Two Brighton and Hove Albion fans who have also seats in the Houses of Parliament have called for “an urgent fix” to match-day travel chaos.
Chris Ward, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, and Steve Bassam, Lord Bassam of Brighton, spoke out after experiencing the current problems first-hand.
The Labour duo called for urgent action to tackle what they said were “severe match-day travel delays affecting fans, staff and residents around the Amex Stadium”.
Fans have faced queues of up to 90 minutes – the duration of the match itself – when turning out to see the Premier League team’s recent games, sparking safety concerns and frustration.
The Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool just over a week ago was the latest example of the problems, they said.
The pair said that the club had led by example in supporting sustainable match-day travel, covering public transport costs in ticket prices to encourage greener journeys.
But, despite the extensive work by the club, transport services are failing to meet demand, creating chaotic scenes and long waits at stations.
When the plans for the ground were approved, a number of people doubted that the club would be able to draw 30,000-plus supporters but most matches attract a full house or close to it.
Chris Ward and Steve Bassam, lifelong Brighton fans and season ticket holders, have written to the Rail Minister Peter Hendy, also known as Lord Hendy.
They have called for urgent government action to work with the club to find a long-term solution that requires train companies to provide more dedicated match-day travel services.
Mr Ward said: “Match-day travel’s often the worst part of going to games for many fans and the scenes after the Liverpool cup tie were completely unacceptable.
“The club has done so much to help fans and promote sustainable travel to the Amex but the current system simply isn’t working.
“It’s a risk to fans, residents and staff at the club who have to manage scenes like Wednesday week ago and who face unacceptable abuse due to the delays.
“We need rail operators and bus companies to work with the club on this and to put on more dedicated services – for example, dedicated shuttles between Lewes and Brighton for busy games.
“I’ve spoken to the club about this and I know we can find a way forward – but this has gone on too long without action.”
Lord Bassam, the former leader of the council, said: “Match-day delays are a serious issue. Fans are left waiting too long which creates risks and spoils the match-day experience.
“Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) must prioritise additional services for game times. We’re ready to help bring the club and stakeholders together to find a lasting solution.
“The current level of provision is unacceptable for both the fans and the club. From a public order perspective, it makes the job of the police and stewards impossible, particularly for evening and late afternoon fixtures.
“We need to build on the constructive approach Govia have with the club to improve travel arrangements.
“It does need to be acknowledged that ultimately it is transport providers who determine the level of service they operate.”
Mr Ward and Lord Bassam are pressing for an urgent meeting with GTR, Brighton and Hove Albion and local authorities to address the travel crisis and ensure travel to and from the stadium is safe for all.
GTR said: “We’re sorry for match-day delays on Wednesday 30 October. There was a signal failure at East Croydon that held up services before the game.
“We’re delighted with the success Brighton and Hove Albion have enjoyed. This does mean more fans than ever are travelling to the stadium.
“But – as Lord Bassam acknowledges – we have a constructive approach to match days and an excellent relationship with the club that sees us working very closely together.
“We’d be happy to meet to discuss this. Weekends are not an issue unless there is a problem with the network, such as a signal failure.
“We have trains available and always add extra shuttles between Brighton and Lewes to run the maximum frequency possible and lengthen trains from the usual four to six and eight carriages.
“Midweek games are more of a challenge because our trains and carriages are being used on busy commuter services which means we don’t have any to strengthen the service to and from the stadium.
“Fans also travel in a shorter window of time because many can’t set out until they’ve finished work, which isn’t an issue at weekends.
“On top of this, we have a well-rehearsed crowd management plans that is reviewed with the club at the start of each season. This, with great support from the police, gets people to the match in safety.”
When the Amex was built we were told that the majority of fans would travel by public transport. No one seemed to have consulted Southern to check that they would keep spare rolling stock and staff at the ready for 3 hours a fortnight for 10 months per year (date and time subject to change at the whim of Sky). We were told that those wishing to come by car would park in Sussex University at a high price to discourage the use under-occupied vehicles. The promises were undeliverable. Southern cannot keep stock and staff available for infrequent and irregular services. It makes no financial sense to do so.
Then why do they except the money the club pays them to provide travel?
How much does the club pay Southern? What is/was the agreement if any? Is it still in place?
Yes!
Unfortunately Govia are unable to provide a reasonable railway service at the best of times and need their franchise taken from them . It should be a public service not a racketeering multi million pound profit maker
Timetable and most other matters are driven by the DfT
Assume this MP is raising tho as it affects him directly given that he was living in London and parachuted in because he’s one of Keir’s buddies. If he’s still living in London it must be stressful heading down to games so he can try and be visible to his constituents – as word on the street is he’s pretty invisible otherwise.
👍
The same goes for bus travel. The club do their best by providing park n ride buses but public transport from Brighton and Hove Buses is dreadful. They just won’t add any buses to their timetable.
