[Travel] Mill Road P&R Chaos

[WATFORD zero]

The problems of the mill road p&r have been caused primarily by the double-edged sword of increased demand (due to shit trains, pandemic, loss of mithras etc) and reduced capacity (loss of bendy buses, traffic congestion etc).
Before the match it is just about bearable as the demand is spread out somewhat and i used to find if i waited for some 40 minutes after the game before leaving the stadium i would usually get to the top of the stairs up to the bus park before the queue started. Sadly this is no longer the case and on sunday i had the joyful experience of not even reaching the stairs by the time i heard the stadium announcement that the last park and ride buses would be leaving shortly- one hour and 15 minutes after the final whistle!
Like everyone i would like something to be done and i have a couple of suggestions. The obvious thing would be to somehow get southern fail to improve the train service and thus reduce p&r demand (if only!!!) but if that is a non goer how about using double decker buses to drop off at either the top or bottom of mill road and having 1 or 2 single deckers to shuttle people who are unable to walk to their car. The added benefit would be that the double deckers would not themselves get caught up in the queue up the hill and be able to get back to the Amex quicker. They could even use the buses for the racecourse once that queue is gone as it was so frustrating on sunday seeing racecourse buses leaving with about 7 people on them and two more empty ones waiting while we were still 100 deep climbing the stairs!

This person has resolved the whole Mill Road thing.

I was trying to think of reversing the flow/double decker etc, but you've got it. Run a maybe 3 single deckers up the hill round the A27 and back down to the Patcham roundabout, and run double decker's to drop off and turn around at the BP garage.

Less stops (people at the bottom will walk to their cars, less busses going up the road getting stuck), I think that Millions have been made on less of a good idea

 

[Weststander]

I've been lucky the last 4 games as I've ponced a seat on a Seagulls Travel bus with my sister, due to her friend being quite ill and not being able to attend lately so I've had her seat.

Unfortunately she's been feeling much better this week, and was well enough to go to the game, so I was thrown back into the wilds of public transport. I aimed for the 12.12 at Portslade, which was delayed, and delayed, and delayed until about 12.35. Eventually a 4 carriage jobbie turned up which was so rammed I physically couldn't get on. When the doors opened, people were literally almost falling out. Maybe I could've forced my way on somewhere, but honestly, even for that short journey, I really didn't fancy it. What a shitshow. I figured the next train would be no better (and probably delayed as well), so I left the station, and as I wandered down Boundary Road, I pondered my next move. Just giving up, going home and watching it on TV was becoming very tempting. But then a number 6 bus to Brighton Station went past me, so I hopped on that.

Long and short of it, after a bit of hanging around to get on a train at Brighton, I got to the Amex concourse at 1.45, so 1 hour 45 minutes from leaving home to arriving at the destination. Getting home was a predictable trauma, leaving at the final whistle (like a mug) and eventually cramming on to a train at Falmer at about 4.35. Abandoned any notion of getting a west coast connection, sloped down to Churchill Sq and got a Sunday service 700, eventually getting home just before 6, so some 2 hours after the game.

Regular NSC-ers will know I am a seasoned travel grizzler on here. I have not much more to add tbh, its simply getting worse and worse. I always relied on the trains, but since COVID, the levels of service have now rendered this unviable. I was going to give the Mill Road P&R a go - that is until I clocked the stories on here.

Come renewal time, for the first time, I'm actually going to have a decision to make. I can't put up with this any more.

Mill Road still works if:

- 90 minutes (no later) before KO you park up at the very top of King George VI Drive or Woodland Avenue and walk across that tiny park. It’s become popular. You’ll get to your stand 30 minutes before KO.

- leave games 5 minutes before your estimate of the actual final whistle and move swiftly to the park n ride buses. In all the seasons I may’ve missed just one key Albion goal, as I stayed when we looked ‘on fire’.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I've been lucky the last 4 games as I've ponced a seat on a Seagulls Travel bus with my sister, due to her friend being quite ill and not being able to attend lately so I've had her seat.

Unfortunately she's been feeling much better this week, and was well enough to go to the game, so I was thrown back into the wilds of public transport. I aimed for the 12.12 at Portslade, which was delayed, and delayed, and delayed until about 12.35. Eventually a 4 carriage jobbie turned up which was so rammed I physically couldn't get on. When the doors opened, people were literally almost falling out. Maybe I could've forced my way on somewhere, but honestly, even for that short journey, I really didn't fancy it. What a shitshow. I figured the next train would be no better (and probably delayed as well), so I left the station, and as I wandered down Boundary Road, I pondered my next move. Just giving up, going home and watching it on TV was becoming very tempting. But then a number 6 bus to Brighton Station went past me, so I hopped on that.

