Reading FC at Wembley: Fans criticise First Great Western over rail fares

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Sell Groupsave but only for non-stop football specials that won't appear in the public timetable? I'm sure full trains would cover (or more than) costs - that'd have my vote!

[TaplowGreen]

Sell Groupsave but only for non-stop football specials that won't appear in the public timetable? I'm sure full trains would cover (or more than) costs - that'd have my vote!

That sounds like a runner!

.........I seem to recall in the (not too) distant past when there were "football special" trains that the clubs involved would be allocated the tickets to sell on behalf of the train operator? ...........or would that have been chartered trains perhaps?

[ChrisB]

That sounds like a charter to me

[LiskeardRich]

GroupSave is always barred for the Exeter Chiefs home games, but not Exeter City...

Last season Exeter Chief's average attendance was 9737. Exeter City average attendance last season was 3886.
Exeter Chief attendance figures are up this season, match on match by 11%. Exeter City on the other hand "are concerned" by falling attendances. This perhaps answers why Chief's have restrictions but City don't.

(full) Ticket prices are ^25-30 at Chiefs and ^20-27 at City and that's comparing top 4 premiership against mid table fourth tier. Chiefs offer heavily discounted tickets to local clubs if they are expecting a lower attendance, yet City seem to offer no incentive to get local club members in when they have low attendances- They are only filling about 35-40% capacity compared to Chiefs between 80-90% capacity.
Exeter Chiefs are one of only 4 premiership teams that turned a profit last year and have an excellent business model from what I have seen

[TaplowGreen]

Isn't there a capacity problem re: the Chiefs in that Digby and Sowton station can only take short trains?

[LiskeardRich]

Isn't there a capacity problem re: the Chiefs in that Digby and Sowton station can only take short trains?

When I've been on match day the services have been 2 x 143.

[insider]

A friend in train planning sent me some diagrams and I have simplified. Remember this is the Plan, which can be deviated by the Control team, if faults, failures or other issues arise. But this is what the depot and crew will work too, unless otherwise instructed.


All services have been strengthend where ever possible. Due to planned engineering, only 2 stopping services are in operation between RDG^‡(resolve) & PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). As a result Bedwyn Services are also Calling Maidenhead.
However Twyford don't get any extra trains

Departures from RDG to PAD
1A04 0811 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)
1K31 0822 3 Car
1L08 0827 HST
2P31 0829 5 Car
1P24 0831 4 Car
1A75 0851 HST
1L14 0856 HST
2P34 0859 5 Car
1P26 0901 HST
1A07 0912 HST
1K41 0921 3 Car
1P27 0923 4 Car
2P36 0929 5 Car
1A76 0944 HST
1L24 0952 HST
1P31 0955 HST
2P38 0959 3 Car
1A09 1000 HST
1K45 1020 3 Car
1P35 1027 6 Car
2P40 1029 5 Car
1L28 1031 HST
1A77 1050 HST
1L34 1059 HST
2P42 1100 3 Car
1P37 1104 HST
1A11 1108 HST
1K49 1121 3 Car
1P39 1127 5 Car
2P44 1129 5 Car
1A78 1150 HST
2P46 1159 5 Car
1L42 1158 HST
1A13 1203 HST
1P40 1207 5 Car
1K53 1219 3 Car
1P41 1224 5 Car
2P48 1229 5 Car
1A80 1253 HST
2P50 1259 5 Car
1L48 1259 HST
1P43 1303 6 Car
1A15 1308 HST
1A81 1321 HST
1P45 1324 3 Car
2P52 1329 5 Car
1K61 1351 3 Car
1P47 1354 4 Car
1L52 1357 HST
2P54 1359 3 Car
1A17 1406 HST
1P49 1425 5 Car

[JayMac]

Hurrah FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for strengthening wherever possible.

Yah boo FGW for not allowing GroupSave on those strengthened services.

[insider]

Continued (thought it was a 3pm kick off, but its 520pm)

2P56 1429 3 Car
1A82 1429 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)
1A83 1453 HST
1P51 1456 HST
2P58 1500 5 Car
1L55 1459 HST
1A19 1505 HST
1K67 1520 3 Car
1P53 1525 HST
2P60 1528 3 Car
1A85 1551 HST

[insider]

Hurrah FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for strengthening wherever possible.

