Trouble is as the trains are so crap it means more people are getting dropped off and picked up which causes more delays on the roads around Falmer which impacts on the P&R buses as they try to get back to pick more people up. Plus Bennetts Field being closed has made trying to get out of the University parking as long as The Bridge now (or so it seems). Maybe it is just particularly dozy stewards managing the traffic but at the Uni they seem to prioritise traffic moving through rather than trying to get cars out of the main car park.
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[Travel] Mill Road P&R Chaos
- Thread starter Westdene Seagull
- Start date
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
After the Arsenal game on New Years Eve it is going to be a nightmare escaping from Mill Road.
If the game finishes at 19.30, we'll join the P&R line-up and probably be back to Mill Road and out of the car park exit by about 21.00.
Based on recent games I reckon I'll be lucky to be home in Bognor by about 10pm.
If I can't get a Bridge car park spot I think I'll swerve the game. And even if I do get a car park spot I'll need to make a dash at 89 mins if I don't want to get stuck in the Bridge car park.
If the game finishes at 19.30, we'll join the P&R line-up and probably be back to Mill Road and out of the car park exit by about 21.00.
Based on recent games I reckon I'll be lucky to be home in Bognor by about 10pm.
If I can't get a Bridge car park spot I think I'll swerve the game. And even if I do get a car park spot I'll need to make a dash at 89 mins if I don't want to get stuck in the Bridge car park.
He's not longer on the fan advisory board.
Have to say, though, as someone who comes down from London for matches, the club REALLY needs to sort out Mill Road (and, ideally, alternatives).
It's already a trek, which tests my kids. Long delays on P'n'R could (genuinely) be the straw which breaks the camel's back when it comes to season ticket renewal.
Weststander
Well-known member
Being that date and time, I think lots of Albion will either be away or doing something else, plus bloody cold.
Possibly just 20,000 Albion there, the rest taken up by Sussex born'n'bred Plastic Gooners.
Well he didnt last long. How do you contact Advisory board to ask if something can be put on agenda
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
I wonder how many people using the P&R come from the west and how far out the club would be prepared to provide a P&R?
i.e. would there be enough demand to operate a service along the A27 somewhere a bit further out?
And also could Pyecombe on the A23 become a regular option?
i.e. would there be enough demand to operate a service along the A27 somewhere a bit further out?
And also could Pyecombe on the A23 become a regular option?
It doesn't say how you get in touch... are any of them active on NSC?
- Nigel Summers
- Gillian Martin
- Allison Brett
- Niraj Haria
- Clive Steed
- Natalie Banbury
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
I raised the subject of P & R with Paul Barber a couple of years ago - when Mithras House closed.
At the time, that was said to be temporary - however it's now very obviously permanent.
I asked whether the matter of how the P & R could be improved could be raised with the transport manager (I thought we had one) but PB said we didn't have one.....
IMO, the whole question of transport to/from The Amex needs addressing -
No Bennett's Field (meaning less parking at UNI)
No Mithras House
No Bendy Busses at Mill Road.
Bigger crowds than when the Amex opened.
Discussions with train companies regarding length of trains.
All of the above need addressing.
Just ignoring the problem, and thinking it will go away is a sure fire way to p**s off your 'customers'
Perhaps someone who campaigned for our votes on the FAB could take up this matter?
At the time, that was said to be temporary - however it's now very obviously permanent.
I asked whether the matter of how the P & R could be improved could be raised with the transport manager (I thought we had one) but PB said we didn't have one.....
IMO, the whole question of transport to/from The Amex needs addressing -
No Bennett's Field (meaning less parking at UNI)
No Mithras House
No Bendy Busses at Mill Road.
Bigger crowds than when the Amex opened.
Discussions with train companies regarding length of trains.
All of the above need addressing.
Just ignoring the problem, and thinking it will go away is a sure fire way to p**s off your 'customers'
Perhaps someone who campaigned for our votes on the FAB could take up this matter?
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,062
The trouble with having one further out would be, off the top of my head, the extra fuel costs involved that would have to be taken on by someone and also where to put that has capacity for that many cars. The only place I could see it possibly working without going MILES away would be the Shoreham Airport road (Cecil Pashley Way), but even then I don't think they'd get permission to run it from there...
