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Post by meader on Aug 25, 2016 10:40:39 GMT
Actually there was no reason to stop at any services on the M4. Do you see National Express stopping for 45 minutes on their London runs? Do you see Megabus stopping for 45 minutes on their London runs? The answer is NO! Its a straight run to London - non-stop.
Well, apart from my megabus service on Tuesday when the coach suffered a Bird Strike and cracked the upper deck windscreen which forced a stop at Reading"
No I don't and no I don't, did you read what I wrote? I said quite clearly that I am not saying that was the reason did I not? I said it might have been I understand what you are saying Kruger. Just to make things clear. If any lorry/coach driver is going to drive to a destination that is more then 4 hours away, the driver must have a minimum break of 30 mins (most take 45). If that journey is Bristol - London, there is no requirement for a stop during the journey. Apart from any major incident on the motorway, there is no way it should take over 3 hours for any journey to London.
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Post by gaseous on Aug 25, 2016 11:09:07 GMT
The most important thing yesterday was the match. The great performance by our team and the tremendous support from the fans. But many missed the start of the match, and others arrived with minutes to spare. I travelled in a coach from the Memorial Stadium. A very orderly and prompt start, though many thought a 3.15 departure, therefore driving past Swindon and Reading as rush hour developed, arriving around Brentford when it was in full swing, would be cutting it fine. It soon became apparent that our driver was unfamiliar with the Muller Road, let alone the Streets of London, but more of that anon. Then, after just about 50 miles, we stopped for half an hour at Membury. Why? If a stop at all was necessary Reading would have made more sense; we would by then have known how the traffic was developing. Eventually we inched into the outskirts of London. Our driver's piece of paper told him to turn right off the A4 just after Hammersmith. That turning proved to be a 'No Right Turn'. With Rush Hour now at its peak we looked for the King's Road, discovering that there was no entry, as extensive roadworks had been going on for a number of weeks! Was there no way of knowing this in advance? We circled the area a number of times before three coaches just decided to pull up in a one-way street, let us all off at the traffic lights; telling us they'd be in Imperial Street after the match. Where? Nobody knew. There was then a long walk to the ground. I arrived at 7.25, though I know of others who didn't get in until 8. Then followed one the best Rovers performances I have ever seen! After the match those with more up-to-date 'phones than my Nokia tracked down Imperial Street....about 30 minutes walk away. Then on the M4 there were two sections of down to one lane for roadworks, and one short section at a junction completely closed. Surely coach fims could have known of these planned works. Eventually arrived back at the Mem at 1.30am. I'll drive next time! I remember going to the millennium stadium in 07 on a supporters coach, the driver couldn't find the correct parking for our coach park and ended up at the doncaster Rovers coach park, he eventually found it and we had to run to the ground to get in just before kick off at 1 pm. It was a old south glos school bus, the heating was stuck, bloody boiling inside, he went passed the stadium 3 times and wouldn't drop us off close by. It was a nightmare, when we left, we didn't get home until about 9 at night, from Cardiff mind, I vowed never again to take bus or coach to football, I've always drove since, much easier and you can plan it yourself. Saying that we did get stuck in the traffic coming back from chelski, got home at 1.30, worth it tho.
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Post by lpgas on Aug 25, 2016 12:30:24 GMT
I drove from my brothers house in Frome. We went via the M3 but as soon as we got to the Newbury turning an electric sign flashed 1hour and 45 minutes delay at junction 1 and 2. So we came off the next junction and then went to Reading and on to the M4 and that was heaving. We arrived, parked 10 minutes away from the ground and went in at 7.30. Came back via the M4, what mistake to make.
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Post by nailseagas on Aug 25, 2016 12:33:19 GMT
Do you guys complaining about the M4 expect the surface to repair itself magically? Or would you rather they did the work during the day? Or that they just left it dangerous? The answer is no to all, but a modicum of practical thinking should be the least you expect, any idiot could foresee that 4 lanes of traffic going into one would cause problems, mostly caused by the dicks that see fit to try and push in at the last minute.
Didn't matter to me Mr Jaguar man I only have a sh** Mondeo take me on if you want there was only gonnna be one loser and it wasn't me.
Anyway it would have been far better to close 2 lanes rather than 3 at least the traffic would have moved, plus there was not a lot of work being done which doesn't help.
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Post by lpgas on Aug 25, 2016 12:35:11 GMT
I think if they get to the game on time that's ok. The fact that you don't get any drinking time might be a bummer for some but I never see the reason people need alcohol before games.
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Post by faggotygas on Aug 25, 2016 12:38:03 GMT
I drove from my brothers house in Frome. We went via the M3 but as soon as we got to the Newbury turning an electric sign flashed 1hour and 45 minutes delay at junction 1 and 2. So we came off the next junction and then went to Reading and on to the M4 and that was heaving. We arrived, parked 10 minutes away from the ground and went in at 7.30. Came back via the M4, what mistake to make. That's the issue I guess - 3.15 is fine for getting to London, as long as you don't stop on the way. That 45 minute stop in the services means double that in delay, as it meant that they hit rush hour traffic.
I got to London just before rush hour, and had no problems.
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Post by faggotygas on Aug 25, 2016 12:40:00 GMT
I think if they get to the game on time that's ok. The fact that you don't get any drinking time might be a bummer for some but I never see the reason people need alcohol before games. Fine for you chief, but why not give people the options, with coaches leaving at various times?
