Wigan playing at Wembley: no late enough train back for Wigan fans

[northwichcat]

Shush. You've just given Ryanair an idea.

Don't worry Ardal O'Hanlon has already given them the idea of doing away with the wings and pilot on their planes so that they become giant catapults.

Could add, though, that if it were the Euro Final between Man City and Man Utd at Wembley they would be starting at 7.45pm midweek!!

No. The Champions League final has been moved to 7.45pm on a Saturday for the purpose of making it easier for people who work to attend the final. Note with the time difference that will be a 9.45pm kick off in some countries.

As for getting fans back from Manny and Liverpool airports at 10pm, how do thousands manage when they come home from their holidays late?

Some people take their cars to the airport, some people live in places without an overnight public transport service to and from the Airport, other people gets taxis or lifts while some spend the night in an Airport hotel.

There are also shared minibus transfers where you can pay a third of what a taxi can cost but it might go via where some other people want dropping off.

 

[merlodlliw]

Alan Green commenting on the match today when a Man City player was red carded in the last few minutes before extra time.

"If it goes to extra time Wigan fans wont be running for the trains, THERE ARNT ANY"

Made me smile, but good on the underdogs.

 

[callum112233]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P51342/2013/05/11/advanced

Last train from London Euston. I imagine the beer is in full flow on there (unless it's a dry train?).

Might be why it lost 24 mins in the Rugby area. Pi**head kicked off at Rugby maybe?

 

[Eagle]

It actually lost most of those minutes between Hanslope and Hillmorton. Diverted via Northampton I suspect.

 

[callum112233]

Looks more like it lost the time waiting at Hillmorton Jn junction to me. Red signal?

 

[johnnychips]

Looks like Mr Martinez will be commuting to Liverpool soon (not sure where nearest station to Goodison park is) and Mr Mancini will have to look at themaninseat61 for a train back to Italy...

 

[yorkie]

Quite a lot of Wigan and, to a lesser extent, Man City fans, at King's Cross this evening.

I saw some of them went via York and straight over to a TPE towards Manchester. Possibly Man City fans exiled somewhere like 'uddersfield, or perhaps it was cheaper than the 2100 from Euston or maybe they knew the 2100 from Euston would be heaving.

They noted that the weather in York was good as it wasn't raining. I guess if you have the misfortune to be from Manchester, you expect it to rain constantly, and it's a bonus if it doesn't!

Looks more like it lost the time waiting at Hillmorton Jn junction to me. Red signal?

I disagree. If it went via Weedon, why didn't it report at Weedon? Much more likely it went via Northampton. Other trains similarly appear to have gone via Northampton.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Looks like Mr Martinez will be commuting to Liverpool soon (not sure where nearest station to Goodison park is) and Mr Mancini will have to look at themaninseat61 for a train back to Italy...

Kirkdale is generally used by supporters travelling to both Goodison and Anfield (though obviously not on the same day).

 

[High Dyke]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P51342/2013/05/11/advanced

Last train from London Euston. I imagine the beer is in full flow on there (unless it's a dry train?).

Might be why it lost 24 mins in the Rugby area. Pi**head kicked off at Rugby maybe?

Police attention at Rugby - 7 minutes delay

Looks more like it lost the time waiting at Hillmorton Jn junction to me. Red signal?

Points failure at Hillmorton - 17 minutes delay

 

[AndyHudds]

Quite a lot of Wigan and, to a lesser extent, Man City fans, at King's Cross this evening.

I saw some of them went via York and straight over to a TPE towards Manchester. Possibly Man City fans exiled somewhere like 'uddersfield, or perhaps it was cheaper than the 2100 from Euston or maybe they knew the 2100 from Euston would be heaving.

They noted that the weather in York was good as it wasn't raining. I guess if you have the misfortune to be from Manchester, you expect it to rain constantly, and it's a bonus if it doesn't!

I disagree. If it went via Weedon, why didn't it report at Weedon? Much more likely it went via Northampton. Other trains similarly appear to have gone via Northampton.

There are no Man City fans in Huddersfield.....we don't allow that kind of thing in Huddersfield its Huddersfield Town or nowt round here mate.

 

[callum112233]

Police attention at Rugby - 7 minutes delay



Points failure at Hillmorton - 17 minutes delay

Thanks for clarifying. Although Yorkie and Eagle were still correct about being diverted Via Northampton.

 

[Phil6219]

It was nice to see the rail companies all pull together and hike their prices for anything going near London for yesterday...

Had to try and help my uncle get a train for "us", when I found out "us" wasn't me and him but him and a friend I told him to buggar off.

But before I did, everything was through the roof. Even Leeds, Doncaster, York, Sheffield and even Bristol were between 70-95 for their cheapest single. I tried setting up one for him to get a Manchester - Three Bridges (used to be 71.60 when I used it monthly a few years ago) so he could just use the MAN-EUS portion of the ticket and sure enough that was hiked to the near 160.00 RTN price.

