Trains To Falmer On Matchdays (Possibly new info)

[Papa Lazarou]

I get the impression that, for some people, maybe it would have been better if we hadn't got Falmer, stuck so far out in the wilds of Sussex where people will have to take provisions for the week as they bid goodbye to their loved ones and embark on their epic journeys.

Can we not just build a 40,000 capacity stadium at Pende and use Falmer as a training pitch. That would be better for me

 

[Simontheseagull]

A source within the club tells me that 50% of fans travelling to Falmer by train will not be able to catch a train to get back home after a match, especially on a Tuesday evening. The club has an outstanding planning application due to be heard on 1 July to turn the concourse behind the North Stand into a sleep over area, so that fans missing the last train home can have a drink in the Supporters Bar after a match, and then bunk down in sleeping bags on camp beds until the trains start up again the following morning. It will be just like the Blitz in World war II on the Undergound. Many of the happy campers will be able to meet up again, usually once a fortnight, and they will know where and when.

 

[Bozza]

I get the impression that, for some people, maybe it would have been better if we hadn't got Falmer, stuck so far out in the wilds of Sussex where people will have to take provisions for the week as they bid goodbye to their loved ones and embark on their epic journeys.

Agreed.

 

[Bry Nylon]

I get the impression that, for some people, maybe it would have been better if we hadn't got Falmer, stuck so far out in the wilds of Sussex where people will have to take provisions for the week as they bid goodbye to their loved ones and embark on their epic journeys.

Nobody is saying that.
But when you build an out of town stadium it needs to be served by decent transport infrastructure that can comfortably cope. At present the AMEX is served by a railway station that makes Trumpton look like Liverpool Street. As Tom Hark alluded to, if this had been picked up on at the planning stage Falmer would never have been built. The consultants advising the Club have developed a model that says 100% of visiting supporters will arrive at the ground by private coaches. I'm not a travel consultant, but I envisage a fair few hundred will be in Brighton before each game in the (not unreasonable) expectation of getting a train to the game at 2:45pm. We all know that's not going to happen.

Finally - getting home again. Bozza has a point: 20 minutes before the final whistle there will be a stampede for the exits.

The stadium is first class, but at present the transport links lag some way behind. But I'm confident they will catch up in the coming years.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Nobody is saying that.
But when you build an out of town stadium it needs to be served by decent transport infrastructure that can comfortably cope. At present the AMEX is served by a railway station that makes Trumpton look like Liverpool Street. As Tom Hark alluded to, if this had been picked up on at the planning stage Falmer would never have been built. The consultants advising the Club have developed a model that says 100% of visiting supporters will arrive at the ground by private coaches. I'm not a travel consultant, but I envisage a fair few hundred will be in Brighton before each game in the (not unreasonable) expectation of getting a train to the game at 2:45pm. We all know that's not going to happen.

Finally - getting home again. Bozza has a point: 20 minutes before the final whistle there will be a stampede for the exits.

The stadium is first class, but at present the transport links lag some way behind. But I'm confident they will catch up in the coming years.

Until it's tested, and the first games are played, this is all hypothetical. A planning application is by it's very nature (unless retrospective) hypothetical, the transport studies which were poured over by consultants, planning inspectors and the secretary of state are hypothetical. This whole thread is hypothetical.

It may well be a nightmare, but there are many options, many people organising minibus groups etc. from various places - it may just all be okay in the end.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Until it's tested, and the first games are played, this is all hypothetical. A planning application is by it's very nature (unless retrospective) hypothetical, the transport studies which were poured over by consultants, planning inspectors and the secretary of state are hypothetical. This whole thread is hypothetical.

It may well be a nightmare, but there are many options, many people organising minibus groups etc. from various places - it may just all be okay in the end.

That is a fair point, and probably the most sensible post on this whole thread.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Until it's tested, and the first games are played, this is all hypothetical. A planning application is by it's very nature (unless retrospective) hypothetical, the transport studies which were poured over by consultants, planning inspectors and the secretary of state are hypothetical. This whole thread is hypothetical.

It may well be a nightmare, but there are many options, many people organising minibus groups etc. from various places - it may just all be okay in the end.

isn't this just another hypothetical statement though

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Until it's tested, and the first games are played, this is all hypothetical. A planning application is by it's very nature (unless retrospective) hypothetical, the transport studies which were poured over by consultants, planning inspectors and the secretary of state are hypothetical. This whole thread is hypothetical.

It may well be a nightmare, but there are many options, many people organising minibus groups etc. from various places - it may just all be okay in the end.

