Following the replacement of the Football Specials with a pre-booked coach service, executive director Martin Perry has advised fans who used the services of a number of club subsidised timetabled services available to all ticket holders using their match ticket when travelling to and from the Amex for matches this season should they not wish to use the new replacement Matchday Bus Service.
Perry explained, "We appreciate that for some the decision to remove the Football Specials has not proved popular, but in its original form it is clear for many it was not the ideal service along those routes. It was also not cost effective for the club to continue the service.
"We are committed to our subsidised travel plan, but it must be on an even-handed basis for all fans who travel within the zone – for buses, *bounded by Seaford in the east, Worthing in the west and Haywards Heath to the north, as part of the match-ticket package.
"In the case of the special P, S and R services an overhaul was needed, as we have been encountering considerable operational difficulties. These buses were not pre-booked, demand varied considerably and these were the only services about which we have been constantly receiving complaints.
"On top of the complaints from our own fans, we were also receiving complaints from local residents and traders, who were impacted as these routes created artificial park-and-ride sites clogging up parking areas, particularly in Rottingdean and Shoreham.
"The swift departure of these buses at the final whistle also created some worrying safety concerns at the end of the match, because they created a surge of fans rushing to catch the bus.
"The services have therefore been replaced with a pre-booked system provided by Seagull Travel. The advantage of the replacement services is that they start further afield and therefore prevent the need to drive to Rottingdean or Shoreham to pick up the bus.
"Pre-booking means supporters are guaranteed a seat and will not be frustrated as a full bus drives past without stopping. Additionally the timing of buses leaving the stadium will alleviate the mass exodus and free-for-all at the final whistle.
"We do appreciate that there is an additional cost, however small. Therefore if supporters do not wish to or are unable to pay for this improved service, the match ticket still provides for a subsidised service within the travel zone using the Brighton & Hove Buses network or Southern Rail train service."
Alternative subsidised travel services are outlined below:
From Shoreham-by-Sea
Rail: Regular Brighton-bound rail services (approximately every 15 minutes) take supporters to Falmer in an average time of one hour (this is including an allowance for 20-minutes' queuing at Brighton station).
Bus: Frequent bus services (Brighton & Hove Buses and Stagecoach) travel between Shoreham and Brighton & Hove city centre, where supporters can catch a bus direct to the Amex. The journey time between Shoreham and the city centre is on average one hour, departing Shoreham approximately every 15 minutes.
From Rottingdean
Coastal bus services take supporters to Old Steine every 10 minutes, with an average journey time of 11 minutes. Regular buses depart the Old Steine for the Amex.
From Woodingdean
Services via Warren Road and Elm Grove to Lewes Road depart every 20 minutes, with an average journey time of four minutes.
From Brighton city centre
A number of services travel from the city centre to the Amex: from Churchill Square (average travel time 28 minutes), Old Steine (average travel time 24 minutes), and bottom of Elm Grove (average travel time 20 minutes).
A comparison of the Journey times by timetabled services compared with the Special routes is set out in the table below:
Journey Time - Comparisons
Standard Route Services
Supplementary Services (Specials)
*Table highlights the average journey times from the 2012/13 season.
Original article
Perry explained, "We appreciate that for some the decision to remove the Football Specials has not proved popular, but in its original form it is clear for many it was not the ideal service along those routes. It was also not cost effective for the club to continue the service.
"We are committed to our subsidised travel plan, but it must be on an even-handed basis for all fans who travel within the zone – for buses, *bounded by Seaford in the east, Worthing in the west and Haywards Heath to the north, as part of the match-ticket package.
"In the case of the special P, S and R services an overhaul was needed, as we have been encountering considerable operational difficulties. These buses were not pre-booked, demand varied considerably and these were the only services about which we have been constantly receiving complaints.
"On top of the complaints from our own fans, we were also receiving complaints from local residents and traders, who were impacted as these routes created artificial park-and-ride sites clogging up parking areas, particularly in Rottingdean and Shoreham.
"The swift departure of these buses at the final whistle also created some worrying safety concerns at the end of the match, because they created a surge of fans rushing to catch the bus.
"The services have therefore been replaced with a pre-booked system provided by Seagull Travel. The advantage of the replacement services is that they start further afield and therefore prevent the need to drive to Rottingdean or Shoreham to pick up the bus.
"Pre-booking means supporters are guaranteed a seat and will not be frustrated as a full bus drives past without stopping. Additionally the timing of buses leaving the stadium will alleviate the mass exodus and free-for-all at the final whistle.
"We do appreciate that there is an additional cost, however small. Therefore if supporters do not wish to or are unable to pay for this improved service, the match ticket still provides for a subsidised service within the travel zone using the Brighton & Hove Buses network or Southern Rail train service."
Alternative subsidised travel services are outlined below:
From Shoreham-by-Sea
Rail: Regular Brighton-bound rail services (approximately every 15 minutes) take supporters to Falmer in an average time of one hour (this is including an allowance for 20-minutes' queuing at Brighton station).
Bus: Frequent bus services (Brighton & Hove Buses and Stagecoach) travel between Shoreham and Brighton & Hove city centre, where supporters can catch a bus direct to the Amex. The journey time between Shoreham and the city centre is on average one hour, departing Shoreham approximately every 15 minutes.
From Rottingdean
Coastal bus services take supporters to Old Steine every 10 minutes, with an average journey time of 11 minutes. Regular buses depart the Old Steine for the Amex.
From Woodingdean
Services via Warren Road and Elm Grove to Lewes Road depart every 20 minutes, with an average journey time of four minutes.
From Brighton city centre
A number of services travel from the city centre to the Amex: from Churchill Square (average travel time 28 minutes), Old Steine (average travel time 24 minutes), and bottom of Elm Grove (average travel time 20 minutes).
A comparison of the Journey times by timetabled services compared with the Special routes is set out in the table below:
Journey Time - Comparisons
Standard Route Services
| From Shoreham | From Woodingdean | From Rottingdean | From Portslade | |
| Journey times | 1hr 20min | 35mins | 35mins | 50mins |
| Number of changes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Frequency | 4 per hour | 3 per hour | 6 per hour | 6 per hour |
| Journey times | 1hr * * * * * * * * * | 40min * * * * * * * * ** | 50mins * * * * * * ** | 1hr * * * * * * * * |
| Number of changes | 0 | 0 | 0* | 0 |
| Frequency | 2 per hour | 4 per hour | 4 per hour | 1 per hour |
*Table highlights the average journey times from the 2012/13 season.
Original article