LNER warns of packed trains as Leeds United fans head to Wembley

Passengers travelling between Yorkshire and London this weekend are being urged to plan ahead, with LNER warning services will be extremely busy on Sunday 26 April.

The operator expects thousands of football fans to head to Wembley Stadium as Leeds United take on Chelsea for a place in the FA Cup Final. At the same time, large numbers of passengers will also be travelling for the London Marathon, adding further pressure to already busy trains.

To manage demand, LNER has introduced additional capacity, including more than 2,000 extra seats on services between Leeds and London King's Cross railway station in both directions. However, availability is limited, with many services expected to be full.

Passengers are being advised to follow key travel guidance:

• Check before you travel: Be sure to regularly check the Travel Alerts page on the LNER website for the latest information on train services.

• Arrive in plenty of time: With many thousands of fans expected to travel, please arrive at your departure station in good time to get to the correct platform.

• Travel on your booked service: Services are expected to be very busy, so please travel on your booked train and only occupy your reserved seat. If you haven’t got a seat reservation, you may have to stand for some, or all, of your journey.

• Be aware of those around you: While many customers will be travelling to Wembley, there will also be customers who are travelling for other reasons, including the London Marathon which is taking place on Sunday. Please be aware of and considerate to all customers while onboard and at stations and give up seats for those who have reservations.

• Be kind: LNER and other rail industry colleagues will be working incredibly hard throughout the day to keep fans safely on the move. Please be kind and respectful to all colleagues.

Colette Casey, Customer Experience Director at LNER, said:

“We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of Leeds United fans onboard LNER services this coming weekend as they travel to Wembley. A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes at LNER to allow us to safely transport thousands of Whites fans to and from London for this exciting fixture. As trains are expected to be very busy, these travel tips will help all our customers to enjoy a comfortable journey. Everyone at LNER sends their best wishes to Leeds United and we hope that they all have a great journey with us.”

Image: LNER