When I lived in Stoke I did go by train, but from where I live now it would either mean at least two changes on a round trip three times the length of the road journey, or using park-and-ride from a station that's as far away from me as the NEC itself. On a weekday, the latter might be worthwhile to avoid the queues, but not at the weekend when I can avoid them anyway by parking at the station.
Mark
On one visit to the NEC a few years ago I managed to visit three exhibitions - the one I was there to visit and a brief look at two others that looked interesting.
Hmmm ... ;-)
I noticed what appeared to be several blokes being taken round by their wives. One lady was complaining at the P.D.Marsh stand about the fact that none of the footbridge kits on offer was suitable for her prototype. Husband was suggesting making modifications, but Madam said that it would be easier to scratch-build her own...
The first time I went to Warley I cadged a lift on a coach with a party of ladies (including the wife) who were going to a lace-makers exhibition in one of the other halls, and I should point out that she spent far more than I did.
I would have been tempted to stay with them just in case there were some nice models on display.
Cheers, Simon
As someone who visits the NEC twice a year (for five days and four) for the annual gift fairs, I can confirm that the NEC are completely bloody incompetent in terms of their traffic management.
People are diverted away from logical routes (which regular visitors discover) and are sent all round the houses to ever-distant car parks when there are LOTS of spaces in nearer ones.
And their car parking charges are exorbitant when the only viable transport alternatives at the weekend are few and far between.
Total bastards. No wonder the gift trade exhibitors are migrating in droves for cheaper and more convenient venues.
It used to be the case that the NEC insisted on THEIR electricians connecting ANY electrical items to their supply. VERY unionised, I believe.
Apparently that has now changed.
It was an exhibition for lace-makers, Simon. I don't think models came into the reckoning. OTOH I saw lots of models...
Used to be like that for cinema projectionists, but with multiplexes it became exorbitantly expensive to have several union projectionists. My daughter, who worked as an assistant manger at a 2-screen cinema, took a crash course in cinema projection. She had to splice the 35mm reels, including trailers and commercials, onto one big platter which could then be left to run for the duration of the movie. Some of the sound systems required mounting and synchronising a separate disc. For this she was paid a fraction of the union rate.
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