By Mark Baber
August 6 – The Football Supporters Federation (FSF) has welcomed an announcement by Virgin Trains that they will be a launching a pilot scheme to provide train services tailored for Sunderland and Newcastle fans.
The new scheme will see fans being offered 10% off already discounted advance fares, 25% off Virgin Trains East Coast group bookings for between three and nine fans travelling together, a free change to a new date or train if an away fixture is moved for TV scheduling reasons, and more minutes added to catch a return train if the match goes to extra time.
Alison Watson, customer experience director at Virgin Trains East Coast, said: “Our pilot discount scheme has been put together in consultation with fans of both Newcastle United and Sunderland, with the full backing of both clubs, the Football Supporters’ Federation and the British Transport Police.
“We’re offering exciting discounts for individuals and groups of supporters travelling together – and the opportunity to change a booked journey with us to a new date or train if an away fixture is rescheduled for TV coverage.
“We know there are many football fans who loyally follow their teams all over the country – this is a trial initiative, working with all our partners to promote safe travel by train. If this pilot proves successful, we will look at extending it to supporters following other clubs on our route.”
The move was welcomed by Rick Duniec of the FSF who said: “This is something we’ve been suggesting for a number of years, and we’re delighted that Virgin Trains East Coast has developed this in partnership with Newcastle United and Sunderland fans.
“In the past, supporters have missed out on cheapest advance-booked fares as late changes to accommodate live TV coverage can leave them out of pocket if they booked before the fixture was moved.
“This is now being addressed, and it’s our job now to encourage Newcastle United and Sunderland supporters with a club membership number to take advantage of this brilliant improvement.”
The scheme was also welcomed by Inspector Brian Buddo, of British Transport Police who said: “We know the majority of football fans are well behaved and a credit to their clubs, and this scheme rewards those who travel responsibly.”
Whilst train services specifically for football supporters known as “football specials” developed a bad reputation in the 1970s and 1980s as notorious hooligan groups such as West Ham’s Inter City Firm and Leeds Service Crew named themselves after the rail services they used to get to and from their battles, football culture and football supporters have moved a long way since those days and the absence of schemes, similar to those now being introduced by Virgin, has long appeared something of an anomaly.
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