LNER Warns Boro Fans to Plan Ahead as Engineering Works Block Key Route

LNER and Network Rail have warned Middlesbrough FC supporters travelling to Wembley this weekend to plan carefully, with major engineering work set to affect East Coast Main Line services over the bank holiday.

Essential work is taking place in North Yorkshire, including landslip mitigation, points renewals and drainage upgrades. As a result, LNER services will not be able to run between Darlington and York, with only limited rail replacement coaches available between the two stations.

The warning comes ahead of Middlesbrough’s trip to Wembley, with fans from Teesside expected to travel south during what is already likely to be a busy bank holiday weekend on the rail network.

LNER and Network Rail said engineering work of this scale is arranged many months, and sometimes years, in advance. They said cancelling the work at short notice would cost millions of pounds and would mean more engineering work having to be rescheduled for busy summer weekends.

Both organisations said the late confirmation of the fixture, combined with the already-planned engineering work, had created an additional challenge. Staff across LNER and Network Rail are working on practical measures to help supporters and other passengers travel over the weekend.

An additional train between York and London is planned in both directions, alongside the advertised timetable, to help fans get to the match and ease demand.

City of York Council and First Bus have also extended the opening hours of all six Park & Ride car park sites until midnight. This is intended to give passengers more flexibility after the last buses have departed, although final bus departures will still run at their usual times.

Fans travelling to the game are urged to:

• Allow extra time as queues are anticipated for rail replacement services: A limited rail replacement service will be operating between Darlington and York. Multiple events taking place over the weekend means queueing systems will be in place at stations, with the potential for longer wait times.

• Plan ahead if travelling via alternative routes: Some fans may choose to travel from York. Vehicle parking is extremely limited at, and around, York station due to ongoing station improvement work. For those leaving their vehicles, fans are encouraged to use existing Park & Ride facilities in the city. P&R car parks will remain open until midnight but existing final bus times will remain the same. Any fans getting dropped off should find alternative locations away from the station as the area is expected to be busy.

• Map out their return journey: While there will be services from London King’s Cross towards York after the game, connections for destinations such as Darlington and Middlesbrough will be limited. Customers are asked to plan ahead and map out their journey home.

• Consider alternative methods of transport: With existing train services already very busy and a limited number of rail replacement coaches, it is likely that not all fans will be able to travel by rail.

Gunnar Lindahl, Joint Operations Director for LNER and Network Rail, said:

“We appreciate this is a huge day for Middlesbrough fans and colleagues across the railway are working hard to keep as many customers as possible on the move over the weekend, including those from Teesside heading to Wembley. The engineering work between Darlington and York has been planned for many months and cancelling it at this late stage would cost more than £3m. It would also result in further weekend closures being required, meaning more disruption for customers in the future. We are expecting rail services across the East Coast Main Line to be very busy over the weekend. We would urge customers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys, and want to thank people in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Image: LNER