Most of the network has gone over to Driver Only Operation now, so it only affects a handful of routes.
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Southern strike day 8th April (Crawley)
- Thread starter Rich McLean
- Start date
Patrik":3hi8hj6v said:
Good point. This has completely screwed my complex but perfectly timed plans to visit my old local for a few pints before the game, travelling via a bewildering combination of trains, buses and taxis. It may be fine of course - recent weeks have shown diminishing effects on strike days - but we won't know until the day.
I could always drive of course...
Welcome to the wonderful world of Southern.
Mike
Patrik":2cy3p8mh said:
Solidarity to all those taking part in the industrial action. Your future job security and future passenger safety are more important than being able to travel to see a football match by rail IMO. I hope anyone who it affects can seek alternative travel arrangements by bus, coach, private cars etc.
Knarf Reprah":2a1x9aqr said:
Oh Frank!
For someone who picks up on typos, spelling & grammar so often...I digress, easy links to Three Bridges and/or Gatwick and from both of those there are the Metrobus Fastway buses to Crawley and the Fastway 10 runs every 6 minutes in both directions and stops right outside the away end of the ground.
Me, I'll be interrupting a caravan weekend on the North Cornish coast with a flight from Newquay to Gatwick and back in time for supper!
My intention is Plymouth - Paddington - Victoria - Crawley. The Victoria - Crawley leg is operated by Southern Rail, though they've not confirmed the timetable they're running yet. If what someone said earlier is correct and the Victoria - Crawley route is already 'driver only' then the service shouldn't be affected too much. Just keep an eye on their website it'll tell us soon enough.
I'll be going on that route and reckon there will still be trains running, just perhaps slightly less frequent, meaning that they'll be a bit more crowded but never mind!
I'll be going on that route and reckon there will still be trains running, just perhaps slightly less frequent, meaning that they'll be a bit more crowded but never mind!
MarkMatthews":94u6fcg1 said:
It's easy to come out with that suggestion, but try that reasoning on the commuters who use Southern for their daily lives and are heavily reliant on these services. The organisation is inept - and this was before all the troubles started with the more recent bout of strike action.
The way the issue has been shoved under the carpet by the Government has not helped either.
Emu":2haj5lrk said:
I made that suggestion so they could avoid all that chaos if at all possible. Anyone who is heavily reliant on those services would surely support the strike, the "inept "organisation is unlikely to improve with even less staff is it? Not that I wish to hijack the thread down a political route.
ProfGreen":26fe73ad said:
Or you could do Plymouth - Reading, Reading to Gatwick, then either to Crawley from there or by bus. Miss out London completely and the North Downs line is also GWR.
MarkMatthews":n01lm3vn said:
I am one of those daily commuters. I don't support the strike, and I'm not alone. Far from it.
There's no doubt that Southern/GTR are inept. That will hopefully be addressed at the next franchise time. But the RMT - and even many of their supporters will admit this - have handled things terribly throughout. They have supported archaic working practices to the detriment of ordinary men an women trying to get to work, and kids trying to get to school. If I can get Crawley for an Argyle match then frankly that's a luxury.
Anyway. We're meeting at The Jolly Tanners in Staplefield five miles south of the ground. You'll need a car (or luck with the trains and a taxi) but non-drivers will enjoy great real ale at this pub which has often been voted North Sussex CAMRA Pub of the year.
Mike
If coming by train then "The Snooty Fox" is indeed a good call, as that Fastway 20 bus will take you straight to the ground. Don't expect any real ales or ciders though - hence my recommendation above (where Hogsback TEA should be on amongst others, plus Cheddar Valley Cider, AKA "Chernobyl Juice").
Note that Crawley Station is also a long way from the ground but also has a Fastway Bus (number 10) to the ground. Unless you're on a Horsham/Bognor Regis train though, you'll need to change at Three Bridges. I'd suggest that isn't worth it as the central Crawley pubs aren't that great - although fans of The Cure may want to make the short pilgrimage to "The Railway" (formerly "The Rocket") where they played many of their early gigs : https://whatpub.com/pubs/NSX/066/railway-crawley
Mike
Note that Crawley Station is also a long way from the ground but also has a Fastway Bus (number 10) to the ground. Unless you're on a Horsham/Bognor Regis train though, you'll need to change at Three Bridges. I'd suggest that isn't worth it as the central Crawley pubs aren't that great - although fans of The Cure may want to make the short pilgrimage to "The Railway" (formerly "The Rocket") where they played many of their early gigs : https://whatpub.com/pubs/NSX/066/railway-crawley
Mike
MarkMatthews":xqnuu3v5 said:
Me neither if the truth be known, however, I can tell you from living in an the Southern catchment area, there are very few people who are sympathetic to the workers on strike and the company in general.
As Winchelsea points out, roll on the next franchise bidding war, because that looks like the only way that this is going to be resolved.