"Discussions have been held with Southern Rail, the rail operator that runs services to
Falmer Station, with regards to the spare capacity that currently exists on the rail
services and the potential to increase rail capacity.
With regards to the latter, we have been advised that, not only is there limited additional
rolling stock available, but signalling and power restrictions would also preclude an
increase in the frequency of trains or the lengthening of trains without substantial
infrastructure costs. As such, currently there is little potential to increase the capacity of
trains serving Falmer Station. We have also been advised by Southern Rail that there is little spare capacity available
on those existing services that currently accommodate peak supporter rail demand, i.e.
in the hour before kick-off and the 30 minutes after full time. However, we have been
advised that spare capacity exists on the trains that operate outside these peak periods
of supporter demand.
Therefore, rail can accommodate additional supporters by further extending the arrival
and departure profiles of supporters, to utilise the spare capacity that exists on those
train services operating over an hour before kick-off and over 30 minutes after full time.
It is our understanding that between 1,500 and 2,500 supporters could be assumed to
be accommodated on existing rail services by extending the arrival and departure profile
of supporters travelling by rail. This could be achieved through the club increasing the
pre and post-match entertainment or via catering offers that would seek to tempt
supporters into an earlier arrival time or later departure time.
As such, the analysis has assumed that 2,000 spectators could be accommodated on
existing rail services."
Using the modal share seen at the Blackpool game (45% by train), an additional 3,700 spectators will need to be accomodated on the trains; if this is approved then leaving by train, particularly at evening games where there's less capacity (this isn't recognised in the application btw), could be a real mare until/unless the infrastructure improvements are done, and actually help.