I tend to agree with you. I'd like to think we'll all eventually find something which works for us. It might take a good few months to try different options and modes of transport but I have faith.

I think it's crucial the park and rides work well though, and I also think it's crucial people's expectation of park and ride is reasonable; some folk seem to believe public transport should deliver them from door to door at the moment of their choice.

Give it a chance.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I have confidence that Bloom, Perry et al will have given serious thought to this matter and have faith that things will (mostly) be ok. However I do have some niggling worries. We already have an approved transport plan - but realistically another matter to get it to work effectively, especially given the limitations around the Falmer area. I recognise the full transport details have yet to be fully published but I fear that the general euphoria in gaining The Amex has quietly overlooked the major logistical challenge in getting 22.5k people safely away - and especially after night games.

Hopefully a reasonable number of punters will stay behind for a beer or two to allow the crowd to disperse gradually but no doubt the majority will be anxious to get away a) to get connecting train / bus services and b) have work or school the following morning. I guess most sensible fans will plan carefully and be resourceful (I will cycle to those night games I can attend). However I fear there will be a minority whose patience and humour will be tested, especially if they are well lubricated. Thats before you add in a couple of thousand away fans who may be less co-operative especially if we have given them a tonking. I really hope there will be no flashpoints or negativity that will reflect adversely on the Club, especially on the chances of getting approval for increased capacity. I suspect the nimbys will rub their hands with glee if that happens. Therefore I hope everyone remembers to count to 10 and show a bit of patience and understanding over the first few games, until things settle down.

 

[Bry Nylon]

I have confidence that Bloom, Perry et al will have given serious thought to this matter and have faith that things will (mostly) be ok. However I do have some niggling worries. We already have an approved transport plan - but realistically another matter to get it to work effectively, especially given the limitations around the Falmer area. I recognise the full transport details have yet to be fully published but I fear that the general euphoria in gaining The Amex has quietly overlooked the major logistical challenge in getting 22.5k people safely away - and especially after night games.

Hopefully a reasonable number of punters will stay behind for a beer or two to allow the crowd to disperse gradually but no doubt the majority will be anxious to get away a) to get connecting train / bus services and b) have work or school the following morning. I guess most sensible fans will plan carefully and be resourceful (I will cycle to those night games I can attend). However I fear there will be a minority whose patience and humour will be tested, especially if they are well lubricated. Thats before you add in a couple of thousand away fans who may be less co-operative especially if we have given them a tonking. I really hope there will be no flashpoints or negativity that will reflect adversely on the Club, especially on the chances of getting approval for increased capacity. I suspect the nimbys will rub their hands with glee if that happens. Therefore I hope everyone remembers to count to 10 and show a bit of patience and understanding over the first few games, until things settle down.

Agree with all of this.
I think the "flashpoint" (if there is to be one) will be at Brighton station at about 2.30pm, as hundreds of visiting supporters arrive hoping to catch trains in time for kick off.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Good to see a dose of realism running through this thread. We all want The Amex to be a roaring success from the off and then for a swift and seamless approval for increase in capacity. A number of NSCers are very well qualified to give their professional views on how the transport plan should work in theory - and more importantly what it takes to make it work in practice, in conjunction with the relevant agencies. The ability to move people safely from the stadium will be assessed in the ramp up games. There area number of potential pinch points around the stadium and its curtilage, including Falmer station. Let's show it can safely handle 22.5k.

People should not forget it is essential that things go ok so that The Amex is seen to qualify for a full safety certificate, especially for a capacity crowd to be permitted on 6th Aug. Hopefully all will be ok, but this should not be presumed as being a 'given'. Hence my previous comments about being patient and no one losing their head because they may have to wait a few minutes for transport.

 

[blackprince]

The problem is that there is very little time for people to sus out the best method for them before the first evening game. The first three home games are all on a Saturday, but the next two are Friday and Tuesday against Leeds and Palace respectively. Can you see many away supporters using coaches for these two games, because I can't.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

So we can get a little perspective on this, how do you think the situation should have been handled in order to bring us into line with some of the other new stadia that have been built in the last few years?

I think of MK Dons, Yeovil, Colchester, Wycombe and the like.

 

[Brovion]

So we can get a little perspective on this, how do you think the situation should have been handled in order to bring us into line with some of the other new stadia that have been built in the last few years?

I think of MK Dons, Yeovil, Colchester, Wycombe and the like.