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,062
Totally agree with all of that. It's like the goalposts have been moved since the stadium opened and the options for getting to the ground are getting fewer and fewer and more and more difficult. I might be tempted to go back to the Seagulls Travel coaches, but I'm guessing they are a lot more heavily subscribed since the last time we used them many seasons ago...
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.
Transport is supposed to be included in the ticket and the club have a duty to ensure that there is adequate transport. I went to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the T20 (transport included in the ticket price) and there was a tram running every few minutes and there were plenty of empty buses to take people into the city. 48,000 capacity and no problems.
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,062
It was free when they first started, I think. I certainly don't remember paying anything for the first few seasons. Then ST starting charging and the prices (understandably) kept creeping up.
Just had a look and it would either be £54.75 or £28.50 for each game – a combination of the kids being older and the rising prices. I think I'll carry on taking the risk with the P&R service...
dolphins
Well-known member
The ST option has definitely got more expensive. I was really surprised when I bought a recent game's travel, as it had gone up what felt like a lot since last year. For some of us, I think it will seriously reduce the number of games we can afford to go to, especially with the P&R going heavily downhill (which WILL have a knock-on effect with the number of early leavers). Transport to/from the ground is becoming more and more of a headache. I know a number of people used to car-share to the Virgin Active club adjacent to the ground, but that closed down a little while ago thus taking away a reasonable sized car park that was free for members to use (who used to get food and drink in the cafe at the club too).
Somewhat confusingly, they have two similarly named products
- Matchday Bus Service
- Matchday Express Service
If my memory is correct, the former, which is broadly local Brighton & Hove routes, was free when the Amex opened with the latter, serving wider Sussex and beyond, had to be paid for. Looking now the "local" buses are £9.50 plus £2.00 booking.
Everybody on here has valid points and club are going down wrong route if they think this will go away. Unless club are showing this is a concern to them they are in danger of losing good supporters. Surely we are entitled to have some answers.
1) If at opening of Amex with 20k gates it was felt 3 P&R sites were needed why as was stated has Mithras house not been replaced.
2) On original arrangement with Southern rail was an agreement in place for a certain number of trains and carriages.
3) Do they communicate with Southern Rail about poor service. and discuss pre game how many carriages.
4)Surely if more people are using P&R more buses are needed. Could number of P&R buses be increased at Mill Road.
5) Was it always there intention of withdrawing subsidy to Seagull Travel. With the cost of this now it has pushed more on to trains and P&Rs
6) Understandably dont expect it to be answered but any chance club will purchase Bennetts Field to relieve the congestion
I have only emailed PB once and that was about travel. Long reply basically saying how lucky we are to have free travel. That doesnt go down well waiting over an hour and lets be fair we were also told at start it was added to our ST.
1) If at opening of Amex with 20k gates it was felt 3 P&R sites were needed why as was stated has Mithras house not been replaced.
2) On original arrangement with Southern rail was an agreement in place for a certain number of trains and carriages.
3) Do they communicate with Southern Rail about poor service. and discuss pre game how many carriages.
4)Surely if more people are using P&R more buses are needed. Could number of P&R buses be increased at Mill Road.
5) Was it always there intention of withdrawing subsidy to Seagull Travel. With the cost of this now it has pushed more on to trains and P&Rs
6) Understandably dont expect it to be answered but any chance club will purchase Bennetts Field to relieve the congestion
I have only emailed PB once and that was about travel. Long reply basically saying how lucky we are to have free travel. That doesnt go down well waiting over an hour and lets be fair we were also told at start it was added to our ST.
Personally, I find the trains okay. Arriving at Brighton an hour or so before KO and then getting in the queue to go home an hour or so after final whistle is usually fine unless there’s an issue with the actual service. If this is happens get the bus or a cab.
He's rather derogatory about the bike I choose for that particular journey so f**k him.
I'll have the last laugh when he sees in my last will and testament I've left all my goods and chattels to the bike and not him.
I find it hard to believe people refusing to walk more than a few hundred yards are too blame.
Come on who would actually be that selfish?
The Fifth Column
Lazy mug
It's not really free travel though in my opinion no matter how PB tries to portray it as such. I pay for a season ticket which has a travel option attached to it therefore its not free, the club can claim its free but its not really is it. Regardless, its a service the club essentially provide that I have no option but to use and it should be fit for purpose and effective which its clearly not. Hiding behind the 'its free so suck it up' excuse is a recipe for losing season ticket holders. Club need to find a way to improve it or a lot of fans will start giving games a miss