included the M25 dartford tunnel then A12 , straight through not stopping once arrived at Colchester at 3.15pm after a 10-15 minute stop , obviously one small accident and you are in the lap of the gods but it's not exactly the road to hell , i think Colchester is about a hour and a half away from Norwich so with a clear run those leaving by coach at 2pm should be in Norwich around 6 ish .

Ye but you know what Friday afternoons are like....so maybe a tad optimistic ..still enjoy!

 

[Bry Nylon]

So, 4-ish hours by car, mid-morning on a Thursday.
On that basis, I reckon coaches leaving the south coast at 2pm on a Friday at the end of the Easter holidays is pushing it close. Hitting the Dartford Crossing anything after 3pm on Friday is usually the recipe for a complete clusterfvck.

Hope I am being overly pessimistic for all concerned.

I should add - to put everybody's mind at rest - that my OCD is not being late. I am always early for any appointment or engagement and consider arriving 'on time' to be a personal failure. As you can imagine, this obsession with being uber-punctual drives Mrs Nylon mad.

 

[Muzzy]

Sorry I wasn't questioning you, was questioning the logic from NCFC

No worries.

There is also the issue of drivers hours regulations for us to be mindful of.
We have been hired to cover this with one driver. If there were to be any serious delays then it would give us huge logistical problems for the rest of the weekend finding cover for our other work.
Drivers can work for 15 hours per shift maximum. This includes book on time at the beginning of shift, and cleaning time when they return to the yard. There really isn't a large buffer for any delays built in to their shifts tomorrow hence why the departure times are as they are.

Not having a dig at anyone here. Just trying to explain a day in the life of our drivers and the demands and logistical problems we can face on a daily basis.

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[The Wookiee]

No worries.

There is also the issue of drivers hours regulations for us to be mindful of.
We have been hired to cover this with one driver. If there were to be any serious delays then it would give us huge logistical problems for the rest of the weekend finding cover for our other work.
Drivers can work for 15 hours per shift maximum. This includes book on time at the beginning of shift, and cleaning time when they return to the yard. There really isn't a large buffer for any delays built in to their shifts tomorrow hence why the departure times are as they are.

Not having a dig at anyone here. Just trying to explain a day in the life of our drivers and the demands and logistical problems we can face on a daily basis.

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Are these sorts of requests a regular thing from clubs we visit ?

 

[Muzzy]

Are these sorts of requests a regular thing from clubs we visit ?

Very varied tbh.
It usually depends on parking and previous history between fans. Many clubs do not supply parking at all and drivers get sent away to find somewhere suitable 'to hide'
Very few police forces provide an escort into or away from grounds either which can add a lot of time to journeys. Especially getting away from stadia after matches!

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[Official Old Man]

Very few police forces provide an escort into or away from grounds either which can add a lot of time to journeys. Especially getting away from stadia after matches!

Doesn't the email say that the Norwich Police want us out quickly We are advising all passengers to return to their coaches straightaway following the final whistle as the coaches will be awaiting instructions to depart from Norwich City FC staff and local Police

 

[Muzzy]

Doesn't the email say that the Norwich Police want us out quickly We are advising all passengers to return to their coaches straightaway following the final whistle as the coaches will be awaiting instructions to depart from Norwich City FC staff and local Police

This doesn't mean that they'll be escorted away. I'm not saying they won't be, but from experience it generally means that they want fans to get back to the coaches asap so that they can depart together. I don't recall being escorted from them the last time I drove to Norwich.
Their reasoning for this statement is because the coaches may be blocking each other from getting out if some are waiting for people to return.
The parking area for coaches is across the railway line not too far from the stadium.



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[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Maybe they are trying to stagger the coaches so that they don't all rock up at the services and ground at the same time.

I was called by ST this morning and they said that they have been juggling resources around as a few people have cancelled and others booked on. They offered me the chance to switch coaches so I am now leaving on a coach departing North Star at 12:15pm rather than Thomas A Becket at 14:05. Believe the coach from the Becket will start in Findon Valley and then pick up in Lancing which would tie in with the 14:15 pickup from Lancing someone else mentioned.

Much happier with the early start - I'm sure I can find a pub to kill a little time in if needed

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Champagne Train up for us. Free coach back. Lovely stuff


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[Beach Hut]

Just booked a hotel £80 plus breakfast, kerching

 

[seabass1]

13:30 rattler out of London getting in at about 15:30, now what are we going to do?

 

[Gazwag]

I don't recall being escorted from them the last time I drove to Norwich.

No there was no escort two years ago and it took forever I seem to remember because the way out is back past the stadium. Two years ago there was only about 4 or 5 coaches as well - and I'm pretty sure they charged about £25 a coach to park

 

[The Wookiee]

Very varied tbh.
It usually depends on parking and previous history between fans. Many clubs do not supply parking at all and drivers get sent away to find somewhere suitable 'to hide'
Very few police forces provide an escort into or away from grounds either which can add a lot of time to journeys. Especially getting away from stadia after matches!

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Surely being told that if your coach arrives after an hour before kick off you will be told to go home is a bit strange ?

 

[Muzzy]

No there was no escort two years ago and it took forever I seem to remember because the way out is back past the stadium. Two years ago there was only about 4 or 5 coaches as well - and I'm pretty sure they charged about £25 a coach to park

I don't know how many coaches in total making the journey tomorrow but we have four going. Parking cost is £24 per coach.

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