TOC football charters

[SirAlf]

Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao is at Walsall tonight, no idea why it isn't at Villa Park. The time table is showing 2 extra trains from Bescot Stadium to New Street after the match

 

[Spartacus]

It's quite common for Northern to run 'extras' on lines already with a direct service when crewing is available. Helps separate 'normals' and football fans, which I expect both appreciate.

Maybe 25 years ago now I did a footex between Leeds and Glasgow Central for a preseason friendly between Celtic and Leeds. The stock? Anglia 86 & Mk2 set, hauled by a RES 47 between Leeds and York, going via the High Level Bridge and a reversal at Newcastle on the way North! At Waverley we went though platform 8, which was lined almost end to end by police in full riot gear, which bemused us all as much as anything, it was preseason and we weren't even going there! My guess is it was was a practice operation, but it was strange never the less.

 

[Scotrail84]

It's quite common for Northern to run 'extras' on lines already with a direct service when crewing is available. Helps separate 'normals' and football fans, which I expect both appreciate.

Maybe 25 years ago now I did a footex between Leeds and Glasgow Central for a preseason friendly between Celtic and Leeds. The stock? Anglia 86 & Mk2 set, hauled by a RES 47 between Leeds and York, going via the High Level Bridge and a reversal at Newcastle on the way North! At Waverley we went though platform 8, which was lined almost end to end by police in full riot gear, which bemused us all as much as anything, it was preseason and we weren't even going there! My guess is it was was a practice operation, but it was strange never the less.

Platform 8 at Waverley didn't exist 25 years ago. Do you mean the old 20 and 21 platforms?

 

[Spartacus]

Platform 8 at Waverley didn't exist 25 years ago. Do you mean the old 20 and 21 platforms?

Must have been! Had just been trying to think when they were built.

 

[Scotrail84]

Must have been! Had just been trying to think when they were built.

2006/7 I think it was, maybe a tad later.

 

[156421]

It's quite common for Northern to run 'extras' on lines already with a direct service when crewing is available. Helps separate 'normals' and football fans, which I expect both appreciate.

Maybe 25 years ago now I did a footex between Leeds and Glasgow Central for a preseason friendly between Celtic and Leeds. The stock? Anglia 86 & Mk2 set, hauled by a RES 47 between Leeds and York, going via the High Level Bridge and a reversal at Newcastle on the way North! At Waverley we went though platform 8, which was lined almost end to end by police in full riot gear, which bemused us all as much as anything, it was preseason and we weren't even going there! My guess is it was was a practice operation, but it was strange never the less.

Not for Carlisle vs. Barrow and vice versa

 

[D1537]

Indeed. I believe the last steam-heated train on BR was a Glasgow-Dundee Footex in March 1987 and several cranks were certainly on board that one.

47117, Glasgow-Aberdeen & return footex, 2/5/1987 was the last one.

One of my last steam-heated haulages was with 47049 on a Glasgow-Falkirk footex in March 1987 (the very last one was with 47004 on a rugby special two weeks later). In Scotland, despite the reputation of Rangers-Celtic games, when they were playing other teams the footexes were completely fine to be on.

 

[Scotrail84]

47117, Glasgow-Aberdeen & return footex, 2/5/1987 was the last one.

One of my last steam-heated haulages was with 47049 on a Glasgow-Falkirk footex in March 1987 (the very last one was with 47004 on a rugby special two weeks later). In Scotland, despite the reputation of Rangers-Celtic games, when they were playing other teams the footexes were completely fine to be on.

Hibs and Aberdeen were the mobs to avoid back in the day.

 

[david_g]

Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao is at Walsall tonight, no idea why it isn't at Villa Park. The time table is showing 2 extra trains from Bescot Stadium to New Street after the match

Redevelopment work at Villa Park, though not the demolition of the North Stand which was the original proposal which most Villa fans were hoping for.
The extras were additional stops in Rugeley TV trains. Unfortunately the 2141 from Walsall ran 20 minutes late behind the Rugeley train which made the latter rather cosy.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's quite common for Northern to run 'extras' on lines already with a direct service when crewing is available. Helps separate 'normals' and football fans, which I expect both appreciate.

