| Driving to Matches vs using public transport 12:55 - Jan 30 with 3493 views | HemBlue |
I currently catch the 116 bus into town on match days. The service is generally good and carries a good number of town fans. The problem is that a few years back the last bus back after the game was changed from 5.30 to 5.15. This wasn’t too bad until the 5 subs rule was introduced, lengthening the game. Now fans are left with the choice of leaving the ground early or potentially missing the last bus home from the Cattle Market. To make matters worse the bus didn’t turn up on Saturday to take me to the match. Luckily my wife was able to drive me in but I did miss my first pint in the Plough!
With Green Week coming up, the ITFC website is highlighting the need for supporters to ‘think about more substainable ways to travel to matches for the benefit of everyone in our hometown’.
Maybe ITFC should speak to the bus companies.
Are you put off using public transport on match days because of similar issues? |  | | |  |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:09 - Jan 30 with 3406 views | Zx1988 |
Definitely.
I could travel down on the train, but the cost is the same as (if not more expensive than) driving and parking, and the timings/reliability leave a lot to be desired.
It would be helpful if Greater Anglia could introduce some sort of football season ticket, which would offer reduced-price train travel to Ipswich on match days. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:21 - Jan 30 with 3325 views | Slimitfc91 |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:09 - Jan 30 by Zx1988 |
Definitely.
I could travel down on the train, but the cost is the same as (if not more expensive than) driving and parking, and the timings/reliability leave a lot to be desired.
It would be helpful if Greater Anglia could introduce some sort of football season ticket, which would offer reduced-price train travel to Ipswich on match days. |
Yes and maybe Esso and BP would offer half price fuel for those that drive to football matches ? | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:27 - Jan 30 with 3297 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
I’ve said before but the Ipswich Park and Ride is without doubt the worst I’ve ever used in this country and so now I just drive into town.
1) Lack of dedicated bus lanes mean it’s no quicker than driving
2) not frequent enough post game. And the last time I used it they all were cancelled without explanation leaving me stranded in town.
So for now I’m forced to continue adding to pollution and traffic. | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:33 - Jan 30 with 3235 views | Zx1988 |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:21 - Jan 30 by Slimitfc91 |
Yes and maybe Esso and BP would offer half price fuel for those that drive to football matches ? |
You do know that rail companies already work on that particular principle?
I can get a twelve-month season ticket between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street for £7,396. The cost of individual return tickets (assuming 260 working days per year) would be £23,322.
If you make it cheaper and more convenient for people to use public transport, they will. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:36 - Jan 30 with 3221 views | Zx1988 |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:27 - Jan 30 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
I’ve said before but the Ipswich Park and Ride is without doubt the worst I’ve ever used in this country and so now I just drive into town.
1) Lack of dedicated bus lanes mean it’s no quicker than driving
2) not frequent enough post game. And the last time I used it they all were cancelled without explanation leaving me stranded in town.
So for now I’m forced to continue adding to pollution and traffic. |
Yes, it's totally abysmal.
The last time I used the Park & Ride was for the Peterborough match. The police closed off Princes Street, so the drivers were left to figure out their own diversion routes, and we ended up spending the best part of an hour stuck on London Road. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:55 - Jan 30 with 3148 views | EastTownBlue |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:09 - Jan 30 by Zx1988 |
Definitely.
I could travel down on the train, but the cost is the same as (if not more expensive than) driving and parking, and the timings/reliability leave a lot to be desired.
