Supporters who travel with the Charlton Athletic Rail Travel Group regularly to away games outside Greater London can usually take advantage of discounted return rail fares thanks to special group deals negotiated independently by Addicks supporter Syd Cheeswright.
Four of the rail operators whose trains the Charlton Athletic Rail Travel Group (CARTG) have used since October 2005 have, this season, changed their procedures and/or rules regarding the purchasing of discounted fare rail tickets. They relate to Cross Country, East Midland Trains, East Coast (Main Line) and Virgin Trains.
To now qualify for the special EMT tickets, a minimum of five CARTG supporters is required. And the changes applicable to one of the [discounted] ticket types sold by Cross Country and Virgin Trains now require CARTG supporters to book at least three clear months before travelling. Otherwise, dearer day return fares apply, as is frequently the case with East Coast.
The previous paragraph applied to four 2012 examples, namely Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Carlisle United and Preston North End.
The 20 supporters who travelled on January 14th with the CARTG to Sheffield Wednesday on the 10.55 departure from St Pancras, eventually only getting to Leicester by 15.18, will receive a £32 return fare refund. This will be either by means of a complimentary ticket for that value towards the total return fare to Sheffield en route to Scunthorpe United or Huddersfield Town, or, for those not going to either of these two games, a cash refund at the end of March.
Group rail travel will not function for the rearranged evening game against Chesterfield on Tuesday, February 28th (7.45pm). The main reason is that the last southbound train back to London departs too early at 20.53 from Chesterfield.
The b2net Stadium is due north of the town centre. Leave the M1 at junction 29 for the A617. At the roundabout entering Chesterfield, take the A61 right exit and continue north for about 1.4 miles until the next roundabout. Turn left into Lockoford Road and then first right into B6057 Sheffield Road. The stadium is then 350 yards on the right.
For the game against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, March 3rd (3pm), trains leave Waterloo at 11.05 and 12.05, arriving Pokesdown at 12.56 and 13.56 respectively. Both trains stop at Clapham Junction station seven minutes after departing Waterloo. Pokesdown station can also be served at 13.38 by catching the 11.35 from Waterloo and changing trains (13.04/13.16) at Brockenhurst.
The return train from Pokesdown station departs at 17.26, arriving Waterloo at 19.20, having stopped seven minutes earlier at Clapham Junction station. The off-peak adult day return fare from Waterloo to Pokesdown is £46.90, or £30.95 with a senior railcard.
The discounted rail fare to Pokesdown will be between £25.50 and £34 per adult, depending upon the actual number of supporters travelling, who must catch the 11.35 and 17.26 departures. Accompanied U16s can travel for £1 return. The latest date for booking discounted rail fare tickets is 9.30pm on Wednesday, February 22nd.
With a combined westbound frequency of every 15 minutes, bus routes 2a, 2b and 2c go from Pokesdown station along (A35) Christchurch Road prior to turning right, via Boscombe bus station, into Ashley Road. After going over the railway bridge, the buses pass within 350 yards of the western side of the ground.
The ground at Dean Court, Kings Park, is much closer (0.8 miles) to Pokesdown station than Bournemouth station. To walk from Pokesdown station, turn right out of the station towards the south-west and go along Christchurch Road. Take the fourth right, after about 570 yards, into Gloucester Road. The football ground is across Kings Park from the end of Gloucester Road.
There are two different rail routes suitable for the game against Scunthorpe United on Saturday, March 17th (3pm).
The quicker, but slightly dearer, route is from Kings Cross, changing at Doncaster. East Coast mainline trains depart from Kings Cross at 10.30 and 11.03 to Doncaster, arriving 12.08 and 12.50 respectively. Local Northern Rail or Transpennine Express trains depart Doncaster at 12.37 and 13.08, arriving Scunthorpe at 13.02 and 13.46 respectively. Return trains depart from Scunthorpe at 17.18 and 18.08, arriving, after changing at Doncaster, Kings Cross at 20.31 and 20.45 respectively.
The off-peak adult day return fare from Kings Cross through to Scunthorpe is £82.20, or £54.25 with a senior railcard.
The slower, but slightly cheaper, route is from St Pancras, changing at Sheffield. East Midland Trains depart from St Pancras at 09.55, arriving 12.00 at Sheffield. Local Transpennine Express or Northern Rail trains depart Sheffield at 12.11 and 12.24, arriving Scunthorpe at 13.02 and 13.46 respectively. Return trains depart from Scunthorpe at 17.18 and 18.08, arriving Sheffield at 18.41 and 19.08 respectively, in time for the 19.27 departure, arriving 21.34 at St Pancras.
