Cost of Official Away Travel

[Baz Bee]

Does anyone else consider the cost of the official travel arrangements to away games to be rather on the excessive side?

If you see what supporters of other clubs pay I would think that Brentford are at the top of the Division in terms of cost, even the abated prices for members, juniors, etc.

For myself and my two sons it is generally infinetly more cost effective to go by car.

Any thoughts?

['Ayes B]

I always put the excesive costs down to us playing London prices. I know when we have had cup games or paly of games to places like Tranmere or Huddersfield the fare paid by the opposition was about £4 less then what I had paid.

I do remeber one season when the club took over the away travel from the official supporters club and the prices rocketed. A bbloke called jasper was so incensed that he arranged unofficial coaches which proved twice as popular.

Now days although the official transport is nice to fall back on I prefere to travel by caror by train. The long waits in motorway services put me off and a jumped up police inspector who boarded our coach outside Hartlepool's ground (I was in the third coach and upon arriving we had to wait 10 minutes for the priveledge). The way he spoke and addressed us all you would think that we had just escaped from the maze, caused the third world war to start in the last village that we drove through and all looked liked stereo typical thugs high on illeagal substances.

[Jimbee]

I would have thought that as with most things in London and South East, the cost of hiring a coach is more expensive as the overheads are higher. I am pretty sure the club aren't out to make money from it, particularly as we rarely take more than 2 coaches to away games.

Train travel is much cheaper nowadays with the different deals available so whereas I used to use the coach I travel by train now.

[Houghton Bee]

As a comparison last season, Luton offered coach travel to Wrexham, plus ticket for £12. Now if we were to do the same......

[Baz Bee]

If you go to Trandy's site and click the link you'll find the day/next day return fare to Oxford from London is only £7.50. The coach picks up in Victoria as well as Shepherds Bush and Hillingdon. Whats more it drops off, and picks up on way back, in Headington very close to the ground.

These coaches run every 12 minutes on a Saturday until 19.30 and then every 20-30 minutes thereafter.

On the basis that these coaches are often only 10 -15% full during the majority of their runs, how do Brentford justify charging so much for their official coach travel. Bearing in mind that whoever has the contract with Brentford is probably guaranteed a minimum 25 away trips/journeys per season, probably with at least a couple of coaches on each trip and the majority during the quiter winter months, there appears to be some questions to be answered.

Again it only reinforces the situation that other supporters of clubs in our division pay significantly less for their away travel. Don't forget if Brentford were not using these coaches there is a good chance they would not be earning any revenue for a number of the days they are contracted to Brentford for.


Surely more sensibly priced travel would encourage greater use as well as keeping some cars off of the road?

[This message has been edited by Baz Bee (edited 25 August 2000).]

[The Prophet]

Have to agree with you lot here. i quite enjoy going by coach as I do shift work & use it to catch up on some kip, but this Saturday I'm having to use the car as £13 to Oxford is a bit steep for a 100 mile round trip.

[Jimbee]

Perhaps we should suggest to the club National Express coaches. I guess once you have made your way to Victoria to pick up the coach, you have incurred another £4-£5 for a travelcard anyway.

[Luke Kirton]

And for the Oxford match it only cost £10 for BIAS members (Oh and club members to)and as I live in Brentford it is a door to door service.
Plus top driver for the Oxford match wrote of a car reversing into the front of it. Top job?!?