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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 16:01 12 Mar 2014
Totally understand Rangers fans’ frustration and anger with the train service last night. North Stand Chat has five pages of complaints from Albion fans appalled by what they experienced.
While this will be of no comfort to you at all, last night really was a pretty horrific one-off. Seems the problems revolved around the special train that Southern put on to get Rangers fans back to Victoria. Somehow, the normal 10-minute shuttle services in both directions from Falmer then became totally disrupted. A very a British cock up, by all accounts.
To quote one of our own fans “Tonight was abysmal. Never known it that bad.” And that’s the point. On many occasions this season visiting fans’ forums have commented on just how well the shuttle services run. And that 20 minute maximum queuing time advice comes from repeated personal experience.
To put things in some perspective, North Stand Chat is running a poll right now on overall satisfaction levels with Amex transport arrangements. The proportion of those saying that they are either ‘Very Happy’ or ‘Satisfied’ overall is now running at 77.5%. Bear in mind that this is from people who use the services 23 times a season, with an average attendance over 27,000.
To sum up: I’m really sorry that Rangers fans had such a poor train service last night. And although I’m glad the special Victoria service did some good, it’s crazy there was no advance publicity that it was running.
Thankfully, I’m not here to act as an apologist for Southern Trains, nor as some Goebbels-style publicist for BHA. Besides, it wasn’t Goebbels who made the trains run on time. That was Mussolini.
As for the game, the best team most definitely lost last night. With so much ability and creativity so evident throughout the game, I’m astonished you still managed to come away with nothing.
Finally, it was excellent meeting several very decent Rs fans in the away end last night. Thanks to everyone for coming. |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 23:51 11 Mar 2014
Do you mean you were waiting 40 minutes at Falmer for the special train they were running for QPR fans direct to Victoria - which in any case wasn't scheduled to leave until 10.15 or so ?
Or are you saying you had to queue for 40 minutes to get on one of the regular shuttle trains that depart Falmer every 10 minutes for Brighton?
Which was it? |
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Reply | how difficult are the play-offs looking?!
at 21:21 10 Mar 2014
Ah yes. We bought that one last year. We'd finished 4th, were on great form, had already beaten Palace 3-0 in the league, and drawn with ease at their place in the semi 1st leg..
What could possibly go wrong? |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 18:43 10 Mar 2014
No problem. You just need to buy your ticket to Haywards Heath - but be sure to print off evidence of your match ticket purchase.
Page 1 of the seagulls.co.uk Fans/Travel pdf has this:- "When you reach the barriers at the station, simply show the ticket officer your ticket, Smartcard, or proof of purchase if collecting tickets at the ground. If you are travelling from outside of the subsidised zone simply buy a ticket to the last station on the zone perimeter, and use the subsidised travel system for the remainder of your journey. You may also wish to consider parking at Lewes railway station, and taking the train on to Falmer."
The pre and post-match trains depart every 10 minutes or less. It'll be another 27k crowd tomorrow, so I recommend being at Brighton by 18.45 latest.
Leave on the final whistle and you should be back in Brighton well before 10.30. |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 19:55 8 Mar 2014
You might think so. But even though we only drew with Reading today, all the Amex concourse bars were rammed post-match.
Staying on and drinking after the game: it's the way forward. Definitely for your own new stadium! |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 19:28 6 Mar 2014
People are possibly misunderstanding how the Amex works. It's totally unlike all those other grounds where fans get slung out en masse into the night. Huge numbers of Brighton fans stay back - so all the bars are absolutely heaving. It's like a big party - even when we lose. You really should come and take a look.
There's no mad panic to rush for the trains, because people know they'll get on one and be back in Brighton, or Lewes, pretty quickly. That 20 minutes queuing time is a maximum, for home or away fans alike. In fact, given the height of the Amex West stand, some Brighton supporters actually have further to walk to the station than our visitors!
Added bonus: as an away fan, you're closer than anyone else to the park and ride bus stops! There really is no need to worry... |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 10:46 6 Mar 2014
There is no automatic hold-back for away fans. They are usually free to disperse along with everyone else. The one exception was when Palace came down for the playoff semi-final last year. (But they weren't wanting to leave anyway!)
So, no hold-back. When Leeds came down recently for a night game, we all mingled happily in the train queue. Even though they lost. This isn't The Den, you know! |
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Reply | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 10:22 6 Mar 2014
No problem these days. Forget those misinformed reports from way back. (There were never two-car trains - ever!) The six or eight coach shuttles leave Falmer in both directions every 10 minutes. The club paid a vast sum a while back for the extended platforms at Falmer and, with an average attendance of 27,000, those train services are popular, because they work.
A friend of mine regularly comes down to the Amex from London for evening games. We leave on the final whistle, walk down to the station and get on a train within 15-20 minutes. He is always back in Brighton well in time for the 10.33 back to London. [Post edited 6 Mar 2014 10:25]
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Thread | Away at the Amex — Info for Rangers Fans
at 07:52 6 Mar 2014
Just to clarify a few things for anyone coming down to the Amex on Tuesday.
For most away fans the easiest and best option by far is to come by train. You’ll save money by booking a return ticket to Haywards Heath or Shoreham by Sea. From there, the rest of the journey on to Brighton and the change for Falmer is all within the free travel zone that’s covered by your ticket.
If you’re driving, the club’s Travel Guide and Video (on the seagulls.co.uk website, under the Fans tab) include essential info on the free park-and-ride arrangements, plus the nearby Bridge car park, where limited space (costing £15) is available on the day. If coming down via the A23 I’d choose the Mill Road park-and-ride — but it gets full very quickly, so best to arrive by 6.15.
If you prefer to avoid Brighton altogether, you can park at Lewes station (costing £5) and get the train to Falmer — one-stop, 5 minutes, no charge, because it’s in the free travel zone. And waiting at Falmer for a train back to Lewes is often quicker than queuing for the park-and-ride buses.
Falmer station is right beside the ground and, these days, getting away isn’t a problem. Leave on the final whistle, queue for maybe 15-20 minutes, and the train gets you into Brighton in 8 minutes flat. Then, loads of good pubs near the station, plus everything that naughty old Brighton has to offer! Or you could of course just get on the first train back home…
If you do have time, and fancy being sociable post-match, a great way to dodge the queues is to stick around. But no need to stay stuck in the away end. All the concourse bars stay open — with away fans very welcome. West Stand Lower is the biggest — and a lot warmer than the somewhat draughty away concourse! The North Stand bars always stay open till 11pm.
As for catering, the locally produced Piglet’s Pantry pies are pretty special, and unlike anywhere else, the away bars always stock a real ale from the visitors’ locality. So look out for your local brew.
Most people find that the Amex is a pretty relaxed and friendly place. Hope you have a good trip, and enjoy the match! |
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