Not exactly putting up much of a fight against National Express and the FA there...

Bleeding glad I didn't go anyway

Phil

 

[87015]

Well, FGW didn't decide to run them without some input from Newport FC I'm sure, and the decision was made before lunchtime Friday.

It's far from being the first football special from South Wales I have heard of that has been largely transporting empty stock around the countryside.

I'm sure other TOC's have made the commercial decision they are a waste of everybody's time to run.

When Southend were at Wembley recently it was one of c2c's busiest ever Sundays with nearly 10000 football passengers carried. Extras, 8 cars, 12 cars and standbys pushed into service and still F&S at the busiest times. That's a club that rarely gets to Wembley and with on-rail competition from GA (well, they didn't do so well) as well as other modes. Make the effort and you can bring it in...

 

[northwichcat]

There are no Man City fans in Huddersfield.....we don't allow that kind of thing in Huddersfield its Huddersfield Town or nowt round here mate.

Didn't realise you'd deported all the non-Huddersfield town fans since I lived there. There used to be loads especially Man United and Liverpool fans.

There's a university in Huddersfield which probably still has students from the Manchester area, likewise 2 universities in Leeds.

 

[AndyHudds]

Didn't realise you'd deported all the non-Huddersfield town fans since I lived there. There used to be loads especially Man United and Liverpool fans.

There's a university in Huddersfield which probably still has students from the Manchester area, likewise 2 universities in Leeds.

Ha ha my reply was tongue in cheek.

The Man Utd and Liverpool fans in Huddersfield are 'plastics' but yeah I do realise there are plenty of fans of other clubs who live in Huddersfield......even some Leeds fans but we don't talk about them.

 

[SouthStand]

There are no Man City fans in Huddersfield.....we don't allow that kind of thing in Huddersfield its Huddersfield Town or nowt round here mate.

You're just a town full of Leeds fans

 

[northwichcat]

and Mr Mancini will have to look at themaninseat61 for a train back to Italy...

More like First Class on an Alitalia service. Only someone terrified of flying or a rail enthusiast would do it by train.

Police attention at Rugby - 7 minutes delay

Maybe the shop ran out of pies and the Police were needed to deal with the resulting chaos?

 

[Flamingo]

When Southend were at Wembley recently it was one of c2c's busiest ever Sundays with nearly 10000 football passengers carried. Extras, 8 cars, 12 cars and standbys pushed into service and still F&S at the busiest times. That's a club that rarely gets to Wembley and with on-rail competition from GA (well, they didn't do so well) as well as other modes. Make the effort and you can bring it in...

Fair enough, I'm just pointing out that the "Football Special" to transport the entire population of a town/city to Wembley and back is not always required, regardless of how vociferous the supporters club are.

 

[455driver]

It was nice to see the rail companies all pull together and hike their prices for anything going near London for yesterday...

Had to try and help my uncle get a train for "us", when I found out "us" wasn't me and him but him and a friend I told him to buggar off.

But before I did, everything was through the roof. Even Leeds, Doncaster, York, Sheffield and even Bristol were between 70-95 for their cheapest single. I tried setting up one for him to get a Manchester - Three Bridges (used to be 71.60 when I used it monthly a few years ago) so he could just use the MAN-EUS portion of the ticket and sure enough that was hiked to the near 160.00 RTN price.

Phil

Or maybe all the cheap tickets were sold out, do you have much of a clue how tickets are quota controlled or did you just want to have a moan! :roll:

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Thanks to the football-fan-hostile policies of the FA and Virgin Trains, I had to travel to Wembley yesterday on an official Wigan coach.

I only live 45 mins drive from Wigan, but had to leave home at 7.15 am and did not get back until 1.15 am this morning.

Buses had to leave early to avoid traffic congestion and to avoid paying the £35 fee on the M6 toll. As a consequence we arrived in Wembley 3 hours before kick off without a real ale pub in sight. It made Skelmersdale and Frickley seem blissful.

Talk about rip-off London. Local car parks were charging £30 per car, beefbugrers were £9.60 and programmes were £10. And I suspect Wembley have removed a few toilets to make more sales space as the half-time queues were horrendous.

Apart from the result, the experience compared most unfavourably with my last visit to Wembley for the Olympic cup final when I travelled by express train and had a great day out with time for a few beers in central London hostelries.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Kirkdale is generally used by supporters travelling to both Goodison and Anfield (though obviously not on the same day).

Special buses run from Sandhills station to both Goodison and Anfield on match days.

These are busier for Liverpool games than Everton fixtures. Goodison is within reasonable walking distance of Kirkdale whereas it's a long hike to Anfield.

 

[185143]

(not sure where nearest station to Goodison park is)

Probably already been said, it's Sandhills I think.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Sandhills is used for Merseytrvel's 'Soccerbus' services as the road access is easier, but for supporters planning to walk to the ground, Kirkdale is used. (though I believe some use Rice Lane on the Kirkby line).

