Villa Park Redevelopment

[garyellis]

It doesn't help when the infrastructure that already exists isn't being used.  On the Cross City line there was barely a match last season that wasn't affected by reduced or no services - a huge number of supporters who should be using public transport couldn't for loads of home games, and that is before the ludicrous queuing system they seem to have place at Aston Station now where people are forced to queue up along the pavement and alleyways despite the platforms being half empty.  It's beyond frustrating watching trains going off half-empty when you haven't been able to get to the platform in time.

One thing that would help imo is do what they do in Bundesliga and you get a matchday travelcard to use with purchase of ticket or it gets loaded with a season card.

That to me is one way to sort transport queues out. You can hop on the 11 for no charge and get to Erdington and then get on another bus to Sutton/Four Oaks rather than waste away an hour or two waiting at Aston Station with CrossCity roulette.

Re the travel card thing, yes absolutely agree

I remember about twenty years ago Newcastle had a match ticket / free transport on the bus and metro agreement.

In terms of coordination we are in the dark ages.

The club have tried, tried and tried again. The travel companies aren't interested.

Another reason why key transport should be under local control like in London

[exigo]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

[garyellis]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

Agree that is ridiculous. What is the view of the local councillors on the current inefficiencies?

[Dante Lavelli]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

Agree that is ridiculous. What is the view of the local councillors on the current inefficiencies?

that’s crazy.  Couldn’t they build screens like on the jubilee line which open when the train is on the (packed) platform?  Relatively cheap and safe.

[luke95]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

Passengers don't help there tho , instead of using the whole platform the majority tend to wait at one end , giving the impression the platform is packed when infact its far from packed .
It certainly needs marshaling better.

[Sdwbvf]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

Passengers don't help there tho , instead of using the whole platform the majority tend to wait at one end , giving the impression the platform is packed when infact its far from packed .
It certainly needs marshaling better.

At Witton they fill the trains before they leave. Train leaves, let people on the platform, yell at them to move down to the end. Then train arrives load up, then let another platform load on. Rinse repeat. Still horrible queue at times. Even with the Rugeley trains diverted to pick up as well. And the round the circle football specials. My problem is that back in the early 90s when we had lower crowds, British Rail used to put on 8 coaches for the football specials now they have 3 or 4.

[wittonwarrior]

We should not be reliant on having to add decent public transport into the equation.  That is a right.  Several ways round this, from temporary measures to a complete revamp.

[pauliewalnuts]

The drop to four trains an hour from Aston isn't the core issue. Two blokes limiting numbers allowed up onto the platform is the issue. Because that means the few precious trains are leaving at 20% capacity.

Agree that is ridiculous. What is the view of the local councillors on the current inefficiencies?

that’s crazy.  Couldn’t they build screens like on the jubilee line which open when the train is on the (packed) platform?  Relatively cheap and safe.

That (screens thing) would be as far from cheap as it possible to be.

There’s a massive difference between trains and screens working in harmony on a tube line built to be that way and retro fitting it to older rolling stock that was never built to do that.

[IFWaters]

Have the club ever surveyed how people get to and from games? Would be useful to know as a starting point. Much as people want more trains laid on I would think that's one of the hardest to do as train economics are in decline since COVID, less people using them.

Perhaps the club will have to sort this out running a match day fleet of buses for the first couple of miles away from VP. 50 buses running back and forth for the first couple of miles away from the ground to other transport hubs and parking could help as could making the ground a better place to stay for a while afterwards.

[pauliewalnuts]

Have the club ever surveyed how people get to and from games? Would be useful to know as a starting point. Much as people want more trains laid on I would think that's one of the hardest to do as train economics are in decline since COVID, less people using them.

Perhaps the club will have to sort this out running a match day fleet of buses for the first couple of miles away from VP. 50 buses running back and forth for the first couple of miles away from the ground to other transport hubs and parking could help as could making the ground a better place to stay for a while afterwards.

Yes, they have done surveys, several times. It's just that the findings seem to reach deaf ears.

I do wonder if new leadership is actually going to make them start to think about moving.

I'd rather hack my own head off with a rusty pen knife than move to the NEC (even if there were land there), and would much, much rather stay, but if they continue to find themselves banging their head off a brick wall, I do wonder if this will become an option.

[N'ZMAV]

part of the trouble is, like many football grounds, it's in the middle of a shit hole.

[Villafirst]

Having been involved in the construction industry and planning applications, these developments require all kinds of consultations including Traffic Impact Assessments, transport links etc., Having not seen the Planning consent document for this redevelopment, I'd imagine conditions would need to be satisfied which would include the upgrade to Witton Station. It just seems odd that this hasn't already been properly sorted including the funding arrangements. However, what do I know??

[Drummond]

part of the trouble is, like many football grounds, it's in the middle of a shit hole.

It's really not.

[N'ZMAV]

part of the trouble is, like many football grounds, it's in the middle of a shit hole.

It's really not.

I'm ok that we disagree - the route I went to the ground today, the local couple of miles to the ground were a dog hole. I wouldn't be rushing to move round there.

[Risso]

part of the trouble is, like many football grounds, it's in the middle of a shit hole.

It's really not.

Come off it.