Saturday's Return Trip on Bluebird Coaches

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paul49

UTC Legend
Four hours strapped in my seat without a stop is not my idea of fun. Coach 3 left the compound at Villa Park ar 5.10pm and we arrived back at DC at 9.15pm. No police escort was provided to get away from the stadium and it seemed to take ages to get out onto the M6.

I don't usually use the supporters coaches for away trips for the very reason of being able to stop on demand but for the last two trips to Villa Park it wasn't easy finding somewhere that was safe and convenient to park so this match we decided to use the supporters coach.

The main concern of the driver was to get back to the Chickerell depot within his allocated time. I hope AFCB get quotes next year from Excelsior SeaView and Yellows as this extra hour drive for Bluebird's wouldn't then be an issue.

I gather Coach 8 had a problem with the on board loo but the driver refused to stop.

I would have appreciated a warning from the driver over the PA at Warwick going up to stock up for the return journey as they must have known they were not going to stop coming back.
 
I think Saturday was particularly bad as the traffic was really heavy once we'd got just past the ground until we got on the M6 - took us (Coach 1) about an hour and a quarter to do little more than 2 miles. That's down to bad traffic management by the local plod.

Leicester we usually get a police escort away from the ground but it's another one where it's a nightmare to get away from.

For those length of journeys there isn't usually a stop on the way back for the reason you mentioned - the drivers don't want to go over their tacho allowance.
 
Yes it took a good 90 minutes for the convoy of coaches to get 2 miles from the ground, one of the worst logistics for getting away that I've ever experienced. Dare I say - Villa Park is Tinpot?

I posted on another thread how silly it seemed from the local Police to be so keen to get supporters in the coach park, happily stood around chatting about the win, onto the coaches and on their way, when it was clearly absolute gridlock with nowhere to go.

Perhaps if the same police had spent less time worrying about Bournemouth fans having a chat, and more time marshaling traffic, the Bournemouth fans they were so worried about could have gotten on-board and on their way a bit quicker?

I can understand that such an extreme delay would have been unplanned for, and might have caused the drivers to be near the limits of their Tachograph time? I doubt however that it would have been so close so as to prevent a 10 minute splash and dash stop?
 
Paul the club email prior to the game mentioned no return stop. The problem was not AFCB or Bluebird's fault but just the post match traffic that we were caught up in.

As with Leicester I question whether the 45 minute stop at Warwick Services on the outward journey is really necessary.30 minutes later leaving Dean Court is more valid. But we all have differing views.
 
hba1 said:
Paul the club email prior to the game mentioned no return stop. The problem was not AFCB or Bluebird's fault but just the post match traffic that we were caught up in.

As with Leicester I question whether the 45 minute stop at Warwick Services on the outward journey is really necessary.30 minutes later leaving Dean Court is more valid. But we all have differing views.
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What e-mail was that?
 
If it helps in future.

We went to a station called Barnt Green, about 3 miles from Hopwood Services on m42.

Its 35 minutes to Aston, on direct service.

Return trains were 5.13 - didnt make that as platform full and then 5.33 which we made easily. Back in car at 6.10.

Admittedly in deep darkest winter if it was raining, 5.33 is still quite a bit of hanging around, but relative to other stories, seems far more preferable.
 
The club send out a weekly email about either the home or away game. Away games include a summary of coach details.

After all the years of a communications black out from the club such contact is welcome. I assume Paul it may be season ticket holders only or connected to the points system.
 
paul49 said:
Four hours strapped in my seat without a stop is not my idea of fun. Coach 3 left the compound at Villa Park ar 5.10pm and we arrived back at DC at 9.15pm. No police escort was provided to get away from the stadium and it seemed to take ages to get out onto the M6.

I don't usually use the supporters coaches for away trips for the very reason of being able to stop on demand but for the last two trips to Villa Park it wasn't easy finding somewhere that was safe and convenient to park so this match we decided to use the supporters coach.

The main concern of the driver was to get back to the Chickerell depot within his allocated time. I hope AFCB get quotes next year from Excelsior SeaView and Yellows as this extra hour drive for Bluebird's wouldn't then be an issue.

I gather Coach 8 had a problem with the on board loo but the driver refused to stop.

I would have appreciated a warning from the driver over the PA at Warwick going up to stock up for the return journey as they must have known they were not going to stop coming back.
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Paul, I was on coach five and when we eventually got back on to the motorway, the driver announced that they were told that the away coaches were supposed to be getting a police escort back to the motorway, but it never happened (no reason known). Because of that, the decision was made not to stop onthe way back.
 
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hba1 said:
The club send out a weekly email about either the home or away game. Away games include a summary of coach details.

After all the years of a communications black out from the club such contact is welcome. I assume Paul it may be season ticket holders only or connected to the points system.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll have to make sure I read my Afcb e-mails in future. Must have missed that one.
 
Monmouthred said:
If it helps in future.

We went to a station called Barnt Green, about 3 miles from Hopwood Services on m42.

Its 35 minutes to Aston, on direct service.

Return trains were 5.13 - didnt make that as platform full and then 5.33 which we made easily. Back in car at 6.10.

Admittedly in deep darkest winter if it was raining, 5.33 is still quite a bit of hanging around, but relative to other stories, seems far more preferable.
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Cheers. I know where that is so sounds like a good plan for future Villa games.
 
I always drive when going to away games, I don’t want to sound an idiot but I take it there are toilets on the coach? Whilst it’s nice to get off and stretch your legs if I can’t 4 hours on a coach without a toilet isn’t going to work.
 
The coach I was on asked before we left if it's ok to not stop on the way back. From my experience of return journies, a sandwich and drink in your bag is a given. Toilet on board so all was good. Must admit 30 min stop on outward journey would do me.
 
Really surprised there wasn't a police escort.

In the past I've been to VP using those 'green buses' (colour not eco) that take locals direct to the games.

After the fixture these green buses tag on behind the away coaches and leave with a police escort - it was usually a very long convoy but that got out very quickly.

Like I say, I'm really surprised there wasn't a police escort
 
AFCB Lost in Brum said:
Really surprised there wasn't a police escort.

In the past I've been to VP using those 'green buses' (colour not eco) that take locals direct to the games.

After the fixture these green buses tag on behind the away coaches and leave with a police escort - it was usually a very long convoy but that got out very quickly.

Like I say, I'm really surprised there wasn't a police escort
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There was, but they just watched rather than escorted!
 
I overtook the coaches near Oxford. I was amazed as I'd walked to Aston station, queued for 25 minutes, train to New Street, walked to Moor Street, 25 minute train ride to Dorridge, dropped someone off at Warwick so guessed the coaches had an issue getting away.

Btw the queue at Aston was horrendous, the reason was that trains were coming in and leaving without being anywhere near full. The people controlling the queue were totally underestimating the capacity, things got a bit heated.
 
Monmouthred said:
If it helps in future.

We went to a station called Barnt Green, about 3 miles from Hopwood Services on m42.

Its 35 minutes to Aston, on direct service.

Return trains were 5.13 - didnt make that as platform full and then 5.33 which we made easily. Back in car at 6.10.

Admittedly in deep darkest winter if it was raining, 5.33 is still quite a bit of hanging around, but relative to other stories, seems far more preferable.
Click to expand...


Thanks for this tip. Getting onto the M42 for 6 ish doesn’t sound too bad at all. How much was the train+parking?
 
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