It would be helpful if Greater Anglia could introduce some sort of football season ticket, which would offer reduced-price train travel to Ipswich on match days. |
GA used to have a football season ticket but that seems to have stopped since covid. Things like that probably require government approval now. | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 16:39 - Jan 30 with 2943 views | BlueBadger |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:21 - Jan 30 by Slimitfc91 |
Yes and maybe Esso and BP would offer half price fuel for those that drive to football matches ? |
Perhaps the rail companies could put on some extra trains, if they want to get paid more? [Post edited 30 Jan 2023 16:39]
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 16:40 - Jan 30 with 2934 views | Steve_M |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 16:39 - Jan 30 by BlueBadger |
Perhaps the rail companies could put on some extra trains, if they want to get paid more? [Post edited 30 Jan 2023 16:39]
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Trains on a weekend? Why bother when you can do it all by rail replacement bus? |  |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:01 - Jan 30 with 2878 views | hatch |
I did manage to collar the Ipswich Railway Station Manager a couple of months ago and made a personal plea for a better timed service back to London after Tuesday night games. With only a small handful of midweek home games in a year I wouldn't expect it every week but could they not just put a special on at 22:00?
Given the 4-0 scoreline and general energy of the game I noticed a lot more fans flooding for the station early last Tuesday with about 83 minutes on the clock. If you don't make the 2144 you have to wait for the slow train that takes you through every port and pi*shole.
The response from the station manager was basically - "how many of you travel back to London on a Tuesday? About 10, so it's not worth it"
My reply was a better timed service would get more people making the journey, whereas now it's very tempting to watch on iFollow to avoid returning home at 00:30. |  | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:12 - Jan 30 with 2840 views | Meadowlark |
If I go by train on a Saturday, unless I leave the match early, ie on 90 minutes, I will not be home before 8.40 pm, and I live in Suffolk.
After an evening game I'm usually home by about midnight.
If I drove it would be at least two hours quicker on be a Saturday and an hour quicker on a Tuesday! |  | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:17 - Jan 30 with 2776 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:12 - Jan 30 by Meadowlark |
If I go by train on a Saturday, unless I leave the match early, ie on 90 minutes, I will not be home before 8.40 pm, and I live in Suffolk.
After an evening game I'm usually home by about midnight.
If I drove it would be at least two hours quicker on be a Saturday and an hour quicker on a Tuesday! |
I switch it up but probably drive (London) more often than not now. The traffic has been ridiculous this season - it’s generally added about 25% to the journey time but that’s my experience with everything “infrastructure” related - it’s easily 25% worse than it was! | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:21 - Jan 30 with 2760 views | Steve_M |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:01 - Jan 30 by hatch |
I did manage to collar the Ipswich Railway Station Manager a couple of months ago and made a personal plea for a better timed service back to London after Tuesday night games. With only a small handful of midweek home games in a year I wouldn't expect it every week but could they not just put a special on at 22:00?
Given the 4-0 scoreline and general energy of the game I noticed a lot more fans flooding for the station early last Tuesday with about 83 minutes on the clock. If you don't make the 2144 you have to wait for the slow train that takes you through every port and pi*shole.
The response from the station manager was basically - "how many of you travel back to London on a Tuesday? About 10, so it's not worth it"
My reply was a better timed service would get more people making the journey, whereas now it's very tempting to watch on iFollow to avoid returning home at 00:30. |
"The response from the station manager was basically - "how many of you travel back to London on a Tuesday? About 10, so it's not worth it""
There were a lot more than that when the 21:44 used to be held for ten minutes. And if they bothered opening the bar on the train that does run they would sell a load of beer too. Idiots.
The excessive injury time in this division is an utter pain though, I cursed greatly at six minutes in the first half last week - at least we managed an extra goal though. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:26 - Jan 30 with 2738 views | Dubtractor |
I currently live close enough to walk (about 30 minutes), but shortly moving somewhere that would be over an hour's walk, so hopefully there will be a convenient bus route as I'd rather do that than drive. |  |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:36 - Jan 30 with 2721 views | KingsCrossBlue |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:21 - Jan 30 by Steve_M |
"The response from the station manager was basically - "how many of you travel back to London on a Tuesday? About 10, so it's not worth it""
There were a lot more than that when the 21:44 used to be held for ten minutes. And if they bothered opening the bar on the train that does run they would sell a load of beer too. Idiots.
