Fourth season and transport, catering issues are still not sorted!

[lawros left foot]

I think it all depends on what you go to football for. Personally I go to watch the match, have a beer, and enjoy an afternoon with my son. I long ago realised that a game of football is ninety minutes long and it takes time to get there and back, so I allow acouple of hours either side of the game. If I go out on Saturday night, I arrange to go either when we are away or I just go out later. I fail to understand how people still believe that they can get out of a ground, with a twenty five thousand plus crowd in the stadium, Iin the same time frame as when we were at Withdean and the Godstone with only a 7000 crowd. As for people leaving early cos of the transport problems what about those who go for a drink or whatever before halftime, some as early as the 35 minute, and not coming back till the fiftieth, really I don't understand it

 

[J2 DOG]

Unless it involves making money or complying with essential rules, the club no longer give a shit!! Becoming a dull,souless joke of a pisshole!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Nice Summer evening and they started closing down the North Stand concourse just after 6pm. It's like they've given up trying to get people to stay later.

 

[trueblue]

Not everyone can travel by train.

No, you're right. It's a shame someone hasn't thought of building railway stations all over the country that are linked together by tracks. If they did that, then pretty much everyone could get anywhere by train - especially if they built football stadiums right next to where the train stops.

 

[Goldstone1976]

No, you're right. It's a shame someone hasn't thought of building railway stations all over the country that are linked together by tracks. If they did that, then pretty much everyone could get anywhere by train - especially if they built football stadiums right next to where the train stops.

You're right of course, but it's not the hardware that's the problem - it's the unreliability of the service if you have to make several journeys. My journey to the Amex by train is Cambridge-Kings Cross-Victoria-Lewes-Falmer. I have done the journey by train twice and both times I got into the ground after half time when the scheduled services said I should get to the ground approx 1hr before kick-off. It's just too unreliable.

I now drive M11-M25-M/A23-A27, and it's far more reliable, even though I've got Dartford bridge/tunnel to contend with. If the train service as a whole (making multiple connections) was reliable, I'd use it. It isn't, so I don't.

 

[maltaseagull]

I have only been to a couple of games per season and have to say transport was pretty easy.Have tried train from Seaford and back and bus from Central Brighton. There was quite a queue for the trains on the way home but nothing unexpected when leaving any venue with such a large number of people.

Same with the concourse(although I didn't bother at half time)

I have experienced much worse at the old Wembley.

 

[durrington gull]

Trains are better but I think they will withdraw the travel subsidy next season - this was hinted in the travel survey

 

[Knotty]

Unless it involves making money or complying with essential rules, the club no longer give a shit!! Becoming a dull,souless joke of a pisshole!

1. Exactly how much money has the club made? I thought we'd made substantial losses!

2. If rules are essential, should we not comply with them?

3. Dull, soulless joke of a pisshole You cannot be serious? What do you want, exactly?

 

[trueblue]

You're right of course, but it's not the hardware that's the problem - it's the unreliability of the service if you have to make several journeys. My journey to the Amex by train is Cambridge-Kings Cross-Victoria-Lewes-Falmer. I have done the journey by train twice and both times I got into the ground after half time when the scheduled services said I should get to the ground approx 1hr before kick-off. It's just too unreliable.

I now drive M11-M25-M/A23-A27, and it's far more reliable, even though I've got Dartford bridge/tunnel to contend with. If the train service as a whole (making multiple connections) was reliable, I'd use it. It isn't, so I don't.

Fair play. I'm sure you have a far more complex journey though than a lot of the people who moan about the transport. Fri night games are toughest for me because I work in London a lot and generally for those I've found the trains far more reliable than trying to battle my way down on the packed motorways. The point stands though that even people coming from further afield have the option of parking somewhere away from the ground (it doesn't have to be where they live) and using public transport for the final part of the journey. Sure, there'll be some queues but actually if you use somewhere like Mithras House then in my experience it can be even quicker than getting out of the car parks. At least once you hit the road, the traffic's flowing.

 

[JBizzleBeard]

I don't think £4.20 is that bad for a pint of Kronenbourg my main problem was not being able to one in the WSU at 2.30pm.

 

[perseus]

Transport issues ?

I left 1 minute before the end of injury time (well, FLOUNCED if I'm honest, after Agustiens umpteenth pass to a yellow shirt). Got on the 5.06 from Falmer station, and was in back in Portslade just after 5.30.

Arrived Falmer station 5:10 pm
This means a big queue to catch 5:22 pm which leaves at 5:26 pm and arrives at Brighton 5:34 pm, which is when I get annoyed because it should meet the 5:36 pm to Hove to meet the London train, but this train does not seem to run.

Failing that the 5:41 semi-fast to Littlehampton but they close the gates and won't let passengers through *

so it is the 5:53 pm all stations and halts, but at least there is a seat if you get on early, otherwise standing.

(* this is more of an annoyance to ordinary passengers who arrive with plenty of time and went to go to Goring and the like. Train is there and they can't get on it and the next train to Goring is not for half an hour.)

Back home by 6:30 pm, for 12 miles. 90 minutes each way travelling by train. I am thinking of cycling. Travel in was good for the first time: 50 minutes only. Despite of or because of two train cancellations.

West Coastway route will stop hundreds if not thousands of fans going to games.

 

[e77]

Transport: I am going to swim against the tide and suggest it is quite good (admittedly my Seagull Travel coach didn't turn up yesterday but that isn't the clubs fault and they did rectify the situation). Not sure there is much they can do on the train/coach front and anyone driving should realise it is going to be busy leaving.

One minor criticism is that cars got priority over coaches getting out the ground yesterday. Until a couple of coach drivers practically drove over some stewards to get out.

Food/Drink: Is getting a bit pricey which is going to make people eat and drink somewhere else. Service is always bad at the beginning of the season as a lot of new people start but they do seem to receive little help or training.

Tickets: Smartcards not working is a little inexcusable.

 

[Foolg]

I genuinely cannot believe that people honestly feel £4.20 for a pint of Fosters/Kronenbourg is 'not too bad'.

Christ. Travel wise, I left at the full time whistle and was on a train 10 minutes later.

 

[dougdeep]

The only time I have trouble heading East is if the opposition have a special train running. Like Palace and Charlton have in the past. Then there's a big gap between services and if you don't leave early you get stuck.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I don't get it with the pies either £4.10 for a lot of crust very little filling and the staff not able to tell the fillings apart

 

[Ernest]

I used Seagull Travel buses for the first time yesterday and I have no complaints, easy journey going and seemed less traffic and coming back I had a nice bag of chips with a SAVELOY in my hands at 550 making it much quicker and stress free than the train/bus combo

 

[wellquickwoody]

Price increases are too much £4.20 for a Kronenbourg!Think they are taking the piss a bit i wont be spending much in there now

£4.15 in Brighton town centre yesterday........

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I don't get it with the pies either £4.10 for a lot of crust very little filling and the staff not able to tell the fillings apart

A pint of Kronie and a pie, bought together, costs £7.50. Presumably some kind of meal deal, and can't quite work out whether its the Kronie or the pie that costs £4.10, but bought together £7.50 seems like a fair price.

 

[Brovion]

I genuinely cannot believe that people honestly feel £4.20 for a pint of Fosters/Kronenbourg is 'not too bad'.

Christ. Travel wise, I left at the full time whistle and was on a train 10 minutes later.

Rip-off Britain. We all know that prices are higher here but there's a reason for it - by and large British people are mugs.

 

[albion534]

£4.20 for a premium beer in a sporting stadium is very good value! Jesus