Long and short of it, after a bit of hanging around to get on a train at Brighton, I got to the Amex concourse at 1.45, so 1 hour 45 minutes from leaving home to arriving at the destination. Getting home was a predictable trauma, leaving at the final whistle (like a mug) and eventually cramming on to a train at Falmer at about 4.35. Abandoned any notion of getting a west coast connection, sloped down to Churchill Sq and got a Sunday service 700, eventually getting home just before 6, so some 2 hours after the game.

Regular NSC-ers will know I am a seasoned travel grizzler on here. I have not much more to add tbh, its simply getting worse and worse. I always relied on the trains, but since COVID, the levels of service have now rendered this unviable. I was going to give the Mill Road P&R a go - that is until I clocked the stories on here.

Come renewal time, for the first time, I'm actually going to have a decision to make. I can't put up with this any more.

Absolute disgrace that longtime STALWART local fans are thinking of jacking it in due to shitty transport options. Club won't always have the luxury of being able to count on huge numbers of domestic and foreign EPL tourists swelling the numbers. How long does the club think those people will stick around for in the event of a downturn in fortunes? Club needs to sort out the shitty transport options NOW

 

[Easy 10]

Mill Road still works if:

- 90 minutes (no later) before KO you park up at the very top of King George VI Drive or Woodland Avenue and walk across that tiny park. It’s become popular. You’ll get to your stand 30 minutes before KO.

- leave games 5 minutes before your estimate of the actual final whistle and move swiftly to the park n ride buses. In all the seasons I may’ve missed just one key Albion goal, as I stayed when we looked ‘on fire’.

Cheers, I shall consider all options and bear that in mind.
Its all just becoming such a tiresome mission though. The older I get, the less I can be arsed.

 

[Springal]

L
3) Do they communicate with Southern Rail about poor service. and discuss pre game how many carriages.
4)

Paul Barber made it very clear to me yesterday that the club couldn’t do anything and I should contact Southern directly with my feedback. Which is odd as supposedly the club pay Southern pay money from the ‘subsidy’ for something ?

Irony is if I paid for train travel myself I’d be getting a bit back every now and again for the late running / cancellation of services via delay repay!

 

[Weststander]

Cheers, I shall consider all options and bear that in mind.
Its all just becoming such a tiresome mission though. The older I get, the less I can be arsed.

I lost motivation with Potter’s relentless non-Amex scoring/winning football, and with my match day companion my son going off to a uni 300 miles away. He’s now back permanently, having company makes it okay.

 

[Bozza]

Mill Road still works if:

- 90 minutes (no later) before KO you park up at the very top of King George VI Drive or Woodland Avenue and walk across that tiny park. It’s become popular. You’ll get to your stand 30 minutes before KO.

- leave games 5 minutes before your estimate of the actual final whistle and move swiftly to the park n ride buses. In all the seasons I may’ve missed just one key Albion goal, as I stayed when we looked ‘on fire’.

I’m not sure I’d describe anything as “working” if it necessitated leaving early in that way. I don’t think I’ve ever left a game at the Amex before the final whistle.

I almost don’t see the point if I can’t see the end of the game and clap the players off / boo off the ref etc.

That’s not to say I don’t understand why people do leave early - it clearly makes a massive difference in terms of travel time home - but for me it’s not a solution.

On your other point- if roads in close proximity to Mill Road are getting clogged up with football fans, I wonder if match day parking restrictions will be brought into force.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I’m not sure I’d describe anything as “working” if it necessitated leaving early in that way. I don’t think I’ve ever left a game at the Amex before the final whistle.

I almost don’t see the point if I can’t see the end of the game and clap the players off / boo off the ref etc.

That’s not to say I don’t understand why people do leave early - it clearly makes a massive difference in terms of travel time home - but for me it’s not a solution.

On your other point- if roads in close proximity to Mill Road are getting clogged up with football fans, I wonder if match day parking restrictions will be brought into force.

Could this one be suggested to the transport manager ?

This person has resolved the whole Mill Road thing.

I was trying to think of reversing the flow/double decker etc, but you've got it. Run a maybe 3 single deckers up the hill round the A27 and back down to the Patcham roundabout, and run double decker's to drop off and turn around at the BP garage.

Less stops (people at the bottom will walk to their cars, less busses going up the road getting stuck), I think that Millions have been made on less of a good idea

It's @Dave the hatosaurus suggestion but I think it would certainly improve Mill road P&R

 

[Weststander]

I’m not sure I’d describe anything as “working” if it necessitated leaving early in that way. I don’t think I’ve ever left a game at the Amex before the final whistle.

I almost don’t see the point if I can’t see the end of the game and clap the players off / boo off the ref etc.

That’s not to say I don’t understand why people do leave early - it clearly makes a massive difference in terms of travel time home - but for me it’s not a solution.