The excessive injury time in this division is an utter pain though, I cursed greatly at six minutes in the first half last week - at least we managed an extra goal though. |
I gave up my season ticket in the end as Greater Anglia was so dire . I don't drive and travelling back to London on a Tuesday night was an awful experience, but no lack of numbers travelling. I'd often count 100 Towen shirts alighting at Liverpool St at whatever time near midnight we'd get back.
They would also make a killing if they opened the bar onboard.
It was the cost that killed me in the end, sometimes £80 return if the tickets were not bought in advance. The discount that GA formerly offered just about made it palatable. They really do need to reinstate that or similar and introduce sensibly timed trains - it really shouldn't be difficult. | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:38 - Jan 30 with 2698 views | Dubtractor |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 16:40 - Jan 30 by Steve_M |
Trains on a weekend? Why bother when you can do it all by rail replacement bus? |
I don't know how any of you London lot still come to games all season after what feels like 25 years of 'engineering works' on that bloody line. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:40 - Jan 30 with 2687 views | Steve_M |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:36 - Jan 30 by KingsCrossBlue |
I gave up my season ticket in the end as Greater Anglia was so dire . I don't drive and travelling back to London on a Tuesday night was an awful experience, but no lack of numbers travelling. I'd often count 100 Towen shirts alighting at Liverpool St at whatever time near midnight we'd get back.
They would also make a killing if they opened the bar onboard.
It was the cost that killed me in the end, sometimes £80 return if the tickets were not bought in advance. The discount that GA formerly offered just about made it palatable. They really do need to reinstate that or similar and introduce sensibly timed trains - it really shouldn't be difficult. |
The Network Railcard and splitting the fare at Manningtree helps with the cost but it keeps creeping up all the same.
There's plenty of fans on the 21:44 even as it is but the attitude Hatch mentioned seems to sum up Greater Anglia. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 18:52 - Jan 30 with 2538 views | stonojnr |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:17 - Jan 30 by PrideOfTheEast |
I switch it up but probably drive (London) more often than not now. The traffic has been ridiculous this season - it’s generally added about 25% to the journey time but that’s my experience with everything “infrastructure” related - it’s easily 25% worse than it was! |
I know its a bit chicken and egg, but the more people drive, the more the traffic increases, you are just part of the congestion ultimately.
if you want the traffic to decrease, you have to consider using the alternatives first,
it needs joined up thinking, but if Town were really serious about it there are things they could do, they could lobby GA/DfT to consider a later train service for fans, or heck just shift the midweek kick offs earlier by 15mins.
they could join up with Ipswich buses and give free bus travel to anyone showing a match ticket, Nottingham buses often do that for the cricket.
they could actually have secure cycle parking within the practice pitch area of the ground.
they could offer discounted match tickets to the likes of the Halesworth supporters who travel on the Whincop of Peasenhall coach, because thats 30odd cars that arent on the roads, and maybe it would encourage others.
But they wont, most of the players will drive to the training ground for this green football weekend in cars with exceptionally bad MPG, theyll go by coach, not train. the match officials will no doubt have travelled half the country to get there, no-one will think to turn the heating down by 1 degree, or try to reduce plastics and food wastage. | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 19:50 - Jan 30 with 2441 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:21 - Jan 30 by Slimitfc91 |
Yes and maybe Esso and BP would offer half price fuel for those that drive to football matches ? |
If the Government ran public transport as a public service and removed tax from the fuel on it, instead of subsidising profits for private companies, then perhaps it wouldn't be so expensive.
There is something wrong when you would have to pay more for 1 ticket on a train than it costs to drive a car to and from your venue, including parking, etc. Once there are 2 or more of you it is an absolute no-brainer.
Public transport should at least be a viable alternative. |  |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 20:08 - Jan 30 with 2350 views | DJR |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 19:50 - Jan 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
If the Government ran public transport as a public service and removed tax from the fuel on it, instead of subsidising profits for private companies, then perhaps it wouldn't be so expensive.
