Brentford and London shamed by TfL incompetence
We went to the Womens Euros at the New Brentford Stadium last night. with some long time German friends who came over especially with their children.Pre match and during the match it was excellent. Apart from the reliance on phones for tickets and a raft of bag restrictions not on the useless UEFA tickets app ( wonder if this was why Paris was such a disaster) it could not have been better. ( Apart from the result - I was supporting Denmark !!)Brentford FC played host and the organisation and presentation was second to none. Exemplary.But the whole evening was ruined post match.Yet again, the public transport was shambolic to the point of embarrassing.For those who do not know the locality, Public transport is key. Just like any event in almost any city. It's foolish to go off wandering a district in the dark which has a bit of a reputation and the Germans and Danes do have guidance that warn of this. It says use public transport.It's getting late, it's now dark and there's no public transport co-ordination whatsoever. Not one TfL or London Buses person in sight. ( Completely unlike Pride which we also all went to last week when almost every second person was a TfL vest clad assister or reveller, as they all seemed to be enjoying it to the full.)So there's a 29 minute service on the 65 on a faulty Countdown display.App were not working properly either. Southbound buses were running almost empty but no northbound bus for 45 mins.Similarly 237 and 267 bus stop was equally chaotic and 267 running with the destination London Road - Chertsey Road. Where's that if you are not a local ?Delays boarding as almost everyone was asking where this actually was. Short of Twickenham station - which is a recommended location for hotels and train services. Then with at least 80 people still waiting to board another 267 for Fulwell stops short of the stop, lets a few people off then drives straight off, missing the stop and leaving those waiting passengers stranded. Bus was almost empty. Next 267 full and a third arrived able to load most , but not all on. 2 out of 4 267s terminated short. Similarly 237s were also short destinations.Meanwhile the 65 heading to Ealing queue was heaving mainly with Danes and Germans and with young children. Including us.When a bus finally showed up the driver stopped at the back of the queue - not at the correct marked position. A complete stampede ensued with a man on crutches pushed out of the way.Many boarded by the middle door ( common in Denmark and Germany ) only to find they could not pay. The driver left his cab and remonstrated with them. Then they found that the card reader would not function with their cards anyway. More delays for those lucky enough to get aboard.Another 65 came along completely full and did not stop. The third one also near full, took just 7 passengers and was full to bursting. We got one the next one which was also full - by now 1hour and 10 mins after the game had finished.At last heading home with many worried that they may not make their hotels before the last trains and with tired and children and anxious wives.So barely up the road and roadworks blocking Brentford High Street and Ealing road.Who on earth scheduled white lining on an international match day event known for months?It gets worse. Arrive at Ealing Road / Great West Road and packed bus in front has been terminated there. Very angry German and Danes now trying to board a packed bus with another right behind also packed.Then another delay. A4 is snarled up as there are more roadworks to the left and it has jammed up the Junction roundabout.All in all almost 2 hours to see our friends off safely.Those German and Danish disgusted by the third rate public transport service. I asked a driver if Centrecomm ( who control buses ) were aware of the event. The reply was they did not want to know and did nothing other than terminate services to Ealing. No extra had been scheduled.The conversations were largely locals apologising and very embarrassed about the dire state of facilities for visitors.But this is rank unprofessionalism from TfL - who did know and did nothing.This is not the first time as last season was also marred with transport chaos at big games.But it was so bad that one wonders if this is deliberately engineered chaos to make a political point? Who on earth sanctioned roadworks on not one but two key exit routes?Why were no extra buses laid on or existing buses not turned for the busiest section?Shamefully disgusting and ruined what was otherwise a great evening and hugely damaging to the district and the hosts for the event.
Raymond Havelock ● 1524d15 Comments ● 1515d