BTP demanding extra coaches

[Farnborough]

As a (passive, due to distance) football fan, I used to enjoy the matchday travel, often with football specials - Saturday 3pm kick-off, finishing around 4:45, then the escorted procession to the station, and then home usually at a sensible time.

Nowadays, more and more stadiums have moved out of the town centre... clubs arrange coaches for their supporters club fans... so home-time is much later...

Throw in the increase in the number of mid-week fixtures - last Friday saw Birmingham v Ipswich as the new EFL season kicked-off... kick-off 8pm, final whistle after 10pm - I'm guessing there were not many trains back to Ipswich

 

[CaptainHaddock]

As a (passive, due to distance) football fan, I used to enjoy the matchday travel, often with football specials - Saturday 3pm kick-off, finishing around 4:45, then the escorted procession to the station, and then home usually at a sensible time.

Nowadays, more and more stadiums have moved out of the town centre... clubs arrange coaches for their supporters club fans... so home-time is much later...

Throw in the increase in the number of mid-week fixtures - last Friday saw Birmingham v Ipswich as the new EFL season kicked-off... kick-off 8pm, final whistle after 10pm - I'm guessing there were not many trains back to Ipswich

Yes, I'm a football fan myself but these days if I'm planning a day out walking or cycling on a Saturday I always check the fixture lists to make sure I know which lines and stations to avoid if there's a match on. It's just a pity that, as the OP's post demonstrates, many TOCs don't seem to bother and seem completed unprepared when over 200 away fans descend on a two coach 170!

 

[Travelmonkey]

Yes, I'm a football fan myself but these days if I'm planning a day out walking or cycling on a Saturday I always check the fixture lists to make sure I know which lines and stations to avoid if there's a match on. It's just a pity that, as the OP's post demonstrates, many TOCs don't seem to bother and seem completed unprepared when over 200 away fans descend on a two coach 170!

The fact I was refused from not one but 2 trains on Saturday due to overcrowding was another twist of the knife. I am concerned about another wheelchair user friend on the same line this weekend but he's thankfully joining the train at a staffed station so hopefully he will have his pre booked passenger assist honored. Mine certainly wasn't last week.