There is something wrong when you would have to pay more for 1 ticket on a train than it costs to drive a car to and from your venue, including parking, etc. Once there are 2 or more of you it is an absolute no-brainer.
Public transport should at least be a viable alternative. |
And it is in much of the rest of Europe according to the following following from the BBC news website.
The European Commission published a report in 2016 that compared different types of train fares.
The UK had the fourth most expensive regional, peak, single fares bought on the day of travel, behind Switzerland, Slovenia and Spain
It was the third most expensive if bought a week or a month in advance
For off-peak, return, regional fares it was 12th for on the day and 11th for a week or a month in advance
The UK had the most expensive inter-city fares for peak single tickets
For inter-city peak return tickets, it had the sixth most expensive tickets bought on the day, the second most expensive a week in advance and the dearest a month in advance |  | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 11:55 - Jan 31 with 1986 views | GeoffSentence |
I feel nice and smug as my green credentials are high since I cycle in from the Ipswich-Shotley-Sudbury Golden Triangle. |  |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 11:59 - Jan 31 with 1973 views | GeoffSentence |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:26 - Jan 30 by Dubtractor |
I currently live close enough to walk (about 30 minutes), but shortly moving somewhere that would be over an hour's walk, so hopefully there will be a convenient bus route as I'd rather do that than drive. |
Cycle? | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 12:11 - Jan 31 with 1914 views | Dubtractor |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 11:59 - Jan 31 by GeoffSentence |
Cycle? |
That's an option, and one that I'm sure I'll use on occasion. | |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 12:45 - Jan 31 with 1832 views | hype313 |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 17:26 - Jan 30 by Dubtractor |
I currently live close enough to walk (about 30 minutes), but shortly moving somewhere that would be over an hour's walk, so hopefully there will be a convenient bus route as I'd rather do that than drive. |
I would walk but it's probably a good 50 -55 minutes and my son would just moan, so we have started getting the 13.40 from Derby Rd which is great, but the returning train is either 16.58 which is too early given Injury Time or 17.58 which means hanging around for ages. |  |
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| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:31 - Jan 31 with 1743 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 18:52 - Jan 30 by stonojnr |
I know its a bit chicken and egg, but the more people drive, the more the traffic increases, you are just part of the congestion ultimately.
if you want the traffic to decrease, you have to consider using the alternatives first,
it needs joined up thinking, but if Town were really serious about it there are things they could do, they could lobby GA/DfT to consider a later train service for fans, or heck just shift the midweek kick offs earlier by 15mins.
they could join up with Ipswich buses and give free bus travel to anyone showing a match ticket, Nottingham buses often do that for the cricket.
they could actually have secure cycle parking within the practice pitch area of the ground.
they could offer discounted match tickets to the likes of the Halesworth supporters who travel on the Whincop of Peasenhall coach, because thats 30odd cars that arent on the roads, and maybe it would encourage others.
But they wont, most of the players will drive to the training ground for this green football weekend in cars with exceptionally bad MPG, theyll go by coach, not train. the match officials will no doubt have travelled half the country to get there, no-one will think to turn the heating down by 1 degree, or try to reduce plastics and food wastage. |
Yep agree. Although there is more to the traffic issues than simply the number of cars on the road.
I don't have much of an excuse for driving on Saturday's beyond the engineering works and I do mix it up (probably 50:50).
Midweek games, as already mentioned, I'd be leaving the game sometimes 10mins early to get a train that gets me home before midnight (I can be home at 23:10 if I drive). | | | |
| Driving to Matches vs using public transport on 13:46 - Jan 31 with 1717 views | TheBoyBlue |
Unless time is tight either end, we catch the train from Woodbridge way and with the next train after the match being 5.15 we tend to take the boys to McDonalds and catch the next one. Don't go in on the train for evening matches as frankly I don't trust public transport to get me back afterwards and its been a while since we've come in on the train on a Saturday for one reason or another, including train strikes of course. | |
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