On your other point- if roads in close proximity to Mill Road are getting clogged up with football fans, I wonder if match day parking restrictions will be brought into force.

I get home an hour earlier, making my match day sortie to the stadium 4 miles away just 4 hours (instead of 5).

[I like booze, but drinking beer from plastic beakers in a windowless concourse post match, isn’t my thing].

In 46 years of going to games all over England, Scotland and the Netherlands, I never left early. For me it’s the Falmer crowds bottleneck. When I have stayed, it appears that 10,000-15,000 other Albion punters usually leave early too unless it’s a special win. That ratio simply didn’t occur in times of winning football at the Goldstone or Withdean.

 

[Stat Brother]

Could this one be suggested to the transport manager ?

It's @Dave the hatosaurus suggestion but I think it would certainly improve Mill road P&R

There's nowhere for the double deckers to alight.
Even if they could you will still end up with the 3 shuttle buses 'stuck' on MR and now an ever increasing amount of people frustratedly having their second wait of the journey.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I think that's another goalpost that has shifted slightly. I believe the club initially provided some sort of subsidy to ST for their coach travel, but that was withdrawn a little while ago. As a result, it is quite an expensive option.

From Findon Valley, for my son and I, it's £41.70 per game.

I would guess that the higher cost of this option has pushed some folk back towards cars/P&R as they are significantly cheaper.

Interesting, any idea why the subsidy was withdrawn? I say this as someone who pays for 1.5 ST season tickets (c£18 a game) a year without any usage on the train. Would be nice if individual subsidies could be reallocated but appreciate the admin

 

[Driver8]

Is some of the problem with Mill Road P&R that it is designed to cater for the cars that actually park in Mill Road and not those that either park elsewhere and try and get on at the top (or live nearby and walk to the top)? It must be hard to try and gauge numbers for those not actually parking in Mill Road.

 

[pure_white]

Not P&R but I actually emailed Paul Barber for the first time yesterday about Southerns performance - 4 carriage trains only and only 2 services an hour on the West Coastway.

I acknowledged and accept the club have little power, they at least have a commercial arrangement with Southern given they apparently pay them part of the ‘travel subsidy’ so might have some lines of communication to them. But I was told I needed to take it up with Southern myself

The stadium was built based on a sustainable travel plan but based on what’s being provided I don’t see how the club are keeping up its side of the bargain.

If the club refused to take this up with the railways then what does that say about their relationship with their customers? I do find that hard to believe as they pay the subsidy and will surely have far more leverage than a single fan. Sundays seems to be an issue as fewer trans are running (and put on as football specials) but on the flip side had the game been played on Saturday there was no mainline trains and a bus replacement. Maybe the bus replacement had something to do with the availability of busses for the P & R? What i notice ongoing is the issue around trains enough frequency number carriages etc. etc. is on-going and fans are really snookered here because the ground was built on reliance of the trains to get fans to and from the Amex. Every time I stand on the Falmer station platforms I am amazed the go ahead was given without upgrading the station - but that's another issue!

 

[WATFORD zero]

There's nowhere for the double deckers to alight.
Even if they could you will still end up with the 3 shuttle buses 'stuck' on MR and now an ever increasing amount of people frustratedly having their second wait of the journey.

You can throw the buggers out opposite the BP station. There's actually a small layby (which you would know had you played at Patcham place for years and chased a ball across it wearing studs ) and the second half may be frustrating (encouraging people to walk) but certainly wouldn't be worse than now,

Yours respectfully,

Someone who does it every f***ing match

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Sorry back to Fans Advisory Board. What is the point if no obvious way to contact them to ask them to put something forward. Maybe just another box ticked so PB can tell PL he listens to supporters.

What’s the deal with this FAB? All I have heard is people getting booted off and another one leaving. Is there any other news?

 

[Dave the OAP]

I am NOT belittling the complaints as they are perfectly valid, and having been stuck in football transport queues I know how frustrating they can be .... but it is noticeable that these complaints always seem to surface after a defeat. (Same as complaints about prices, transfer schemes, bottle tops etc). If we'd won on Sunday no one would give a toss about anything, we'd all be suffused with a warm glow.

However, that point notwithstanding the complaints are valid. If at the end of the season the football has been so-so or poor it'll be the ancillary issues as much as anything that'll determine whether people renew or not. So it needs sorting out.

the home game before Chelsea, I queued at the top of mill hill for 3/4 hour and 3 busses came through taking just 10 to 15 people each as they were nearly full!

you are right, if this continues I certainly won’t bother anymore…no matter how good or bad the footy

I do sympathise. If we had won and you'd started the same thread people would say "Typical! Another win but somebody has to moan about something!" (Probably why Dave didn't start one after the Chelsea victory even though it was bad then!)