That was the case with the Sheffield to Huddersfield example I gave upthread. Not only to keep the football supporters separate from regular passengers, but because on the Penistone line it isn't possible to simply stick another unit on the formation, nor to run an extra via that route due to the single line sections.
The local stops north of Barnsley also get pretty crowded on match days with home supporters, before you consider the visiting supporters on top of that.

 

[AndyHudds]

That was the case with the Sheffield to Huddersfield example I gave upthread. Not only to keep the football supporters separate from regular passengers, but because on the Penistone line it isn't possible to simply stick another unit on the formation, nor to run an extra via that route due to the single line sections.
The local stops north of Barnsley also get pretty crowded on match days with home supporters, before you consider the visiting supporters on top of that.

It used to be easy to change at Wakefield Kirkgate after the game, much quicker getting home, obviously not much of an option nowadays due to the sparse service on to Huddersfield from Wakefield. We always used to change at Wakefield going and coming back for Town games at Barnsley.

 

[D1537]

In 1998 Virgin (I think) ran a footex from Birmingham to Leeds for an FA Cup game. I was on Leeds station waiting for a friend to go to the game when it arrived. Having totally lost track of the railways at the time - I'd spent a few years working abroad - I was slightly flummoxed when it arrived with D9000 on it...

 

[Trackman]

Considering how far the Reebok is from Bolton town centre, plus the cost of parking etc I would imagine that the local station (Horwich Parkway) and services would take hundreds if not thousands of fans.

However I'm unaware of any increase in services or "specials" from Bolton Trinity St or elsewhere to the ground, so can any local followers confirm this? Although being a "Northern" area I'd be amazed it they could find the stock and staff to fulfil such a scheme!

There was in the premiership days (or even championship), think were a couple of Picc or Vic 'match day' stoppers to Horwich Parkway. Think they went to Preston ECS to stable ready for the full-time return. I got on at Moses Gate.
This was about 10/12 years ago. It was twin class 142 units when I was on it, only me in the carriage! The problem with capacity is not the going, it's the coming back, which is a different story.

 

[Royal351]

There's normally a football special for Brighton V Palace at the Amex. It gets routed to Croydon via Lewes. Believe last year it ran as a 12 car

 

[Pinus contorta]

Not for Carlisle vs. Barrow and vice versa

I seem to recall a semi fast service running Barrow to Carlisle. Eliminating calls until Millom. From there towards Carlisle I can't remember. This season the fixture is a lunch time KO this next Saturday. Probably less demand for a train at that time in the morning.

 

[bunnahabhain]

EMR will have a few specials for the next season, I can't remember off the top of my head but Notts County v Chesterfield is one.

 

[156421]

I seem to recall a semi fast service running Barrow to Carlisle. Eliminating calls until Millom. From there towards Carlisle I can't remember. This season the fixture is a lunch time KO this next Saturday. Probably less demand for a train at that time in the morning.

They had one which skipped all stops between Barrow and Whitehaven (which led to a tone deaf automated email saying my journey from Corkickle was cancelled and unclear answers from Northern as to whether I could board at Whitehaven instead - probably as the staff have no idea where these places are) which Northern never explained the logic for, but in the event Carlisle postponed the game due to a dubious frozen pitch. Was the same day as England vs. France world cup quarter final, hence must have been December 10th 2022. I also recall that Northern didn't reinstate the skipped stations despite the skipping being rendered pointless by the postponement. This was at the same time their infuriating marketing campaign stated "people of the north... GO DO YOUR THING!" which appears to finally have been dropped out of embarrassment.

 

[Howardh]

There was in the premiership days (or even championship), think were a couple of Picc or Vic 'match day' stoppers to Horwich Parkway. Think they went to Preston ECS to stable ready for the full-time return. I got on at Moses Gate.
This was about 10/12 years ago. It was twin class 142 units when I was on it, only me in the carriage! The problem with capacity is not the going, it's the coming back, which is a different story.

Thanks, I imagine when the game finishes fans would just pile on the first train that arrives. I couldn't imagine a "football special" standing at Horwich Parkway as (a) a game's finishing time is a movable feast and (b) it would block normal services!!

