East Coast travel on New Years Day

[silent majority]

We, the FSF, have been talking to the East Coast train people about resurrecting football specials on the East Coast route. We have met and discussed how we can operate this without impacting on supporters desires to travel as independently as they can.

So far, and its still in its early stages, we have selected DRFC as the club to attempt to formulate a scheme that works for the benefit of everyone. It will work something like this; we purchase contract rated tickets from East Coast when they go on sale approx 6 weeks before any fixture. Those tickets will then be resold to individuals as they purchase a match ticket for that away game. We will be allocated certain carriages on a choice of a couple of trains to allow some flexibility.

The benefits will be thus; you get the opportunity to take advantage of cheap train tickets without the mad scramble when they are initially put on sale. You'll get the chance to sit in carriages full of DRFC fans and a little leeway will be given in terms of behaviour. That means we could restore the bar service and other restrictions could be lifted. If matches are postponed then your ticket will still be valid for the rearranged game.

We still have the details to work on, but our target game would be against QPR on New Years Day. Meanwhile if anybody would be interested in using this method of travel it would help if you indicate that here, we would like some indication of numbers.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'd definitely have an interest but I think for me and most the cost is the main thing. If it's sensible then definitely sounds a great idea. Good stuff.

[MrFrost]

Sounds good to me, few of us would be interested.

[DaveDRFC]

Other priorities for me this year I'm afraid but that's a brilliant idea. I'd encourage everyone who can to take advantage of this, the train down to London is so much better than the coach or driving. Great work by the FSF if this comes off!

[DearneValleyRover]

I would be very interested except I'm in Edinburgh for the Hogmanay.

[Jenny]

I'd be very interested in this, as of tomorrow I will no longer have a car and will probably travel to most away games on the train therefore the easier it is, the better.

[not on facebook]

Great idea take my hat off to all involved

[MrFrost]

I'd be very interested in this, as of tomorrow I will no longer have a car and will probably travel to most away games on the train therefore the easier it is, the better.

Sacrificing your wheels?

[RedJ]

I'd be interested. I'd be able to meet friends down there then instead of have to worry about getting back for the coach.

[DRFCCOYR]

I'd be definitely interested, brilliant idea. I know a lot of my mates would be too.

[Muttley]

Interested for myself plus around 8 others who don't post on here, dependent on price/times.

[mushRTID]

Great idea, lets hope it catches on. I would be interested and estimare another 3 mates.

[kennorover]

Great idea, i'd be interested plus at least half a dozen mates who i go to most away games with

[Slimneil]

Me too cost dependant

[Dagenham Rover]

Great idea

[RoversGirl1991]

Brilliant idea!   

[not on facebook]

'All aboard '

[donnievic]

Great idea and depending on cost could be upto 8 of us interested but don't cheap east coast tickets go on sale 12 week in advance

[Pintolager]

I don't think I could make the QPR game, but if this is successful and catches on, then I would definitely be interested plus one other who I travel with.

Great idea

[rtidbelly]

at least 4/5 of people who i travel with go on train anyway, as long as train times are do able and don't have to sacrifice 5 or 10 mins of game to leave early just to get back. id rather pay a little extra travel if the experience was better i.e sat with other fans, little sing song and few beers on way. QPR would be a good test as many already use the train for london based journeys so if tickets were cheap and were guaranteed a carriage for rovers fans then there would be an increase in sales.

[biggle]

yes interested

[dumbroofer]

could add me+ 1 to that

[silent majority]

I know people are questioning certain aspects of this service, i.e its price and whether will they be running at reasonable times etc. The answer to all those questions is simply that we have discussed all of those issues. As football fans we know what suits and what doesn't so we wont be signing up to things that won't be acceptable.

We have the support of DRFC in what were trying to do and they will more than likely be involved in the next meeting so that we can put the flesh on the bones so to speak.

As somebody pointed out cheap tickets do go on sale about twelve weeks in advance. Apologies for that but I'm not a rail travel expert, but my colleague from the FSF is and he'll ensure that we get this right from that viewpoint.

Once we get this up and running with DRFC we should then be able to offer this to all supporters who use the East Coast route, i.e Newcastle, Leeds etc

For now we just need an indication of numbers who would travel on this dedicated service, apparently a carriage holds 76 people, or thereabouts, so we would hope to attract that many.

[StocktonRover]

I prefer travelling to all London matches by train so would be very interested in this initiative.
I suspect that there will be a reduced service on this particular day though so it may not be possible for me to get to and from Doncaster from the North East to utilise it?

For "normal" weekend games it would be a definate though.

[Muttley]

As somebody pointed out cheap tickets do go on sale about twelve weeks in advance. Apologies for that but I'm not a rail travel expert, but my colleague from the FSF is and he'll ensure that we get this right from that viewpoint.

The problem you've got is that  tickets bought 12 weeks in advance cost about £20 but leave it until 6 weeks in advance and you're typically looking at something north of £40 - but you'll need to leave it that late to ensure that the fixture doesn't get moved (like Crawley did last season, which left quite a few with worthless train tickets).

[silent majority]

Muttley,

You need to read my earlier post, I got the time scale wrong, plus under this deal we've already asked East Coast if the tickets will still be valid for a rearranged fixture and they've agreed to that. As I say I'm no expert on the workings of the train network but my colleague is.

[ravenrover]

I'd be very interested in this, as of tomorrow I will no longer have a car and will probably travel to most away games on the train therefore the easier it is, the better.

You intend trashing it today then, Jen?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'm pretty sure if the price isn't too high you'd get the 75 no problem.  I know if I could get to London for less than £30 return I'd be interested.  But I'd say that would be the max and certainly would be for some of my mates, that's not being tight, it's a realistic value, some may not even be able to push to that. as we can find alternative methods for cheaper, for me it's all about the price, the train beats other methods hands down for me.

[Plumbster]

Will definitely use it to come down from Newcastle if its available- would also be useful for home games!

[donnievic]

If its only going to be £20 return to London then think you will easily get the required numbers.be good to see if it can be done for say Ipswich Brighton or Bournemouth aswell although other networks would have to be used aswell