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Post by lpgas on Aug 25, 2016 12:41:13 GMT
Regarding road works, every time I use the M5 / M6 there are miles of road works and you ever only see a few people hanging around a JCB, and they are all gone home by 4 pm. In France, if they repair the motorways they work shifts until it is done. not here, take as long as you like!.
In the late 70's I worked on the Motorways, and they took a lot of shortcuts to save money
I also remember Cameron saying that in future Road works would be no longer than 3 miles...................lying git
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Post by rking89 on Aug 25, 2016 13:31:42 GMT
Haven't taken the supporters coaches before but a thought regarding the break the driver would need to take as his time would start from when he leaves the depot and not the mem/kingswood. I left wsm at 2:45 and was Parked up in Kew at 5 to then get the tube across.
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Post by bluegas on Aug 25, 2016 17:13:24 GMT
I think if they get to the game on time that's ok. The fact that you don't get any drinking time might be a bummer for some but I never see the reason people need alcohol before games. Fine for you chief, but why not give people the options, with coaches leaving at various times? Has it occurred to you that the SC can't be seen to be getting fans to games early so they can get p***Ed up & potentially cause trouble? (& yes, I had a few in Frankie's Bar. Bit dear but no alternative.)
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Post by mftc on Aug 25, 2016 17:58:00 GMT
I heard from someone at the beam back that police actively encouraged a later depart time (to avoid drinking related problems) and the SC were basing the departure times on "police advice". That said, I would have expected the coaches to travel in convoy and have a police escort.
As we are putting the foot into the SC, I didn't see the 50/50 sellers at the Mem, they are usually there for the beam backs ! (What are the SC doing!)
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Post by 84gas on Aug 25, 2016 18:02:26 GMT
I heard from someone at the beam back that police actively encouraged a later depart time (to avoid drinking related problems) and the SC were basing the departure times on "police advice". That said, I would have expected the coaches to travel in convoy and have a police escort. As we are putting the foot into the SC, I didn't see the 50/50 sellers at the Mem, they are usually there for the beam backs ! (What are the SC doing!) On the coach missing k.o??
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Post by althepirate on Aug 26, 2016 13:40:45 GMT
Just arrived at the Bridge coach held up on M4 roadworks, but there's nobody here, what's going on?
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Post by glengas on Aug 26, 2016 15:08:28 GMT
Nothing to do with getting there early so you can get p***ed, I would have been happy to get there 45 mins before kick off just for a look round. However, having to leg it down the road just to make it to our seats by kick off was crap. No chance to grab any food, let alone beers.
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Post by pirate49 on Aug 26, 2016 18:16:18 GMT
I think coaches should aim to get there an hour before the match. Anyone who wants to get tanked up will already have been there for hours and very probably made their way there with mates. I want some time to stretch legs, quick look around the area, perhaps walk around the outside of the ground, visit their club shop, see the programme shop if there is one, have a pee and settle into my seat/onto the terrace whilst final warm-up is going on. Too much to ask?
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socrates
Proper Gas
Posts: 12,472
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Post by socrates on Aug 26, 2016 18:44:09 GMT
Just arrived at the Bridge coach held up on M4 roadworks, but there's nobody here, what's going on? You've missed it mate, we won 5-0 and we've got Man UTD away in the next round in two weeks. leave for Old Trafford now and you should make it.
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Post by althepirate on Aug 26, 2016 20:09:33 GMT
Just arrived at the Bridge coach held up on M4 roadworks, but there's nobody here, what's going on? You've missed it mate, we won 5-0 and we've got Man UTD away in the next round in two weeks. leave for Old Trafford now and you should make it. Bugger! Just spent two hours signing 'You're supposed to be at home'thanks for the info about Man U. I live near Mangotsfield so I shouldn't be late for that one. Wembley, Wembley
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Post by gaseous on Aug 26, 2016 21:34:29 GMT
Do you guys complaining about the M4 expect the surface to repair itself magically? Or would you rather they did the work during the day? Or that they just left it dangerous? The answer is no to all, but a modicum of practical thinking should be the least you expect, any idiot could foresee that 4 lanes of traffic going into one would cause problems, mostly caused by the dicks that see fit to try and push in at the last minute.
Didn't matter to me Mr Jaguar man I only have a sh** Mondeo take me on if you want there was only gonnna be one loser and it wasn't me.
Anyway it would have been far better to close 2 lanes rather than 3 at least the traffic would have moved, plus there was not a lot of work being done which doesn't help.
I don't think it is to push in at the last minute but I believe that they are called 'filtering lanes' and you should use them just like that. If some people can't read signs and are foolish enough to pull in and wait in the first lane a mile from the road closures, more fool them. After all it is only common sense.
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Post by William Wilson on Aug 27, 2016 6:43:31 GMT
Can't comment on last night, but I went to York away by supporters coach at the end of last season and found the whole experience fairly dire. Left the Mem at 10am (for a 3pm KO), which we felt wasn't leaving much leeway if there were any accidents etc anyway, but then after the coach driver's 45-minute stop at a service station and going the wrong way in York a couple of times, we ended up getting there 15 minutes before KO. Wouldn't use the service again. I was on one of those coaches. Normally, I`d drive, but didn`t fancy it up to York. Driving round and round the outskirts of the city, and every now and then, the spire of the Minster appearing off to the left or the right. Quite comical, looking back. But like you, I wouldn`t do it again.
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