Wonder, though, when the whole of Middlebrook was being redeveloped, thought was given to an extra (terminal?) platform at Horwich so trains could wait there? Not only is there a football ground, there are major shops plus an arena - it's quite a centre now!

 

[75A]

There's normally a football special for Brighton V Palace at the Amex. It gets routed to Croydon via Lewes. Believe last year it ran as a 12 car

When it was @ the Goldstone ground there was usually a couple of Footex's from Norwood Junction to Hove.

 

[Par]

Terrible picture, but here is the Manchester Victoria to Edge Hill Footex arriving on 31-03-85 and my ticket for it.

No idea on the traction - sorry

 

[Mike99]

It would have had to go via Eastleigh as HSTs were not cleared on the Netley line, and the inbound ECS definitely ran via Chandlers Ford, there were YouTube videos of it passing Eastleigh and Botley, but I’d have expected it more likely that the return ran as an extra. But then again the return train could also have reversed at Eastleigh and included a Southampton call.

Here‘s the video of the southbound ECS, shows the HST, coming off the Chandlers Ford route and through Eastleigh P2 non-stop:

Do you know the date for this? I lived in Fareham for a few years would have enjoyed seeing it going around the left hand bend leaving Fareham towards Fratton, and watching it go on up the viaduct where my flat overlooked again towards Porchester.

 

[wilsontown]

Considering how far the Reebok is from Bolton town centre, plus the cost of parking etc I would imagine that the local station (Horwich Parkway) and services would take hundreds if not thousands of fans.

However I'm unaware of any increase in services or "specials" from Bolton Trinity St or elsewhere to the ground, so can any local followers confirm this? Although being a "Northern" area I'd be amazed it they could find the stock and staff to fulfil such a scheme!

Brighton is in a similar situation, limited parking and quite a drag out of town to the venue, yet a local train station with direct access to the main station and others. Do they have special services for games?

I've been to Brighton for the football a couple of times. I don't know if they have extra services, but your match ticket was valid for the train from Brighton to Falmer and back, and there was an organised queueing operation with metal barriers etc at Brighton. Seemed to work OK but did have to be on a train full of Leeds fans....

 

[swt_passenger]

Do you know the date for this? I lived in Fareham for a few years would have enjoyed seeing it going around the left hand bend leaving Fareham towards Fratton, and watching it go on up the viaduct where my flat overlooked again towards Porchester.

I suppose we can’t know, if the video was uploaded as soon as it was made, then YouTube give the upload date as 27 Aug 2011, which was a Saturday. That would fit with it being very near the start of the season.

But alternatively, another video includes shots at Hedge End, Fareham and Eastleigh stated in captions to be on 23 April 2011, so could it be the same train?

 

[D1537]

Terrible picture, but here is the Manchester Victoria to Edge Hill Footex arriving on 31-03-85 and my ticket for it.

No idea on the traction - sorry

Unless there was more than one footex that day, it was 47427.

 

[En]

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

indeed i believe there was and the MML routed 'direct' Lincoln to St Pancras is a 222 so there is route knowledge

 

[jkkne]

Northern run them for Sunderland v Middlesbrough games.

The unit runs to St Peter’s Metro and back again to Boro at full time

 

[Old Yard Dog]

In the early 1970s, I was returning from Bradford Exchange to Hull Paragon one Sunday and, on seeing my ticket, the man on the gate directed me on to what turned out to be a Hull KR supporters special. Nothing remarkable about that except that it ran non-stop through Leeds City. This was the first and last time I ever had such a pleasure.

 

[Dave W]

They used to run extras at The Hawthorns but appear now to just add a minute to stops for service trains. There were a few trains which I believe ran empty from Snow Hill to swallow all the fans going back towards Cradley and Stour but not sure if this is still done. They may still on Sundays to account for the thinner timetable.

 

[TrenHotel]

When Charlton were in the Premier League I'm almost positive that South Eastern laid on extra London bound services after the Saturday 3pm games

They certainly did. I think Southeastern stopped when the Greenwich line gained a 6tph service. I don't think they've returned since the service was cut back.

 

[BPN2022]

Realtime Trains | 2C41 0750 Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle | 17/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 2C41 0750 departure from Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle on 17/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This looks like a football special to me today for the Carlisle v Barrow match. 1230 kick off