[Archived] Fans left stranded 6.30 am as coach doesn't turn up!

[pk1875]

A group of lads turned up in the hope of getting on the 'Official Coaches'. Fortunately, there was room for the majority of them. However, as the Rovers coaches are usually full they were very fortunate indeed that on this occasion they were able to get on the official travel. As official coaches are pre-booked it would not have been possible to just turn up on the day in the hope of getting on them if they had been full, as they normally are for trips down south. It might be worth noting for those who want to travel by coach that the 'Official Coaches' and 'Birdy's Coach' are always reliable in that they go to every match. They might not be the cheapest but you know they will turn up.

That is why I cancelled the coach only when I knew for sure that alternative travel had been sorted for ALL who needed a coach, had the official travel been full then our coach would have run at around 7.30

[Mike E]

Oh btw, Happyclapper. After the very reasonable responses above? Yeah, pillock.

[wolfie]

6 months and 3 days actually ,....have you missed me?

Not really. Good job you're genuine, otherwise people might think you have an agenda.

[Parsonblue]

That is why I cancelled the coach only when I knew for sure that alternative travel had been sorted for ALL who needed a coach, had the official travel been full then our coach would have run at around 7.30

The moral of life is "sh*t happens"

It's how you deal with it that matters

Action group 1 Happyclapper 0

Game on

I think you mean "Official Transport 1 Action Group Transport 0"

[Gav]

I've been let down on the official coaches also over the years, something's can't be helped no matter how much time and effort is put in by the organisers.

[BlueMonday]

Group of young lads were badly let down yesterday morning by action group (mark fish) who failed to consult them about cancelling the coach to Bournemouth !.A few of the lads were able to get on official coaches but others were left heartbroken after their day was spoiled.Fish was not responding to any calls and some parents were very annoyed that their sons dream day was ruined without any explanation !.Seems ironic that Blackburn Rovers largest fans group can't fill a coach and inform fans properly of the cancellation yet campaign bitterly about the way our club has been run!.

Fecking drama Queen. Grow some!

[pk1875]

I think you mean "Official Transport 1 Action Group Transport 0"

If we are to be pedantic then

Swansea Away, April 2012.......13 passengers on coach two of the official coach, were telephoned 48 hours before and told they were cancelling the coach because it wasn't financially viable, of those 13 a large proportion now travel with us, this is part of the reason we formed away travel.

They telephoned customers 2 days before and told them, they had filled one coach and they weren't booking another one so they were refunding passengers and telling them to make their own way there, however they did not refund match tickets unless people attended the ticket office in person on the Friday during business hours

​Touché

[Boner]

Happyclapper - Did you feel you didn't make a big enough idiot of yourself 6 months ago?

[mark1875]

Oh welcome back and here we go yet again

News told, rumors heard, truth implied, facts buried.

[Parsonblue]

I've been let down on the official coaches also over the years, something's can't be helped no matter how much time and effort is put in by the organisers.

I've travelled on official coaches for a decade or so now, since I decided that it was easier than driving everywhere, and have never had one that didn't turn up! Over that time I think we have missed two kick off times. Once because of problems on the motorway and once because of snow. I have found the official transport to be very reliable. As I say, I've never turned up at Ewood and been left stranded because no coach has arrived. Admittedly, the official coach operators have a pretty decent backup operation to call upon if things went wrong.

[pk1875]

For the Record, it was very good of the official travel to help out and they do a good job, had they not been able to assist then our coach would have run still.

[Tom]

I don't like to do this in public but I will make an exception, you were banned for 6 months for continuing an agenda. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with discussing this matter as its a pertinent discussion and I will leave the thread open but the fact that within 3 days of returning your contribution is a hyperbolic dig at the same people as before even mentioning a name who wasn't involved shows you won't ever listen, I think we were lenient last time and gave you another chance.

Therefore - tata!

As for the topic itself it seems an error was made somewhere and actions were taken to try and sort it the best way possible, a bit slack maybe but nothing sinister

[Parsonblue]

If we are to be pedantic then

Swansea Away, April 2012.......13 passengers on coach two of the official coach, were telephoned 48 hours before and told they were cancelling the coach because it wasn't financially viable, of those 13 a large proportion now travel with us, this is part of the reason we formed away travel.

They telephoned customers 2 days before and told them, they had filled one coach and they weren't booking another one so they were refunding passengers and telling them to make their own way there, however they did not refund match tickets unless people attended the ticket office in person on the Friday during business hours

​Touché

I don't think being told a couple of days beforehand is quite the same as turning up on a Saturday morning to find no coach there. If you buy an away travel season ticket not only are you guaranteed travel to EVERY match but you are also guaranteed a MATCH ticket to every game.

