Special Train

Massive upfront commitment to hire. I think the Carlisle one (which wasn't sanctioned) was £25k.

Used to have them to Wadsley Bridge - a closed station near Hillsborough - in the 1980s, but it can't be used any more.

Chelsea train is a subsidised £10, as are their coaches.

City are charging them 27.50 for upper tier, 25 lower

sunbury-addick said:

Wasn't sanctioned ? by who ? Special into Sheffield, Chelsea have one today (I believe) into Manchester

The board. We had it all lined up, but they weren't convinced enough people would use it.

500, from recollection.

sunbury-addick said:

Airman Brown said:

sunbury-addick said:

Wasn't sanctioned ? by who ? Special into Sheffield, Chelsea have one today (I believe) into Manchester

The board. We had it all lined up, but they weren't convinced enough people would use it.

OK, Cheers Airman - bad news that decision. Would we not be able to break even at a tenner a head on a full (must be more than 500) train to Sheffield ?

I think you only get about 50 seats in a carriage, so 500 in a ten-carriage train, 600 in 12. Charter trains usually have to be booked ages in advance because they have to be booked as train paths in the schedule. Obviously, Chelsea managed it in under three weeks.

I'm guessing a special to Sheffield would have been at least £15k, maybe £20k. Say £18k and 600 people that's £30 per head, but crucially you get a cut of the ticket revenue too. Would probably work, but I guess it would just be seen as a risk.

I know this will be seen as a loaded comment, but the truth is there is no one left inside club (except possibly Mick Everett) who would bring this forward as an idea and make it happen. It also has to be properly stewarded and managed on the day.

Maybe it's something the Trust should take up when the opportunity arises.

AFKABartram said:

Difference to remember, Chelseas today gets back in time to get other trains and tubes. A midweek one doesn't so you'd need to factor in additional costs of getting people back out locally.

Absolutely - wouldn't be good in midweek, although I believe we did that previously too.

Of course, today shows another reason why it's a risk.

AFKABartram said:

Difference to remember, Chelseas today gets back in time to get other trains and tubes. A midweek one doesn't so you'd need to factor in additional costs of getting people back out locally.

I can walk home from King Cross so I'm good

All round my Islington one bedroom flat after?

sunbury-addick said:

Sure I saw a Stoke special pulling out of Charlton back in the 70's - special to Sheff - I'm, onit

Would love to have spotted that. What route would it have gone to get across london?

swords_alive said:

sunbury-addick said:

Sure I saw a Stoke special pulling out of Charlton back in the 70's - special to Sheff - I'm, onit

Would love to have spotted that. What route would it have gone to get across london?

Via Lewisham, Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction? Sorry to sound like a trainspotter, but when we were lodging at Sell-Out Park, I noticed at Norwood Junction the train that Blackburn fans had hired to get there. It was a diesel multiple-unit, like those that potter along country branches.

swords_alive said:

Probably a late class20/27 mainline diesel. The 27 withdawn from passenger service c1987 but any of the old fleet would have still been useful for football special services. The route is another matter. I think you're right Viewfinder but i understand it wasn't a passenger route through our Selhurst years. No doubt someone on here will have timetables for Clapham/ Olympia/ Willesden Jct services to prove me wrong..

It wasn't loco-hauled - it was one of the first-generation diesel multiple-units, possibly in general use on the Preston to Colne branch. Bizarre to think that it came all the way from Blackburn up the West Coast main line and round via Olympia and Clapham Junction to Norwood Junction.

Airman Brown said:

sunbury-addick said:

Airman Brown said:

sunbury-addick said:

Wasn't sanctioned ? by who ? Special into Sheffield, Chelsea have one today (I believe) into Manchester

The board. We had it all lined up, but they weren't convinced enough people would use it.

OK, Cheers Airman - bad news that decision. Would we not be able to break even at a tenner a head on a full (must be more than 500) train to Sheffield ?

I think you only get about 50 seats in a carriage, so 500 in a ten-carriage train, 600 in 12. Charter trains usually have to be booked ages in advance because they have to be booked as train paths in the schedule. Obviously, Chelsea managed it in under three weeks.

I'm guessing a special to Sheffield would have been at least £15k, maybe £20k. Say £18k and 600 people that's £30 per head, but crucially you get a cut of the ticket revenue too. Would probably work, but I guess it would just be seen as a risk.

I know this will be seen as a loaded comment, but the truth is there is no one left inside club (except possibly Mick Everett) who would bring this forward as an idea and make it happen. It also has to be properly stewarded and managed on the day.

Maybe it's something the Trust should take up when the opportunity arises.

We can look into it to see if the idea can be put together quickly. Away travel not really an area we look at but this is the cup and a silver lining to a very cloudy season.