Dilemma 22/11/25

[Drogba11CFC]

On 22nd November, I am attending Winchester City's away game at Portishead Town before continuing on to Coventry, where I will spend the night before attending the National Festival of Railway Modelling the following day.

I have two options. One is to catch the 17:36 X4 Badgerline back to Temple Meads and go via New Street and International, getting into Coventry at 21:20.

There is another option, which is to leave the ground at 17:00 and catch the 17:12 X10 to Cribbs and another bus to Parkway, ultimately getting me to Coventry an hour earlier. However, referees have lately been adding more and more time on at the end of games, resulting in matches finishing later and later - Saturday's game against Falmouth ran past 5pm.

Should I risk needing to leave before ft or should I opt to get into Coventry later?

 

[The exile]

Not going to advise - but you can bet your life that whatever you decide, it’ll be the wrong decision!

 

[Dave W]

I'd still say that non league games finishing beyond 5pm are the exception. I'd be planning the earlier train.

 

[Topological]

I would have done the latter and visited a pub in Portishead. Unless absolutely necessary because of a last train later in the journey, I would strongly avoid rushing from the ground.

Obviously if there is a second engagement later than that dictates time. However, the OP appears to only be concerned with reaching Coventry for something the day after.

 

[Bevan Price]

I would suggest checking the punctuality record (on Saturday) of the buses you propose to use, to see if they do make connections with trains . You can find some recent information here:

Great Britain – Bus Times

bustimes.org

 

[Drogba11CFC]

I've opted to go for the earlier option - largely because the train ticket is only £16.80! In theory, it'll get me to BPW with 15 minutes to spare.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

At any rate, I'll see if I can play it safe and get a taxi.

 

[Dave W]

At any rate, I'll see if I can play it safe and get a taxi.

That would have been my suggestion!

In 2021, I saw my non league side win at Bognor on the South Coast - fast taxi to the station for a Southern train forward to Victoria, then an all time sprint either side of a rammed Victoria Line journey saw me make a train at King's Cross by seconds, first stop Peterborough then another fast taxi where I saw a win for my league team in an 8pm kickoff. (sequence of events rather gives me away, I imagine!) 6 points in 7 hours and 292mi 38ch of train travel if you take into account Finsbury Park to Victoria and back (with a stop at KX!)

So it can be done! Good luck!