Yah boo FGW for not allowing GroupSave on those strengthened services.

To be honest its just a normal Saturday Service when only a two track railway....

Barring Groupsave is the right thing to do, but in reality football fans will still travel so is a pointless exercise, and all that happens is FGW make more money, which is naughty!!!

Just about to do a return capacity guide, and I have so far noticed one additional Special Train!!!!

[JayMac]

and all that happens is FGW^▸ (First Great Western) make more money, which is naughty!!!

Naughty? Or calculated decision? 

[insider]

Homeward Bound PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve)

1D71 1917 5 Car
2N74 1925 5 Car
1B89 1930 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)
1W73 1942 3 Car
2N78 1955 5 Car
1C96 2000 HST
1C31 2006 HST
1D75 2018 5 Car
2N80 2025 3 Car
1B91 2045 HST
1D77 2057 3 Car
2N82 2057 3 Car
1C32 2106 HST
2R83 2112 3 Car
1D79 2118 6 Car
1Z93 2128 6 Car (ADDITONAL SERVICE Calls MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station) & RDG ONLY)
2N86 2142 5 Car
1W81 2143 5 Car
1B94 2200 HST
1C33 2206 HST
2R87 2212 5 Car
1D83 2218 4 Car
2N90 2243 5 Car
1D85 2248 6 Car
2N92 2320 5 Car
1C36 2330 HST
1D87 2333 5 Car

I think getting everyone home is going to be much more of a challenge, less trains, everyone wants to go at same time, and some shorter key services.......

After this time train to Maidenhead and buses to Reading....lets hope most people have travelled by then, or chaos could take place late at Maidenhead....or more chaos than most other Saturday evenings...

[Bob_Blakey]

Isn't there a capacity problem re: the Chiefs in that Digby and Sowton station can only take short trains?

Digby & Sowton station will quite happily accommodate 4-car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) with some room still to spare; I think the usable platform length is just over 100m.

[LiskeardRich]

Homeward Bound PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve)

1D71 1917 5 Car
2N74 1925 5 Car
1B89 1930 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)
1W73 1942 3 Car
2N78 1955 5 Car
1C96 2000 HST
1C31 2006 HST
1D75 2018 5 Car
2N80 2025 3 Car
1B91 2045 HST
1D77 2057 3 Car
2N82 2057 3 Car
1C32 2106 HST
2R83 2112 3 Car
1D79 2118 6 Car
1Z93 2128 6 Car (ADDITONAL SERVICE Calls MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station) & RDG ONLY)
2N86 2142 5 Car
1W81 2143 5 Car
1B94 2200 HST
1C33 2206 HST
2R87 2212 5 Car
1D83 2218 4 Car
2N90 2243 5 Car
1D85 2248 6 Car
2N92 2320 5 Car
1C36 2330 HST
1D87 2333 5 Car

I think getting everyone home is going to be much more of a challenge, less trains, everyone wants to go at same time, and some shorter key services.......

After this time train to Maidenhead and buses to Reading....lets hope most people have travelled by then, or chaos could take place late at Maidenhead....or more chaos than most other Saturday evenings...

A 1720 kick off will finish at the very earlier 1905 if no injury time, exactly 15 mins break at half time. The 1917 and probably a couple after that looks unrealistic, 12 minutes to exit stadium and get from Wembley to Paddington.

The game may also be subject to extra time which will mean a finish no earlier than 1945, and the a potential penalty shoot out, probably adding another 15-20 minutes.

[plymothian]

Isn't there a capacity problem re: the Chiefs in that Digby and Sowton station can only take short trains?

Digby & Sowton station will quite happily accommodate 4-car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) with some room still to spare; I think the usable platform length is just over 100m.

DIG is only allowed to accommodate 4 or fewer coach trains for some reason. The platform is 109m long, and shorter platforms don't have a similar embargo.

DIGBY & SOWTON
No train longer than four coaches may stop at this station.

The only other time GSVs are barred down here seems to be Argyle v City.

Of course FGW^▸ (First Great Western) also bar GSVs for games at the Millennium Stadium, Cheltenham, Glastonbury etc...