To describe the building and approval of the stadium as a complete and utter failure because the train service involves a queue for half an hour (or more tbf, but either way) on Midweek games is nothing short of hyperbole.
Until they tender??
Disagree. There would be pub/restaurant/leisure companies queuing up for the chance to open on sites around the Amex. 20 days of football custom is merely a bonus. There is a massive shortage of sites around Brighton for these types of venues. If a couple of big plots became available in Falmer every chain you can name would want to be there for 365 days of business.
The department of transport tender rolling stock. Yes it is run for profit, that’s why the government should control it, this MP is in government, the answer is investment from them. I know a solution that would fix this and to be honest most railways in the country, anyone else with a Transport and Logisitcs degree could tell, you but no one from the government, TOCs, ROSCOs, wants to invest, so this is just going to go round and round in circles. People are saying Southern need to put on my carriages, there are no more carriages.
When I passed the barrier I assure you there was no clicking as one of the Police officers stood just inside on the platform said he would like the people counted onto the platform too, but it was a matter for the railways. Im sure that is the case BUT I also argue once it isnt the case or it becomes obvious to the police there is a dangerous overcrowding issue they should have stepped in.
Of course infrequent use becomes problematic BUT for a supposed community stadium perhaps the community need MORE use? Yes its problematic and difficult to see it practically happening but I ask why not? There was past talk of a hotel at the stadium (not unusual for some modern stadiums) and with that you could have another pub/restaurant - we have a captive uni audience so im sure its not a complete no-go and I would not at least throw it out until fully explored.
If there was a dangerous overcrowding issue after the match, then they would have stepped in, I’m not really sure what the issue is. You may have not seen the clicker, but there is one on both platforms. Trains are always going to be busy onboard to and from any stadium in the country.
No. Six trains an hour at full capacity is more than enough to handle the crowds, you will have to wait about 15 - 20 mins occasionally because you can not have trains constantly moving along the line like a travelator. The problem with midweeks is carriage length, which cannot be strengthened because there is a lack of rolling stock, because they took the class 313s and class 455s off lease with no replacement, which was a government led decision.
The club have made some small improvements on more park n ride sites like pyecombe which of course moves arguably some fans from trains to busses. The club have commissoned fans surveys on modes of transport to/from games so I dont see they are completely blind to what is going on.
There may not have been a clicker at that exact moment, but there is extensive CCTV that monitors whether the situation is out of control. The clicker is all reality is a fail safe and one of the last things that actually matters prevent the overcrowding.
You make many interesting contributions thanks. What I would love to know (I appreciate it wont change much!) is when Falmer was decided upon what was agreed in the transport situation, what legally binding aspects, who signed off on this and most importantly was there a risk analysis report looking at disruption to what presumably was considered safe and viable and are any of these matters now happening?