After the Liverpool cup game we waited nearly 90 minutes for a bus to come to the top university car park/bus stop.
And according to one senior steward there had been four empty buses waiting fifteen minutes before the end of the game but they all pulled away empty as the whistle blew.
And more 25s which should have come from Sussex University bypassed the Amex by just going straight onto the A27 instead. We could see them doing it on the bus app!
Brighton and Hove Buses do not want to play ball.
To suggest there is not enough rolling stock at evenings and weekends is rubbish. You only have to eventually pull into Brighton Station after a game and see , trains sitting empty and unused to know that’s rubbish
Yes, but a) they need to be timetabled and b) they need a crew. Southern will want their crews rostered well in advance and working a full shift to make it financially viable. There’s no way they will put extra trains on for 2 -3 hours on occasional days. The only thing they might do is add additional stock to lengthen trains, if the stock is available at Brighton at the time of Bright’s home matches.
There is rolling stock available as I have pointed out. So we’re left with the Drviers not wanting over time ?
Really it isn’t hard to roster 2 trains to back and forth for an hour or so on a Saturday. It’s just bad management and poor excuses. But having worked in the industry I can see why nothing has happened, the management are over paid clowns mostly ex drivers who don’t live in the real world
Trains sitting empty and unused ?
Trains are subject to maintenance programmes and require cleaning. Just because a train is sitting empty doesn’t mean it is available for service. If a train is on a platform, that means it is already booked on a diagram and already in service.
I’m surprised how few supporters and staff cycle to The Amex. Just about the only half decent cycle lane in Brighton goes there and you don’t have to wait for 90 minutes.
Though TBF the one bike shelter is usually full and I have to lock it to the wire fence. If I had an expensive bike it would be stolen.
But I suppose Labour politicians aren’t big on cycling so the alternative wouldn’t have occurred to them
Bikes arent a realistic option in this country. Taking a family or travelling when the weather is cold or wet isn’t going to work. Despite all the bleating from the greens this isn’t Amsterdam and we just aren’t a cycling nation. Plus as you have said already having a decent bike runs the risk of it being stolen so it’s another barrier to their use.
We use to have Seagulls special trains
Just run them Falmer to Brighton. Not Rocket science
‘Justin time’ is full of excuses and not answers. There’s plenty of notice for games and I’m sure staff will jump to grab the overtime. The club is no doubt willing to pay and thus stinks of the train and bus companies being awkward or incompetent
I love the fact it takes them to experience it to feel the need to do something about it.
Maybe Chris Ward can move to Peacehaven then he will feel the need to get rid of the A259 bus lane which was added by The Green Party to lower pollution but has made it 10x worse while cars sit idle in traffic with the bus lane totally empty. A daily issue for everyone rather than a matchday issue for some.
Reference the Amex closing off the top entrance for the university parking I can’t make any sense of. Waiting for people to drive in before telling them to turn around.
Go back to building stadia where the people live, not in the middle of green belt which do not have natural accessibility. Then fans can access existing travel routes and ways & means. S’not rocket science.
NickH
People have forgotten that the stadium was built with 20k capacity with 3 park and ride site with no bus only lanes up to falmer on match day, there should be no cars enters village way north on match day, and look at falmer village as a then councillor we had lots of conversations with the residents about the village being ruined now look at it a mega car park a nice little earner for some but defeats the car free stadium
Signal failure, trespassers and tjis week animals on the line, straight out of Reggie Perrin. My gripe is not segregating queues Eastbond . Either make everyone get on the first train and clear the platform, uaing Lewes to join the destination of choice. Or segregate Eastbourne / Seaford queues. Lewes option is best. Many leave at Lewes, there is more space and more option to Eastborne.
More cycling to games is the answer,
It’s working at west ham and is worth looking at next time Brighton visit.
Organise an off road route from Brighton to the Amex for each game and see if that reduces travel congestion.
Not remotely surprising with one of the worst train companies in Britain.
It not only affecting transport.
People living on housing estates Coldean and even people living in flats etc in the London and Preston Road area have to have a PERMIT for their visitors to PARK outside their property for a limited period BECAUSE the DARLING ALBION SUPPORTERS DECIDED THEYwere going to leave their vehicles out side peoples homes in the said areas with nothing to pay ,and actually using their legs and walking to the games .
I am a NINETY THREE year old lady who is DELIGHTED when the ALBION wins.
it should never have built where it is.. lovely rolling sussex countryside with wildlife and ecology all badly affected by this concrete monstrosity of a stadium and in the Lewes diocese .. will it still be around in a hundred years?.. no end of… thickos and thugs attendance is rampant.. many reports of drunken and homophobic assaults since it opened…. totally wrong location.. thay should have built it on the old sheepcote tip… totally appropriate ex rubbish dump.. BHAFC – you can’t polish a turd