TOC football charters

[pompeyfan]

About 10 years ago FGW sent a full HST set to Fratton on two separate occasions, one from Plymouth and one from South Wales (Cardiff?) to cater for football passengers.

I know the railway has changed significantly in the last 4 years, but how did these come about? Who initially paid for them?

If there was a business case would DfT allow a TOC to do them again providing confidence was there stock and crew could be resourced? Has there been many other TOC operated “Footex” services post privatisation?

A lot of questions but I’m sure there will be a lot of knowledgeable people able to answer.

 

[43055]

EMR did two between Derby and Crewe back in March for Bolton? Fans traveling to Derby. This was the same day that the midlands grand national was at Uttoxeter which also had a morning and afternoon special.

 

[Kite159]

EMR did two between Derby and Crewe back in March for Bolton? Fans traveling to Derby. This was the same day that the midlands grand national was at Uttoxeter which also had a morning and afternoon special.

Although strictly speaking those extra trains EMR ran weren't charters but extra services as normal tickets were valid on them.

 

[renegademaster]

Southern do "football specials" which I suspect are just extra 377s during Crystal Palace Brighton games

 

[30907]

Southern do "football specials" which I suspect are just extra 377s during Crystal Palace Brighton games

and why not? If you have units and staff with route knowledge available...

 

[swt_passenger]

Something in the depths of my memory is that the special Fratton to south Wales HST only ran in the homeward direction? It was reckoned at the time that fans heading towards Fratton would be spread over a few hours of normal services, it was only the return journey that was expected to be a problem if everyone expected to be able to catch the same train home?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

In recent years, Northern have sometimes run additional services from Sheffield to Huddersfield via Wakefield Kirkgate, to avoid the direct services via Penistone being overwhelmed.

 

[Scotrail84]

ScotRail occasionally run Footex specials to get fans from the Highlands/Aberdeenshire down to Glasgow for early kick off semi finals at Hampden, or a late service to get them home after a Saturday/Sunday evening matches. Usually 5/6/cars 170/158 but normal 'punters' can use them as well as they are advertised normally and no alcohol either. (This was the case even before the blanket ban came in) BTP usually travel on them as well for the duration of the journey.

They don't seem to run any additional services for any Scotland Int games though.

 

[GordonT]

ScotRail occasionally run Footex specials to get fans from the Highlands/Aberdeenshire down to Glasgow for early kick off semi finals at Hampden, or a late service to get them home after a Saturday/Sunday evening matches. Usually 5/6/cars 170/158 but normal 'punters' can use them as well as they are advertised normally and no alcohol either. (This was the case even before the blanket ban came in) BTP usually travel on them as well for the duration of the journey.

They don't seem to run any additional services for any Scotland Int games though.

Not excursions but ScotRail provide "specials" from Glasgow Central to/from Mount Florida (for Hampden Stadium) to shift large amounts of football supporters or concert goers before and after major events. Any similar examples from elsewhere?

 

[Mollman]

Not excursions but ScotRail provide "specials" from Glasgow Central to/from Mount Florida (for Hampden Stadium) to shift large amounts of football supporters or concert goers before and after major events. Any similar examples from elsewhere?

When the Marsh Link trains used to run through to Brighton, Southern would curtail certain trains to run between Eastbourne and Ashford with 8 car 377s used in the Brighton to Eastbourne path instead to accommodate fans going to the Amex - I once got caught out by that arrangement but luckily it was advertised as 'Change at Eastbourne for Ashford'

 

[Scotrail84]

Not excursions but ScotRail provide "specials" from Glasgow Central to/from Mount Florida (for Hampden Stadium) to shift large amounts of football supporters or concert goers before and after major events. Any similar examples from elsewhere?

Chiltern do Marleybone to Wembley stadium specials on match days.

 

[QSK19]

Although strictly speaking those extra trains EMR ran weren't charters but extra services as normal tickets were valid on them.

And I seem to remember that, in the very last several days that the 180s were on lease to EMR, a couple (109 and 111, I think) ran in order to transport Sheffield Wednesday fans for the League One play off final. Do we know whether this was also a charter or could normal tickets be used too?

On a side note, 110 also ran on the same day albeit in normal service - my son and I caught it for one last 180 ride to Leicester.

EMR did two between Derby and Crewe back in March for Bolton? Fans traveling to Derby. This was the same day that the midlands grand national was at Uttoxeter which also had a morning and afternoon special.

EMR have also run 222s on Ivanhoe services on the very odd occasion - presumably for the Leicester City-Nottingham Forest matches? I seem to remember others in RF stating that route, being very stop start, is a nightmare for 222 brakes!

 

[Kite159]

EMR have also run 222s on Ivanhoe services on the very odd occasion - presumably for the Leicester City-Nottingham Forest matches? I seem to remember others in RF stating that route, being very stop start, is a nightmare for 222 brakes!

At one time there was a booked 222 which worked some Lincoln - Leicester stoppers before EMR got hold of more units. Pretty sure it was weekdays only

 

[156421]

Northern no longer makes any attempt to increase the service on Cumbria Coast Line on Carlisle vs. Barrow days. The first time they played in front of an audience since 1964 (which was in 2021 if I recall correctly) at Brunton Park, an extra train was put on Barrow to Carlisle. However since then, Northern no longer cares and just allows crush loading instead.