[pk1875]

I don't like to do this in public but I will make an exception, you were banned for 6 months for continuing an agenda. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with discussing this matter as its a pertinent discussion and I will leave the thread open but the fact that within 3 days of returning your contribution is a hyperbolic dig at the same people as before even mentioning a name who wasn't involved shows you won't ever listen, I think we were lenient last time and gave you another chance.

Therefore - tata!

As for the topic itself it seems an error was made somewhere and actions were taken to try and sort it the best way possible, a bit slack maybe but nothing sinister

That must be BRFCs GOLD or whatever you call it

[wolfie]

I don't think being told a couple of days beforehand is quite the same as turning up on a Saturday morning to find no coach there. If you buy an away travel season ticket not only are you guaranteed travel to EVERY match but you are also guaranteed a MATCH ticket to every game.

Even though it's been stated that a coach would have been there if the official coach had no room?

[ABBEY]

I've been let down on the official coaches also over the years, something's can't be helped no matter how much time and effort is put in by the organisers.

I remember years ago charlton away , no coaches turned up and paul astley sorted trains out.Top day out on pernod..never touched it since.

[Stuart]

I wonder how easy it would be for someone who wanted to damage the Action Group to interfere with travel bookings...

[glen9mullan]

I was extremely saddened by this weeks turn of events which lead to the confusion and 22 passengers and 2 committee members waiting for a coach at 5.30am in the morning which did not turn up on time .

Paul who was not travelling arrived nearly an hour before departure time and was put in a position where quite rightly so passengers where upset .

Some decided to go by car , whilst Paul contacted the coach operator who we was using for the first time .

There had been a mix up and the coach was down for an. 8.am pick up , but the driver stated he could get there at 7.30 .

A decision was made to see if official travel had room for the remaining passengers which thankfully they had . I can only thank rovers travel for helping in the hour of need to ensue all got to the game . The group paid for the upgrades, but had this not have been possible then the remaining passengers would of gone vis the coach which we had booked .

This is not an acceptable conclusion and as a group we are very sorry that passengers have had their day interrupted with needless confusion and upset.

The group has always got the passengers to games be there 5 people booked on or 100 , with the group funding the coach on many occasions. As a group , away travel is something we put on , but it's only 1 arm of the groups work .

Sometimes things go wrong which can be unavoidable , sometimes through human error . The committee of 9 try their best as volunteers and we have to learn from this weekends events to ensure a repeat does not happen .

An apology has been issued to all the travellers , whilst an internal investigation to how and why it went wrong is on-going .

[Beta Ray Bill]

The official coaches left at 0715 (delayed 15mins sorting the unexpected extra passengers). They still arrived at Bournemouth before 1300, with around a 45 min stop.

If the unofficial coach was planned for 0800 would it really have been there after kick off? And if was being brought forward to 0730, unless it was extremely slow, it would have almost certainly been there before the official coaches?

[pk1875]

It was very good of the official travel to offer assistance, at that point the main concern was ensuring that everyone got to the game in good time, and from the above post they did do.

[Gav]

I remember years ago charlton away , no coaches turned up and paul astley sorted trains out.Top day out on pernod..never touched it since.

Seem to recall a similar issue with Plymouth away one season, Blackburn Coachlines didn't turn up, so it does happen on official coaches also, these things can't be helped from time to time.

No harm done, it's not exactly a trip to Florida cancelled the morning of the flight, now that would be something to get upset about!

[JAL]

Good to read that the club and the independent fans helped each other to resolve a match day problem.

[Blue n White Rover]

Were those that decided to travel by car reimbursed the difference between fuel costs and coach travel costs? Only fair BRAG cover the costs because of a misunderstanding.

All in all, glad the matter was sorted out.

[Stuart]

Were those that decided to travel by car reimbursed the difference between fuel costs and coach travel costs? Only fair BRAG cover the costs because of a misunderstanding.

All in all, glad the matter was sorted out.

Absolutely right.

I think the Action Group should also have paid for:

Their match ticket

Programme

Parking charges

Half time pie and pint

Souvenir from the gift shop

Ten pints each

Hotel room for the night

A couple of prostitutes. Each.

A kebab with chilli sauce. Or garlic.

Some more beer

Full English at a seafront cafe

A taxi back from Bournemouth

Taxis for the prostitutes

Flat loader to bring their car back

Valet for the taxis

A copy of The Football League Paper on arrival

Sky sports package for 6, no 12, months

It's only fair.

[Rover_Shaun]

Those that went by car were offered places on the official coach?? It was their right to refuse and thusly ended any Action group responsibility for costs incurred from THEIR choice