 

[AndyHudds]

You're just a town full of Leeds fans

Who are ya, who are ya.....

 

[island]

Thanks to the football-fan-hostile policies of the FA and Virgin Trains, I had to travel to Wembley yesterday on an official Wigan coach.

I only live 45 mins drive from Wigan, but had to leave home at 7.15 am and did not get back until 1.15 am this morning.

Buses had to leave early to avoid traffic congestion and to avoid paying the £35 fee on the M6 toll. As a consequence we arrived in Wembley 3 hours before kick off without a real ale pub in sight. It made Skelmersdale and Frickley seem blissful.

Talk about rip-off London. Local car parks were charging £30 per car, beefbugrers were £9.60 and programmes were £10. And I suspect Wembley have removed a few toilets to make more sales space as the half-time queues were horrendous.

Apart from the result, the experience compared most unfavourably with my last visit to Wembley for the Olympic cup final when I travelled by express train and had a great day out with time for a few beers in central London hostelries.

Could have been worse. City could have won!

 

[jon0844]

Thanks to the football-fan-hostile policies of the FA and Virgin Trains, I had to travel to Wembley yesterday on an official Wigan coach.

I only live 45 mins drive from Wigan, but had to leave home at 7.15 am and did not get back until 1.15 am this morning.

Buses had to leave early to avoid traffic congestion and to avoid paying the £35 fee on the M6 toll. As a consequence we arrived in Wembley 3 hours before kick off without a real ale pub in sight. It made Skelmersdale and Frickley seem blissful.

Talk about rip-off London. Local car parks were charging £30 per car, beefbugrers were £9.60 and programmes were £10. And I suspect Wembley have removed a few toilets to make more sales space as the half-time queues were horrendous.

Apart from the result, the experience compared most unfavourably with my last visit to Wembley for the Olympic cup final when I travelled by express train and had a great day out with time for a few beers in central London hostelries.

Sounds like your coach was a bit fan-hostile too for not paying the M6 toll charge, which can't have been much split between all passengers.

I sincerely doubt Wembley has put retail facilities in their toilets either!!

When I went to the Champions League final a while back, the Travelodge by the Tube station had set up a beer garden (not sure if they did ales) and the beer wasn't cheap, but they served TWO pint glasses and had them pulled in seconds. It was quite awesome and I stayed there before venturing in, and I might add that I was a guest of Sony so had full hospitality - but it was nice to savour the atmosphere with 'real' fans first.

As I said earlier in this thread, anyone coming down should have booked a Travelodge/Premier Inn and gone back by train in the morning/afternoon. Not the one by Wembley but anywhere in London, which would have been easy to get to until the small hours. As it turned out, it would have been far more fun to keep celebrating than have to sit on a coach or fight for the last train, especially if some trains were held up because of problems on the train.

 

[barrykas]

Sounds like your coach was a bit fan-hostile too for not paying the M6 toll charge, which can't have been much split between all passengers.

Dunno where they got £35 from either...It's £9.60 for a coach at the weekend...or a massive 36p each Return for the average 53 seater.

 

[Butts]

£9.60 for a Burger - I hope it was all beef

£10 for a Programme - I hope it was not all adverts

 

[BestWestern]

When Southend were at Wembley recently it was one of c2c's busiest ever Sundays with nearly 10000 football passengers carried. Extras, 8 cars, 12 cars and standbys pushed into service and still F&S at the busiest times. That's a club that rarely gets to Wembley and with on-rail competition from GA (well, they didn't do so well) as well as other modes. Make the effort and you can bring it in...

They may have filled many trains, but one of the issues then is that it becomes very difficult to conduct proper revenue protection operations. Do c2c have barriers at either end of that journey I wonder? And even if they do, if a 12 car pulls in and dumps a full and standing load on the platform, there's a very good chance whoever is running the barrier will simply open it up for 'safety' reasons. Thus, busy trains doesn't always mean it was a good day for the tills.

 

[D1009]

They may have filled many trains, but one of the issues then is that it becomes very difficult to conduct proper revenue protection operations. Do c2c have barriers at either end of that journey I wonder? And even if they do, if a 12 car pulls in and dumps a full and standing load on the platform, there's a very good chance whoever is running the barrier will simply open it up for 'safety' reasons. Thus, busy trains doesn't always mean it was a good day for the tills.

Usually in that situation there would be crowd control for passengers boarding, and if you are going to have crowd control you may as well check tickets at the same time.

 

[northwichcat]

Usually in that situation there would be crowd control for passengers boarding, and if you are going to have crowd control you may as well check tickets at the same time.

When I've experienced crowd control at stations it's been the police who've implemented the crowd control. As the police aren't being paid for by the TOCs but by the organisers of the event they aren't permitted to perform ticket checks.