LB, that raises a point I'd always been meaning to ask you. If a game is at Falmer, would there be scope to increase the four trains per hour you get to the station from Brighton/Lewes? Or would four prove to be sufficent? I'm not an expert on these matters but I'd assume due to the stadium being further out and the station closer, many more people would use the train for Falmer.
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Ok, how big IS Falmer?
- Thread starter Tesco in Disguise
- Start date
LB, that raises a point I'd always been meaning to ask you. If a game is at Falmer, would there be scope to increase the four trains per hour you get to the station from Brighton/Lewes? Or would four prove to be sufficent? I'm not an expert on these matters but I'd assume due to the stadium being further out and the station closer, many more people would use the train for Falmer.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
The frequency of trains can certainly be increased. As can the length of them - but within limits.
The best way to run more trains between Brighton and Falmer is to run the extra trains as shuttles between Brighton and Lewes. And that's where the problems kick in. There is limited capacity to terminate trains at Lewes and the platforms on the Brighton line at Lewes aren't long enough to take an eight-carriage train, nor can they be lengthened. Even if the platforms at Falmer were lengthened, there would still be a limit to how many people could be carried by train to and from matches.
What the Club need to be thinking about is how they can persuade people to stay behind after a game, so as to spread departure times over as long a period as possible.
Cheap Harvey's? Post-match meals? Pornographic ice spectaculars?
The best way to run more trains between Brighton and Falmer is to run the extra trains as shuttles between Brighton and Lewes. And that's where the problems kick in. There is limited capacity to terminate trains at Lewes and the platforms on the Brighton line at Lewes aren't long enough to take an eight-carriage train, nor can they be lengthened. Even if the platforms at Falmer were lengthened, there would still be a limit to how many people could be carried by train to and from matches.
What the Club need to be thinking about is how they can persuade people to stay behind after a game, so as to spread departure times over as long a period as possible.
Cheap Harvey's? Post-match meals? Pornographic ice spectaculars?
turienzo's lovechild
New member
- Oct 25, 2003
- 23,964
could shuttle trains be organised between JUST falmer and brighton lord B?
otherwise, surely the number of buses could be increased? this would surely be easier than increasing the number of trains?
otherwise, surely the number of buses could be increased? this would surely be easier than increasing the number of trains?
Lord Bracknell
On fire
I think they'd just clutter up the line as they struggled to reverse and cross on to the other track for the journey back into Brighton.
Buses are easier. But, as the evidence given to the Public Inquiry showed, there is a limit to how many are available.
turienzo's lovechild
New member
- Oct 25, 2003
- 23,964
hmmm
you have a fair point
surely some form of deal could be struck with brighton & hove buses.....if not for buses, but for coaches? we've been good customers in the past have we not? even if its extending the number 25 route and laying on coaches/buses on top of that? that could take a strain off the trains
you have a fair point
surely some form of deal could be struck with brighton & hove buses.....if not for buses, but for coaches? we've been good customers in the past have we not? even if its extending the number 25 route and laying on coaches/buses on top of that? that could take a strain off the trains
Well I assume it wouldn't be hard to get it up to 5 trains an hour, by then the Ashford diesel train might not even be running if the plans to cut back on Eurostar there goes through.
Would 5 trains from the period 1.40-2.40 not be enough?(I may be being stupid here), but I'm sure it could help carry a sizeable number of supporters. Then of course there are the ones that would travel from Lewes to Falmer, which could comprimise a fair few people too.
champion7
fast and furious
if they wanted to raise the capacity they would have to apply for planning permission
Scoffers
Well-known member
No shit
Scoffers
Well-known member
thanks again Lord B, that does help to explain the limitations. So the only way we could conceivably get more train throughput would be to extend Lewes & Falmer stations to be able to handle 12 coach trains. Is that even remotely possible, in say, 10-15 years time?
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,974
The main problem will occur after matches when fans are trying to get from Falmer back to Brighton, With the old signalling system there is on that line a train can't leave Falmer for Brighton before the previous train has arrived in Brighton station.
Scoffers
Well-known member
Is that for real? If so, is it gonna get upgraded by the time the stadium is built?
I presume that an upgrade of the points/signals was not part of the stadium plan!!
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,974
Yeah it's for real, And there's no plans for any upgrading of signalling or stations anywhere on that line except for a new foot bridge at Falmer station.
Scoffers
Well-known member
I thought there were plans to extend Falmer Station, not just upgrade the footbridge.
So I presume this is where the 5 trains per hour limit comes from.
Screaming J
He'll put a spell on you
I thought it had been upgraded. After all, its not semaphore but colour light now?
Would it cost that much, BB, to install another section (I think that's what its called) at either Moulescoomb or London Road - that would increase the capacity. In fact why IS signalling so expensive - its only a few poles and light bulbs!!
And if they were really clever they could use the old platform 4 at Lewes - from memory its still only covered up with gravel.
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,974
They can extend Falmer station as much as they want but as Lord B rightly said the problem of longer trains will be at Lewes, And Lewes platforms can't be extended because of the layout there.
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,974
It's a bit more involved than just a few poles and light bulbs.
Yeah the line has moved on from the old semaphore signalling but although it's colour light now it's still only 2 aspect signalling which is very slow. I would'nt like to put a price on it but you'd be talking £millions to upgrade that line and the railway would'nt and the Albion could'nt pay for it.
Screaming J
He'll put a spell on you
True but they could use all 3 platforms on the Brighton side of the station and the old platform that used to be there couldn't they? Wouldn't that help capacity; even if the trains can't be any longer you could fit more of them in?
Scoffers
Well-known member
It's a bit more involved than just a few poles and light bulbs.
Yeah the line has moved on from the old semaphore signalling but although it's colour light now it's still only 2 aspect signalling which is very slow. I would'nt like to put a price on it but you'd be talking £millions to upgrade that line and the railway would'nt and the Albion could'nt pay for it.
Thanks BB. Looks like were buggered then
The bit about the trains is quite depressing. I knew about the platform length, but I fondly imagined that trains (which after all can be operated from both ends) could just pull into the platform at Lewes, the driver would swap ends, and then it could go back to Brighton again. I fondly imagined a whole fleet of weekday commuter trains (which would otherwise be idle) happily shuttling back and forth between Brighton and Lewes.
The limit of 'only one train between Falmer and Brighton' is archaic - but all too believable. So it looks like our opponents were right, Falmer WAS the wrong place. Is Pende still available?
The limit of 'only one train between Falmer and Brighton' is archaic - but all too believable. So it looks like our opponents were right, Falmer WAS the wrong place. Is Pende still available?
Scoffers
Well-known member
Well, I wouldnt go that far. It seems to me all potential sites would just have different restrictions, most of which would not permit even 22,500 capacity. In all probability, 22,500 is pretty much the max we would have got anywhere