Seagull Special to Sunderland?

[Robot Chicken]

but I guess that some serious football clubs do it.

We're First Division now, we're a serious club now, alongside the likes of Leeds, Sunderland, West Ham, Leicester, Derby. We should think ourselves as being their equals (!!)

Sunderland and Leeds playing at home get a combined average league gate of almost 90,000.

 

[Yorkie]

It would be quicker, and probably cheaper, to go via KX.

Football special trains are certainly a thing of the past.

The Seagull Special was cheaper than the scheduled train fare.

A thing of the past? You should have been there. It was brilliant and being on the train with 499 other fans just added to the day.

You can get up and stretch your legs, go into another carriage to natter with other people, get drinks and food at the buffet car (which had restocked with gas on the way back) play cards or Pass the pigs.

Marvellous scenes and I'd recommend it to anyone. Routes would be worked out to be the quickest available. It was 4 hours from Hove to Cardiff.

 

[Safeway]

Football special trains are certainly a thing of the past.

What are you TALKING about?

 

[Blackadder]

Already given this some thought. Would like to fly.

A Chartered plane from LGW to Newcastle would be a great option. We would need to fill it though to keep costs down and everyone would have to be relied on not to "dip out" at the last minute. A deposit would be required.

Of course if the game is mid-week this could prove difficult.

I used to catch the specials in the old days. Went to York in 1977 at the vast expense of £4. The specials were always very old rolling stock. Was this the case on Saturday?

 

[Northstander]

Will the train be going via Leeds? Secondly just out of interest, How much would it be to charter a plane from Shoreham?

Or is the distance too much for that type of plane?

 

[Gazwag]

What about a boat trip from Brighton marina to Sunderland using one of those Seacats, it could call into Calais to pick up some cheap booze on the way

 

[Giant Seagull]

what about a load of chinooks, and then hurtling out off them on ropes like SAS commandoes at the stadium of light

 

[Uncle Buck]

Those flights look a nightmare, during the week there is an 0730 from Gatwick, but you will struggle to make the last flight from Newcastle as the airport is not that central. Chartering a plane would be an option, it happens for England trips.

However said that the chartered train was cheaper than the normal ones, that is not entirely true. If you book your trips in advance, they are generally cheaper than the £29 the club were charging to Cardiff. It is a case of knowing where the deals are, rather than leaving it to the last minute and complaining about how expensive the cost of trains are.

Also on the charter trains drinking is not allowed, which although you can get around is a pain.

 

[Lammy]

I doubt the plane idea will be that popular.

On top of the £100 already quoted (although this should be cheaper if we take over a whole aircraft) you will need to get yourself at least as far as Gatwick and back and also transfers from Newcastel to Sunderland and back.

I would suggest going on the train from KX. The Eastern line is very quick, you will be in York in 2hrs. And Newcastle in 3hrs. Total trip of about 5hrs from Brighton I reckon. Now if you fly you still need to get to Gatwick from Brighton. 45mins. Then you have to allow for checkin. 45mins. Then you have to get from Newcastle airport to Sunderland 1hr 15mins. Plus the flight itself of course 1hr 10mins add all this up and you have 4hrs (ish). Not a great saving for a lot more hastle!

And finally! I doubt very much if you will find an airline willing to take football fans.

 

[Uncle Buck]

And finally! I doubt very much if you will find an airline willing to take football fans.

I have found that following England, BA, Ryanair, Sleazyjet, Olympic, Austrain, Swiss, Lufthansa and many more have been more than willing to take our money. The airlines do not care.

 

[fatboy]

The Seagull Special was cheaper than the scheduled train fare.

A thing of the past? You should have been there. It was brilliant and being on the train with 499 other fans just added to the day.

You can get up and stretch your legs, go into another carriage to natter with other people, get drinks and food at the buffet car (which had restocked with gas on the way back) play cards or Pass the pigs.

Marvellous scenes and I'd recommend it to anyone. Routes would be worked out to be the quickest available. It was 4 hours from Hove to Cardiff.

Over the course of the season I do not think that getting a Seagulls Special train to every game would work out cheaper. Booking train tickets far enough in advance usually enable us to travel very cheaply.

