Train travel

Have had so many bad experiences with footy related train travel post pandemic.
But yes it can be good, and more likely on the east coast operators.
 
I’ve always thought there should be dedicated trains taking fans to every away game and back. I’m sure the logistics would be a nightmare but it would make the experience so much easier if we could go direct with no stops.
 
LeeMiller said:
Might go to Durham tomorrow by train
1hr 36m

25 miles.

Love it
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Where you travelling from? 53 mins from Boro on average.

What annoys me most is the difference in prices when you buy on the day. Don't just mean for long distance. But I often have to get a train to Sunderland. If I buy an advanced single can get it for as low as £3.60 with a few days notice. On the day its £12.90 as they only sell one type of ticket. Off Peak single. No options for a specific train. I can understand a bit more expensive or if it was demand related but it's not for those reasons other than it's the only type of ticket on offer.

The prices just discourage spur of the moment travel to places on the train.

Oh and trains where they skip stations seem pretty pointless. Sunderland to Middlesbrough is about 58 mins when it stops at every station. Because of the speed restrictions it only knocks off a couple of mins when they do the version with only a stop at Thornaby and Hartlepool before Sunderland. Might as well do all the stops (about 9?) seems there is barely any time saved.
 
Jan_Aage_Fjortoft said:
Where you travelling from? 53 mins from Boro on average.

What annoys me most is the difference in prices when you buy on the day. Don't just mean for long distance. But I often have to get a train to Sunderland. If I buy an advanced single can get it for as low as £3.60 with a few days notice. On the day its £12.90 as they only sell one type of ticket. Off Peak single. No options for a specific train. I can understand a bit more expensive or if it was demand related but it's not for those reasons other than it's the only type of ticket on offer.

The prices just discourage spur of the moment travel to places on the train.
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Not Middlesbrough, but have to change in Boro
 
Agree when it works. I work all over the country travelling from Portsmouth on a Sunday.

It's basically late or cancelled trains with a replacement bus service. Absolutely infuriating 90% of the time. I'd almost say almost not fit for purpose on a Sunday. Yet it's the day I have to travel.

I end up driving most of the time. I don't want to as I've done 34k in 2 years. The majority down to cr*p trains on a Sunday.
 
SilentProf said:
I’ve always thought there should be dedicated trains taking fans to every away game and back. I’m sure the logistics would be a nightmare but it would make the experience so much easier if we could go direct with no stops.
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There used to be football specials back in the 70's.
Problem was they would roll out ancient trains that were falling apart and filthy.*
Got one to Birmingham and it took forever . Only just made kickoff.

* Perhaps not surprising as they were frequently vandalised, even set on fire on occasion.
 
Train is a great way to travel especially if you can book weeks in advance. LNER is a great service, use the App and you get 2% back into your account on what you spend and also on what you spend on your card on the train. This can be used when purchasing any tickets. Have family in Kent so it’s a no brainer to use the train instead of the car, stress free. If your 30 minutes late at your destination your refunded 50% of your ticket price. 60 minutes late a full refund, very rare has that happened
 
NorthumberlandBoro said:
There used to be football specials back in the 70's.
Problem was they would roll out ancient trains that were falling apart and filthy.*
Got one to Birmingham and it took forever . Only just made kickoff.

* Perhaps not surprising as they were frequently vandalised, even set on fire on occasion.
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I remember those days. Coventry City led the way and used to put on trains with a disco carriage. As you say, they often used old trains because groups like Manchester United "fans" would regularly wreck them.

One downside was that there was rarely a railway station near the ground and getting from the station to the ground could be hairy because you were dumped off the train as part of a large group of obvious away supporters. I would guess that supporters trains have never really taken off partly because the logistics for the police of getting large groups of visiting supporters from the railway station to the ground are far more complicated than having them on coaches that can park outside the ground.

Boro put on a train to the end of season game at Everton in 1981(?) and although the police laid on coaches between Lime Street station and Goodison we were subject to a hail of rocks each way. Ironically, having survived that, I ended up in hospital back in Middlesbrough because a youth randomly lobbed a brick through the train window from a field outside Huddersfield and I got glass in my eye.
 
xxlshirts_fit_all said:
When you get a good priced ticket and the trains on time it’s such a nice way to travel…

On way to the big smoke just now and it’s really relaxing watching the country side race by…
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We dumped our cars over a year ago.
We use train for almost all our travelling to see friends, family, airports etc

It’s such a low hassle, comfortable way to travel.
I can’t recall any major problems of delays, cancellations - and we have had a helluva lot of journeys.

Saved loads v car expenses too.
 
AcklamAngel said:
Train is a great way to travel especially if you can book weeks in advance. LNER is a great service, use the App and you get 2% back into your account on what you spend and also on what you spend on your card on the train. This can be used when purchasing any tickets. Have family in Kent so it’s a no brainer to use the train instead of the car, stress free. If your 30 minutes late at your destination your refunded 50% of your ticket price. 60 minutes late a full refund, very rare has that happened
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I never understand why people use Trainline. Book directly with LNER. It’s a better deal and keeps money in the public system.
 
AcklamAngel said:
Train is a great way to travel especially if you can book weeks in advance. LNER is a great service, use the App and you get 2% back into your account on what you spend and also on what you spend on your card on the train. This can be used when purchasing any tickets. Have family in Kent so it’s a no brainer to use the train instead of the car, stress free. If your 30 minutes late at your destination your refunded 50% of your ticket price. 60 minutes late a full refund, very rare has that happened
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I've had the full refund quite a few times. In fact, got a full refund from EMR for the trip to Norwich earlier this season.
 
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