Drop him for free next time at the Hilton hotel forecourt or MacdonaldsFelt bad leaving at 82 minutes from WSU. But at 2-0 up felt we should have points in the bag and would likely mean a 1-2 hour saving on the drive. Very brisk walk to car park 7 in University. Managed to be at the front of the wave leaving the ground. Dropped son of at Gatwick train station at 10:30. He was home in Clapham at 11:30. 1:30am by the time I got back to Nottingham. 400 mile round trip in a day. Extra cost for parking and Gatwick drop off. But trivial compared to petrol costs. Who cares about the money. It’s a small fraction of going to Marseille. All worthwhile. We won!!
Felt bad leaving at 82 minutes from WSU. But at 2-0 up felt we should have points in the bag and would likely mean a 1-2 hour saving on the drive. Very brisk walk to car park 7 in University. Managed to be at the front of the wave leaving the ground. Dropped son of at Gatwick train station at 10:30. He was home in Clapham at 11:30. 1:30am by the time I got back to Nottingham. 400 mile round trip in a day. Extra cost for parking and Gatwick drop off. But trivial compared to petrol costs. Who cares about the money. It’s a small fraction of going to Marseille. All worthwhile. We won!!
The problem wasnt the number of trains - there were more than on the timetable - It was the number of carriages on the ones going into Brighton. I left the South stand on 88 mins and ran and then queued for 30 mins - the two trains that came and left ( that i saw ) had 4 carriages and then 3 . The one i got had 3 as well . Surely increasing the number of carriages would be a massive help . Where we actually had 10 carriages we could have had 18 as Falmer station can take 6 carriages at least . It would make a big differenceLongest queue ever at Falmer? Left sharp on final whistle. Finally got on a Brighton train about 45 mins later. Compounded by the fact two Thameslink trains out of Brighton were cancelled, a Southern one running but late (of course). Standing room only. My eta in north London is about 1.30am. So frustrating to put up with this sh*t when we should be enjoying a historic night for the club.
This is the right answer. Falmer, Brighton, Eastbourne and Seaford can all take eight carriage trains, and the club needs to manage their contract with the rail providers to ensure that they always run 8 carriage trains. No excuses. One of the sets on the Seaford service was only three carriages, which is pathetic.The problem wasnt the number of trains - there were more than on the timetable - It was the number of carriages on the ones going into Brighton. I left the South stand on 88 mins and ran and then queued for 30 mins - the two trains that came and left ( that i saw ) had 4 carriages and then 3 . The one i got had 3 as well . Surely increasing the number of carriages would be a massive help . Where we actually had 10 carriages we could have had 18 as Falmer station can take 6 carriages at least . It would make a big difference
The trains I saw going East from Falmer looked to be much longer than those going towards Brighton, maybe 6 or 8 carriages and relatively sparsely occupied. Would have been helpful if the Brighton-bound trains were also, instead of being crammed solid as the tube in the rush hourThe problem wasnt the number of trains - there were more than on the timetable - It was the number of carriages on the ones going into Brighton. I left the South stand on 88 mins and ran and then queued for 30 mins - the two trains that came and left ( that i saw ) had 4 carriages and then 3 . The one i got had 3 as well . Surely increasing the number of carriages would be a massive help . Where we actually had 10 carriages we could have had 18 as Falmer station can take 6 carriages at least . It would make a big difference
They can’t actually legally enforce the thameslink only ticket rule as according to the ticketing agreement with the government tickets can only specify train operating company and not brand name. Gatwick Express, Southern, and Thameslink are all brand names used by Govia-Thameslink.Left early (I know bad), about 87 minutes from WSU. Managed to get on the 4th train which missed the last London Bridge train of the night. It was also a 3 coach train, were they all that short?
Took the Gatwick Express train to Victoria where I got a train to Lewisham. Back home about 12.40.
I had a Thameslink only ticket but figured as they’d cancelled the next two trains I could argue that I had no choice but to get the wrong train. No ticket inspector and the barriers were up at Victoria, so I didn’t get to test my argument.
Interesting, I complained to southern why they don’t offer a southern only ticket (in view Thameslink only were available) and they said it was part of the franchise agreement and that’s itThey can’t actually legally enforce the thameslink only ticket rule as according to the ticketing agreement with the government tickets can only specify train operating company and not brand name. Gatwick Express, Southern, and Thameslink are all brand names used by Govia-Thameslink.
Errrr, they’re the same trains. They go to Brighton and simply reverse out and go back to Eastbourne, Lewes or Seaford whence they came. The only exception would be if they happened to have some spare carriages at Brighton on the platform the train from Falmer is entering to link to before reversing, but I’ve never known that happen.The trains I saw going East from Falmer looked to be much longer than those going towards Brighton, maybe 6 or 8 carriages and relatively sparsely occupied. Would have been helpful if the Brighton-bound trains were also, instead of being crammed solid as the tube in the rush hour
Um, yeah, I did know that. Frustrating tho, that the longest of the trains were going in the opposite direction to the largest flow of people at the time when they were most neededErrrr, they’re the same trains. They go to Brighton and simply reverse out and go back to Eastbourne, Lewes or Seaford whence they came. The only exception would be if they happened to have some spare carriages at Brighton on the platform the train from Falmer is entering to link to before reversing, but I’ve never known that happen.
No, the woman with the ‘loudspeaker’ was a pain in the arse. Showing off to her mates by shouting complete crap and thinking it was hilarious.Yes I think it was and I don't even get the train! Kudos to the woman the took over the loudspeaker to direct people o platforms though as she was funny. It's probably not going to make you feel better by saying that the buses were just as crap. We had a beer before leaving hoping the train queue would go down (it didn't), waited for a bus which didn't show up. Managed to get Jnr a cab to the station where 'rail replacement buses' were listed but because the actual train (before buses) was late he managed to get on the Worthing one that you were on. It was the same for the AEK game, well for the buses at least. I put the buses being late, down to a convoy of AEK buses leaving the King & Queen, but that wasn't the case with this match as Ajax weren't forced to use buses like AEK were. It's really annoying as it's just added £25 in cab fares for the evening and it has taken the shine off an amazing win.
Wow glad I left on 87 now and ran to the station. I must have got on the last running London train before the cancellations (think it was 22.39).
Back home in Hampstead at 00.20 which I thought was late but clearly not judging by other people's stories.
The trains do ruin it a bit sadly. I just don't bother when it's rail replacement buses these days as I can't be arsed with a 6 hour round trip so won't be there on Sunday and will watch on my projector !