You will never be allowed to drink on football specials. This is a big part of the day out.

The train home from an away match is part of the fun of going to football. You get to meet all sorts of other football fans coming back from various grounds around the country. This would also not be possible on a football special.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The train home from an away match is part of the fun of going to football. You get to meet all sorts of other football fans coming back from various grounds around the country. This would also not be possible on a football special.

Not forgetting some of those delightful bars around Kings Cross!!!

 

[London Calling]

tRAINS would also give you the pleasure of travelling with south east maccans all the way to the Stadium of Shite!!!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I used to catch the specials in the old days. Went to York in 1977 at the vast expense of £4. The specials were always very old rolling stock. Was this the case on Saturday?

It was indeed "very old" rolling stock. One of the carriages was a former pullman carriage.

But these days the charter train business is run (more or less exclusively) by English Welsh & Scottish Railways. 95% of the business of EWS is freight. Their passenger business is exclusively charter trains. They use "old" carriages, but they have been completely refurbished inside. I would say their trains are as clean and comfortable as any train you'll find anywhere.

Their train staff were very well turned out and entirely dedicated to making our journey a pleasant one. There were two buffet cars (one serving hot meals) - much better than the "trolley service of drinks and light refreshments" that passes for train catering on most London trains in the south east these days.

There was certainly no sense that we were slumming it on Sunday. Exactly the opposite.

 

[Lammy]

It was indeed "very old" rolling stock. One of the carriages was a former pullman carriage.

But these days the charter train business is run (more or less exclusively) by English Welsh & Scottish Railways. 95% of the business of EWS is freight. Their passenger business is exclusively charter trains. They use "old" carriages, but they have been completely refurbished inside. I would say their trains are as clean and comfortable as any train you'll find anywhere.

Their train staff were very well turned out and entirely dedicated to making our journey a pleasant one. There were two buffet cars (one serving hot meals) - much better than the "trolley service of drinks and light refreshments" that passes for train catering on most London trains in the south east these days.

There was certainly no sense that we were slumming it on Sunday. Exactly the opposite.

Is there ANYTHING you don't know LB?

 

[Dover]

If I was off, and the charter train was available I would definatley use it for the bigger trips.

I do understand that there are cheaper deals if you have got the time, and know where to look, but in my expeience they are limted in numbers.

Secondly, there is the added risk of connections, or the lack of. I rember dog legging from Reading the season before last, essentally due to inept staff an the way down.

The charter was a very relaxing, and easy way to travel. we travelled together in our group, had a picnic, and made very good time.

 

[Lady Bracknell]

Is there ANYTHING you don't know LB?

The odd thing or two is missing from his "knowledge base".

1. Where the lawnmower has cunningly concealed itself.
2. That, from the ominous gurgling sound that is accompanying the washing machine emptying process, the drains are blocked.
3. That he will be out clearing the drains shortly..

 

[Comedy Steve]

It's worth noting that Newcastle airport is NOT close to Sunderland - it's 26km away, and the other side of the city - not an easy public transport journey between the two.

Rather bizarrely my hunt online revealed the cheapest way to get to Sunderland was flying Stanstead - Esbjerg (Denmark) and getting a ferry to Newcastle!!!!!!!! Christ!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Not sure what the worry is about, you can easily do Mackem land in a day. It is not that far from Newcastle on the train and there is a train about 1900 from Newcastle back. From what I remember of Sunderland on the times that I have been there with England, the pubs are not all that.

Also rather than looking to charter the QE2 or Royal Train, ever thought of getting in touch with the Sunderland London Supporters Club? I know a couple of them and they have trips for 30 or 40 people to most home games on the 0800 from Kings Cross. Might be worth trying to do a trip with them?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Sorry, Steve.

[My knowledge kicking in again - but I have spent 27 years as a public transport planner!]

There is a direct rail service between Newcastle Airport and the Stadium of Light. It's the Tyne and Wear Metro.

There's also a Saturday morning flight deal with British Airways from Gatwick to Newcastle. Via Amsterdam. Over £700 return if booked now for a September Saturday. Not recommended.