I wasn’t there…we were at mums house looking how we could clear it.

 

[Stat Brother]

You can throw the buggers out opposite the BP station (there's actually a small layby (which you would know had you chased a ball across it from Patcham place wearing studs ) and the second half may be frustrating (encouraging people to walk) but certainly wouldn't be worse than now,

Yours respectfully,

Someone who does it every f***ing match

As do I or at least I would if it was fit for purpose.

As said above it would be interesting to know how many cars park on MR and how many people the buses carry.

Dunno what the answer is, it seems at the moment thats 'put as many people off as possible, encouraging them to sort transport out for themselves'.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I've been lucky the last 4 games as I've ponced a seat on a Seagulls Travel bus with my sister, due to her friend being quite ill and not being able to attend lately so I've had her seat.

Unfortunately she's been feeling much better this week, and was well enough to go to the game, so I was thrown back into the wilds of public transport. I aimed for the 12.12 at Portslade, which was delayed, and delayed, and delayed until about 12.35. Eventually a 4 carriage jobbie turned up which was so rammed I physically couldn't get on. When the doors opened, people were literally almost falling out. Maybe I could've forced my way on somewhere, but honestly, even for that short journey, I really didn't fancy it. What a shitshow. I figured the next train would be no better (and probably delayed as well), so I left the station, and as I wandered down Boundary Road, I pondered my next move. Just giving up, going home and watching it on TV was becoming very tempting. But then a number 6 bus to Brighton Station went past me, so I hopped on that.

Long and short of it, after a bit of hanging around to get on a train at Brighton, I got to the Amex concourse at 1.45, so 1 hour 45 minutes from leaving home to arriving at the destination. Getting home was a predictable trauma, leaving at the final whistle (like a mug) and eventually cramming on to a train at Falmer at about 4.35. Abandoned any notion of getting a west coast connection, sloped down to Churchill Sq and got a Sunday service 700, eventually getting home just before 6, so some 2 hours after the game.

Regular NSC-ers will know I am a seasoned travel grizzler on here. I have not much more to add tbh, its simply getting worse and worse. I always relied on the trains, but since COVID, the levels of service have now rendered this unviable. I was going to give the Mill Road P&R a go - that is until I clocked the stories on here.

Come renewal time, for the first time, I'm actually going to have a decision to make. I can't put up with this any more.

Coastway West really is the pits. I've long since given up on getting any kind of train at Portslade, especially on Sundays.

Either my mate drives over from Steyning and picks us up, driving to Brighton and parking near the station or me and the lad take a conscious decision to get a 6, keeping an eye on the live departures on the bus app. Same on the way back, either matey drives us from Brighton or we walk down to Churchill Sq and get a 1 or 49.

However good you make the shuttle service from Brighton / Lewes it'll never make up for the fact that the West route isn't fit for purpose on matchday and everyone from Hove back to Shoreham probably has a very real chance of not getting on a train on the way over and of having to join a second train queue at Brighton on the way back.

Incidentally we were at Southampton away last season and I bumped into a long time Brighton supporting mate on the concourse who works for SASTA. He told me that for that away game they could have doubled the coach lengths on all services from Brighton to Southampton at no extra cost but when he suggested it, the answer was "no" with no explanation. I think there are managers at SASTA who consider getting people to where they need to go on time - literally their job - to be too much effort.

I'm astonished Paul Barber won't do anything. I'd be demanding talks with their senior management and a few rockets up a few backsides.

 

[ac gull]

Used Mill Road Park and Ride for September Leicester game - worked OK ish - I arrived 15 minutes before it was supposed to open and must have been 40th or 50th car - so you have to get there mega early for it to work - no doubt much worse re no bendy buses now

Having binned off ST during covid - am tempted to get one again for Feb 23 onwards - but what puts me off is the transport:

- no longer able to get Car Park Season Tickets
- no longer able to know will have a Bridge Car Park place

Alternatives when have driven 4 hours to get there mean it becomes unworkable / too tiring time wise, before you get onto the costs

Still all the while we have more overseas "fans" attending from wherever, club still gets its income stream if you are only going once

Best question such "fans" asked me on a game went to earlier this year, was how long we had had our plastic pitch for, they were deadly serious too, and quite shocked to hear it wasn't a plastic pitch

Above is all before mention VAR and fact that watching at home on TV I get told more info re what's happened and why than anyone in the ground ...

Thus think I will stick to odd game every few months, once have forgotten how "good" journey was last time

Should Bridge Car Park situation change may make a different decision ...

 

[timbha]

Isn’t the P&R process smoother when they use Hickstead, Pyecombe and sainsburys (hove) sites?

It’s a shame (part of) Braypool can’t be used but at the end of the day it’s down to the number of buses and trains available