COVENTRY by Train
From the footballgrounsguide site:
The stadium has its
Coventry Arena Station, which is on a local line between Coventry and Nuneaton. However there is only an hourly service in operation with a limited capacity train (two carriages on Saturdays, carrying 150 people and only a single carriage in the Evenings carrying 75 people) so I personally wouldn't rely on it to get to the Ricoh, as you may find that you are unable to get on it as it is already full. Outward trains to the Arena leave Coventry Station from Platform 2 at 42 minutes past the hour. The journey takes around 7 minutes. After the match has ended the first train back to Coventry departs at 5.28pm on Saturday afternoons.
Coventry Railway Station is about three and half miles away from the stadium and really is too far to walk. Either take a bus or jump in a taxi (costs around £12 to the stadium).
The first stage of the journey takes you from the rail station to Pool Meadow bus station in Coventry City Centre. There are four services, all run by National Express. They are:
Services 9 and 9A (Destination University Hospital) Service 8 (Destination Woodway Park) Service 8A (Destination Wood End)
All these services depart from bus stop ER1 across the road at the left of the Coventry Railway Station entrance. The journey to Pool Meadow bus station takes about ten minutes.
All the above services will drop you off at Stand P at the Pool Meadow Bus Station. To then find a bus to take you to the Arena, then turn right from Stand P and take a route clockwise past Stands Q,R,S etc until you reach the end of the building. Go outside and go forward across one of the bus access roads until you reach the Northern edge of the bus station (with an elevated section of the ring road in front of you) turn right along the pavement until you reach Bus Shelter U. Board the single decker double bendibus Service 4 Signed Arena Park. The journey takes around 25 minutes. Ask the driver for the Arena Park Rail station stop. The stop is beside the steps that take you under the railway. Go up the steps the other side and slightly to the right to the stadium turnstiles at the away end. (South Stand). The Number 4 Bus runs every 15 minutes on Saturday afternoons.
Returning to Coventry Railway Station after the game:
Return under the railway carefully over the service road and through the Arena Retail Park car park along the front of the shops until you reach the end of the Tesco frontage. Turn left at the corner of the building and then walk on beside the Tesco end wall. To catch the Service 4 bendibus Signed University Hospital go straight ahead to bus shelter AD. The bus will drop you at Pool Meadow bus station at Stand N. On leaving the bus turn to your right and pass the stands by moving in a clockwise direction until you reach Stand R
From stand R it is around 10 minute journey to Coventry Rail station using Services 9 signed Green Lane, 9A Signed Wainbody, and 8 or 8A both signed Coventry Railway Station. Eventually the bus turns sharp right and passes a small park on your right (Greyfriars Green) just before turning left into the short station approach road to the rail station bus stop.
Bus Fares and Concessions
Unless you want to lay out a lot of money and are in the habit of taking a lot of loose change with you the best deal is to ask the driver of the first bus you board for an Off peak Day Saver ticket. For £4 you can make an unlimited number of bus journeys on the day. When you board another bus just show it to the driver. Please note that these tickets are only issued and valid on services run by
National Express.
In addition, if you have an English Concessionary Pass because you are a Senior Citizen or Disabled then you are entitled to free off peak bus travel anywhere in England. In the West Midlands Off peak is defined as 9.30 am to 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends. Just place your card on the pad beside the driver. It can be used on any local bus service, regardless of the provider
TRAINS FROM LONDON TO COVENTRY ARENA
OUTWARD
11.46 London Euston arrive 12.53 Nuneaton, 13.14 Nuneaton to Coventry Arena arrive 13.27 or
12.46 London Euston arrive 13.53 Nuneaton, 14.14 Nuneaton to Coventry Arena arrive 14.27
RETURN
17.49 Coventry Arena arrive Nuneaton 18.04, 1836 Nuneaton to London Euston 19.50
OFF-PEAK RETURN FARE £29.50
Fares can be booked on-line at the following link:
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/London/CAA/291218/1100/dep/291218/1700/dep
RETURN FARE FROM SOUTHEND
Prices being shown as £65.80 with two off peak singles.