City Fans Leaving Early/Empty seats

It's about time the club re introduced special trains so that we don't all gave to worry about extra time etc or even better the TV companies should have to experience what the fan has to in terms of travel


Its a good idea but unfortunately it's not that simple nowadays, under BR there could be Football Specials as they had spare locos, coaching stock and train crew sitting about all over the place, those days are long gone unfortunately and most, if not all TOC's just don't have the resources to do this without serious pre planning. You need at the very least, a driver, a guard, station staff, a set of coaches, timing paths on the mainlines, platform space at the major stations, it also may involve getting staff to work overtime which is hard enough, especially on a Sunday. Theres a lot more goes into running extra trains than meets the eye.
 
Its a good idea but unfortunately it's not that simple nowadays, under BR there could be Football Specials as they had spare locos, coaching stock and train crew sitting about all over the place, those days are long gone unfortunately and most, if not all TOC's just don't have the resources to do this without serious pre planning. You need at the very least, a driver, a guard, station staff, a set of coaches, timing paths on the mainlines, platform space at the major stations, it also may involve getting staff to work overtime which is hard enough, especially on a Sunday. Theres a lot more goes into running extra trains than meets the eye.
chelsea had one to old trafford yesterday
 
I had to leave at FT yesterday as I had to catch the last flight from Gatwick to Edinburgh which was at 21:10, normally theres plenty time to get to Gatwick airport but not yesterday as engineering works near Redhill meant that there were no direct trains to Gatwick airport station. I has to get the tube From Wembley Park to Kings X then change for the Victoria line to get to London Victoria mainline station. I then had to board the Gatwick Express which went as far as Redhill then get on a rail replacement bus service which took me to Gatwick airport. I got through security at 20:40 and made my flight but bearing in mind I left Wembley at about 18:15 at FT, so thats near two and a half hours for a journey that should take no more than 60-70 minutes normally. I didn't want to leave but had no choice really.

Back down on Thursday for the Arsenal league match, travelling home on the overnight train so I've got plenty time after the match this time.
Could you be a bit more precise about your journey home next time? Ta.
 
chelsea had one to old trafford yesterday


Yes they did, it was subsidised by the club, however this has to be organised well in advance and the trains are drier than the Sahara desert. I'm not saying it cant be done, I'm just saying a lot of planning has to to go into it.
 
No problem, I shall ensure every detail is included and nothing is omitted next time.
It was lacking seat details and colour of conductor’s shoes to name but two. Minor details, but essential nevertheless if we’re to truly get a sense of the Herculean effort made.
We await Thurdsay’s details with bated breath..
 
We were told by our Coach driver that it would be departing at bang on 1900 unless the game went to extra time or pens then it would depart 45 mins after the final whistle, We all made a mad dash to get back to the coach which didn't leave until 1945 anyway as a woman and her young so hadn't arrived back and never did.
 
We were told by our Coach driver that it would be departing at bang on 1900 unless the game went to extra time or pens then it would depart 45 mins after the final whistle, We all made a mad dash to get back to the coach which didn't leave until 1945 anyway as a woman and her young so hadn't arrived back and never did.

Some drivers can be miserable sods. Our 2 coach drivers were brilliant. Didn't give us a timescale - just said get back to the coach happy. We had to get back to Carlisle too, so top marks to them.
 
Yes they did, it was subsidised by the club, however this has to be organised well in advance and the trains are drier than the Sahara desert. I'm not saying it cant be done, I'm just saying a lot of planning has to to go into it.
They have one this Sunday as well with tickets only a tenner
 
They have one this Sunday as well with tickets only a tenner

Chelsea do this a lot. They did it for Sunderland away last season when they played midweek which is a godsend for such a long journey. For all the stick they get in some quarters about the money and being a plastic club (similar to the jibes aimed at us), I don't think there's another club in the Premier League that looks after their travelling support in this way as much as Chelsea do.

There's no excuse really - every club in the division could afford to subsidise train travel for those long distance away games
 
IF the reason behind the empty seats malarke is people buying season cards and turning up when they feel like it I'd install a rule whereby if you don' turn up for 75% of games you aren' allowed to renew it.... harsh but fair in my opinion
 
We sold out the chelsea game yet huge rows are empty......could this be a reseller thing? Are people buying to resell at stupid prices? Makes little sense as we didnt have this problem before and now all of a sudden(pasy 18months?) it has started happening. Selling out but people not coming.
 
I was at the game. Some seats empty in the Chelsea section - didn’t see any more.
 
I have a season ticket but couldn't go nor pass it on in good time.

I, however, will have been counted on the official attendance.
 

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