Hard to say. We all know that transport was the one area where the NIMBYs could have sunk us and during the planning battle we glossed over it as much as possible. Our whole transport plan seemed to rest on one letter from Connex (remember them?) basically saying "yeah, no problem with trains". I had fondly imagined that 'something would be done' about Falmer station. A cursory look at the timetables, infrastructure and current line usage was enough to show that expecting the trains to cope was along the lines of expecting to save the Titanic by trying to bail it out with a pint mug. Personally I had envisaged the platforms being lengthened and twelve coach shuttles running back and forth to Brighton station - I now know that that was a pipe dream.

A bigger coach park would have helped as well. There's all this talk of people running coaches to the Amex from the far-flung corners of Sussex (which is obviously a great idea and should be encouraged) plus 'all' away fans arriving by coach. However the coach park is only for about sixty vehicles (I await correction of that) whereas it really needs to be at least three times that size. However that would have meant a bigger 'footprint' (Village Way South would have been ideal) and that would have really pissed off CPRE and the others.

A bit of 'joined up' thinking with the rest of Brighton's transport needs wouldn't have gone amiss either, specifically the provision of purpose-built out-of-town Park 'n' Ride sites for all visitors. However at the time we were so desperate to get the stadium approved that short of being told we all had to sacrifice our first-born and build the stadium out of their bones we'd have agreed to any restriction and any condition. What you're seeing now is a few chickens coming home to roost. I'm sure it will sort itself out, but you can't blame people for questioning how; especially as the club haven't released information on things like the travel vouchers - that'll certainly affect how I get there.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

Brov -you're correct, the published capacity of the Amex coach/bus park is 60 vehicles.

 

[APACHE]

Whatever happens, people need to wise-up.If you think you'll going to jump on the train or bus 30 mins before the game starts and get there in time you could be in for a surprise. As home fans we should know better, away fans that's their problem. Getting away after will need trial and error for the first few games, staying awhile for a drink or food may mean a later train but it may be easier than waiting at the station. Evening matches, well my guess would be ,to travel into Brighton by train will be a long wait.It's been said before that the Club had to submit travel plans for the new stadium, but at the end of the day it's up to us how we get to and from the game. Any large stadia with just 1 station right outside is going to face delays, fans need to realize this and plan for delays.

 

[Notters]

Whatever happens, people need to wise-up.If you think you'll going to jump on the train or bus 30 mins before the game starts and get there in time you could be in for a surprise. As home fans we should know better, away fans that's their problem. Getting away after will need trial and error for the first few games, staying awhile for a drink or food may mean a later train but it may be easier than waiting at the station. Evening matches, well my guess would be ,to travel into Brighton by train will be a long wait.It's been said before that the Club had to submit travel plans for the new stadium, but at the end of the day it's up to us how we get to and from the game. Any large stadia with just 1 station right outside is going to face delays, fans need to realize this and plan for delays.

I don't think telling people to "wise up" is going to help though. If it does end up taking as long to get there as it did to Gillingham, it's going to put a lot of people, particularly JCLs, off.

 

[The Large One]

The problem is that there is very little time for people to sus out the best method for them before the first evening game. The first three home games are all on a Saturday, but the next two are Friday and Tuesday against Leeds and Palace respectively. Can you see many away supporters using coaches for these two games, because I can't.

Actually, the second home match is on a Tuesday.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I don't think telling people to "wise up" is going to help though. If it does end up taking as long to get there as it did to Gillingham, it's going to put a lot of people, particularly JCLs, off.

In a positive sense, everyone does need to be a bit 'wise' on their travel plans, I can see what Apache is saying. Everyone needs to think carefully about the best way of getting there, and the amount of time - which I suggest at the start is a lot. Going to need a lot of compromise and understanding from supporters in order to iron out any teething problems, and so some flexibility and forward planning is needed from all of us.

Stepping out of a pub at Brighton station at 2.30pm expecting to be in your seat in time for KO is not going to be wise, neither is leaving at 4.45pm expecting to be back in the pub by 5.15pm...

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I don't know whether this is significant, but the Southern website is now showing two additional departures from Brighton to Falmer on Saturday 16 July - the extra trains leave Brighton at 1302 and 1402 and run non-stop to Falmer. Other departure times are at the usual 10, 22, 40 and 52 minutes past the hour, calling at London Road and Moulsecoomb. There are also departures from Brighton to Lewes at 1332 and 1432, which are shown as not stopping at Falmer.

As of now, the timetable for Saturday 6 August is still shown as the standard 4 trains an hour timetable - but this may, of course, be in the process of being updated.