Travel chaos with no trains running on for Brighton v Arsenal
Prepare for travel chaos when Brighton and Hove Albion host Arsenal with Southern Rail saying that no trains will be stopping at Falmer on Boxing Day.
The operator have also confirmed that it will be a skeleton service running from London Victoria to Brighton on the day, meaning that because of the 5.15pm kick off decreed by our lord and masters at Sky Sports, there will be no trains running back to the capital afterwards.
As a result, the Albion are setting up numerous shuttle services across Sussex to try and cope with the logistics of getting 30,000 supporters to a stadium where 80% of the crowd arrive by a public transport, on a day when there will be no public transport.
The normal park and ride sites at Mill Road and Brighton Racecourse will be open from 2.15pm but given that they both get pretty full on a regular match day, they are likely to be busier than Mecca during Hajj.
Two new free park and ride sites are to be set up at Sainsbury’s West Hove for supporters coming from the west of Sussex and at Pyecombe Equestrian Centre. This is apparently off the A23 just before you reach the BP garage at Pyecombe and will offer additional spaces to ease the burden on Mill Road for those travelling from the north. Both Sainsbury’s and the Horsey Place open at 2.30pm and are free to use but require booking in advance due to their limited size.
Away from Park and Rides, there will be a free shuttle bus service running from Lewes Station from 2pm. This might be the best option for those who want to drink before the game, offering supporters the chance to stumble out of one of the towns many pubs and straight onto a bus to the Amex. Drinking in Brighton does not appear to be an option unless you want a long walk through glamorous Moulescombe or a pricey taxi ride.
Finally, the Albion have managed to secure extra parking spaces on the University campuses surrounding the stadium. The Wayne Bridge Car Park will be open as normal and the club have also secured the use of Brighton University Lower Car Park on the stadium side and of the Sussex University Multi Story Car Park on the other side of the A27.
All three of those car parks will set you back £15 and must be booked in advance.
While it would be easy to criticise Paul Barber and the club for charging, the Albion are going to be significantly out of pocket for the compensation they’ll be paying to take over the various sites as well as hiring buses and drivers on a Bank Holiday.
We always knew that Boxing Day games at the Amex would be a challenge due to it’s reliance on public transport, but what doesn’t help is an incompetent train company and a 5.15pm kick off. Perhaps next year, the Albion should request to be away the day after Christmas.