 

[Britannia94]

I'm sure Northern have done one recently from Leeds to Blackburn making use of two 150 units to help relieve pressure on the York to Blackpool North service. Believe the service went direct via Dewsbury to avoid reversing at Bradford Interchange.

 

[jamiearmley]

I'm sure Northern have done one recently from Leeds to Blackburn making use of two 150 units to help relieve pressure on the York to Blackpool North service. Believe the service went direct via Dewsbury to avoid reversing at Bradford Interchange.

I think the last one was Bradford to Blackburn, 2x150 units. One special in each direction.

Units heavily vandalised on the return working.

 

[meepmeep]

Units heavily vandalised on the return working.

I wonder who ends up paying for that?

 

[DarloRich]

The bigger London clubs ( Arsenal, Spuds and Chelsea) used to hire a 86/87 and stock to run up to the north west for evening games. I think this stopped when Thomas Cook ceased to be the offical travel partner of the premier league

 

[12LDA28C]

Chiltern do Marleybone to Wembley stadium specials on match days.

They also often run 'Footexes' to Wembley as private charters when England are playing.

 

[QSK19]

I think the last one was Bradford to Blackburn, 2x150 units. One special in each direction.

Units heavily vandalised on the return working.

Lay on the 360s for football specials - might prompt the much awaited refurb to commence earlier

 

[DarloRich]

Lay on the 360s for football specials - might prompt the much awaited refurb to commence earlier

tough getting them to run between Blackburn and Bradford!

 

[jamiearmley]

Lay on the 360s for football specials - might prompt the much awaited refurb to commence earlier

I appreciate the humour here, truly I do.

However, when you are liable - up to and including imprisonment - for the safety of the passengers on your train, - and those passengers are removing lighting tubes and stabbing each other with them, smashing windows and forcing doors open whilst the train is moving at speed - there is little humour to be found I'm afraid.

Terror, more like.

 

[Magdalia]

First Capital Connect used to run additional trains for weekend Arsenal home games. I was told that Arsenal made a financial contribution to these as part of getting planning permission for the new Ashburton Grove stadium. They also ran additional trains when Cambridge United or Peterborough United played at Wembley.

Greater Anglia, and its predecessors, run additional trains for Old Farm Derby games.

In the past there were also additional trains for Spurs games at White Hart Lane but I don't know if Overground still do that.

 

[1D54]

Overground do indeed run specials to WHL from Liv Street. I've seen 710s heading there ECS when standing at Bethnal Green on matchdays.

 

[BJames]

First Capital Connect used to run additional trains for weekend Arsenal home games. I was told that Arsenal made a financial contribution to these as part of getting planning permission for the new Ashburton Grove stadium. They also ran additional trains when Cambridge United or Peterborough United played at Wembley.

Greater Anglia, and its predecessors, run additional trains for Old Farm Derby games.

In the past there were also additional trains for Spurs games at White Hart Lane but I don't know if Overground still do that.

Indeed, they do. They're run in both directions - pre-match there's multiple services from Enfield to White Hart Lane, which then continue on semi-fast to Seven Sisters, Hackney Downs and Liverpool Street. In the northbound direction they run semi-fast to White Hart Lane from Liverpool Street as well.

Post-match you've got some services which run non-stop from Liverpool St to White Hart Lane (in service, usually) and then all stations to Enfield, and southbound it's non stop Enfield to White Hart Lane then either semi-fast or all stations. The weekends that they're unable to run these services on matchdays for multiple reasons show the rest of us travellers how useful they are! But regardless, the 710s can swallow up the crowds far, far better than the 315s or 317s ever could so it's still doable without the extras, it's just even more cosy.

 

[Class 170101]

Greater Anglia, and its predecessors, run additional trains for Old Farm Derby games.

Extra services have also been run for Norwich home games between
Norwich and Brandon
Norwich and Ipswich

Last season an additional between Ipswich and Liverpool Street departing around 17:15 has operated on Saturday matchdays.

 

[pompeyfan]

Thanks for all the replies.

I wasn’t so much on about TOCs putting on extra services on their routes, or regular enhancements in capacity after a home game, I was more on about TOCs putting on good old fashion specials. One offs that don’t run at any other time apart from when two particular teams play.

For example, Southampton recently played at Wembley on a Sunday, and SWR managed to provide a service every 10 minutes at one point from Southampton to Waterloo, but personally I wouldn’t call those a football special.

 

[dk1]

Greater Anglia run extras whenever Norwich play at home and often on Ipswich games too. No big deal for us.

 

[QSK19]

I appreciate the humour here, truly I do.

However, when you are liable - up to and including imprisonment - for the safety of the passengers on your train, - and those passengers are removing lighting tubes and stabbing each other with them, smashing windows and forcing doors open whilst the train is moving at speed - there is little humour to be found I'm afraid.

Terror, more like.

Absolutely correct - whilst I have used humour, I think all of us on RF are very much aware of the seriousness here. I think that should go without saying.

We are like-minded in our enthusiasm and knowledge of the railways and fully acknowledge that those on the frontline are subject to the danger that abhorrent thugs pose. Hats off to those staff for their work and bravery.

tough getting them to run between Blackburn and Bradford!

To quote a concept I’ve said in other threads, loco-hauled 360s!

 

[Elybob]

Southern do "football specials" which I suspect are just extra 377s during Crystal Palace Brighton games

They do the same for South Bermondsey