The off-peak adult day return fare from St Pancras via Chesterfield to Sheffield is £67.50, or £44.55 with a senior railcard. The off-peak adult day return fare from Sheffield to Scunthorpe is £13.60, or £9 with a senior railcard. The total discounted fare for CARTG supporters, covering the two journey legs, will be £50 for adults and half-price for U16s. The latest date for booking the discounted rail fare tickets is 9.30pm on Friday, March 2nd.
Glanford Park, 300 yards to the south of (A18) Doncaster Road, is 2.1 miles east from Scunthorpe station. Walk west along Station Road, turn first right into Oswald Road and then second left into Cliff Gardens. Go past the General Hospital, turn right and then left into (A18) Doncaster Road. Continue along Doncaster Road for a mile until a mini-roundabout, where the ground is then visible 300 yards to the left.
Scheduled times of the local Stagecoach North Lincolnshire circular bus routes that go from the bus station every 20 minutes via the General Hospital to the Scotter Road/Kingsway junction, 0.6 miles from Glanford Park, will be handed to CARTG rail travellers.
For the game against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, March 24th, the preferred, and cheaper, train route involves a change at Sheffield in both directions. The 09.55 departure from St Pancras arrives 12.00 at Sheffield. The local Northern Rail train departs Sheffield at 12.36, arriving Huddersfield at 13.49. The return train departs from Huddersfield at 17.35, arriving Sheffield at 18.51 after changing (18.08/18.23) at Wakefield Kirkgate. The 19.27 train from Sheffield arrives 21.34 at St Pancras.
The total off-peak adult day return fare from St Pancras via Sheffield to Huddersfield is £76, or £50.15 with a senior railcard. The total discounted fare for CARTG supporters, covering the two journey legs, will be £44 for adults and half-price for U16s. The latest date for booking the discounted rail fare tickets is 9.30pm on Wednesday, March 14th.
The Galpharm Stadium is 0.85 miles from Huddersfield station. Walk initially east from the station along Railway Street and follow the road as it bends north-east towards the junction with Northumberland Street. Continue east along Northumberland Street and cross carefully over the dual-carriageway into (A62) Leeds Road. Take the second turning on the right, Gasworks Street leading into Stadium Way, cross over the River Colne, turn left and then right through the St Andrews car park to the entrance for visiting supporters.
All the discounted fare rail tickets for the game against Oldham Athletic on Saturday, April 7th have been sold. There are no more available. The standard class super off-peak day return fare from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly is £74.20, or £49 with a senior railcard.
Trains leave Euston at 10.00 and then every 20 minutes until 11.00 for an average journey time of 128 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly. Return trains depart at 18.35 and 18.55 for a slightly longer average journey time of 143 minutes back to Euston.
First Group buses operate from Manchester Piccadilly Gardens to Oldham. The scheduled journey time is about 31 minutes. Bluebird buses also serve a similar route, but their tickets are NOT interchangeable with First Group bus tickets. The local bus route information will be handed to CARTG rail travellers on the day.
Buses go to the junction of Burnley Lane with Victoria Street (outward) or Garforth Street (return). Boundary Park is about 800 yards north-east of the junction of Burnley Lane with the northern end of the Victoria/Garforth Street one-way system. Walk east along Burnley Lane, turn left into (A627) Chadderton Way, cross at the next dual carriageway junction into Boundary Park Road and continue going northbound. The ground is then east of the junction with Sheepfoot Lane.
All the discounted fare rail tickets for the game against Carlisle United on Saturday, April 14th (3pm) have been sold. There are no more available. The off-peak day return fare from Euston to Carlisle is £103.10, or £68.05 with a senior railcard.
Trains leave Euston at 09.30 and 10.30 for an average journey time of 196 minutes to Carlisle. The return train departs at 17.52, arriving 21.38 at Euston.
Brunton Park is one mile east of Carlisle railway station. Turn right from the front of the station into (A6) Botchergate and then left into (one-way opposite) Tait Street, which leads into Aglionby Street. At the end, take the right fork into Warwick Road towards the ground 0.4 miles along on the left-hand side.
All the discounted tickets for the game against Preston North End on Saturday, April 28th (3pm) have been sold. There are no more available. The off-peak day return fare from Euston to Preston is £78.90, or £52.10 with a senior railcard.
Trains leave Euston at 10.30 and 11.30 for an average journey time of 128 minutes to Preston. Return trains depart at 17.58 and 19.01, arriving 20.15 and 21.38 at Euston, respectively.
Deepdale is 1.3 miles north-east from Preston station. Buses from the railway station to the ground involve changing at the bus station. Details of bus route numbers and times will be handed to CARTG rail travellers on the day.
Fans wanting to purchase specific discounted group rail tickets should call Syd on 020-8688 3916 between 7pm and 9.30pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings (except when there is a Charlton evening game), not later than the closing date specified above. No late train ticket bookings or payments will be accepted.
