Southampton fans warned of travel chaos ahead of Wembley semi-final

Football fans heading to Wembley this weekend are being urged to reconsider their travel plans, with South Western Railway warning of major disruption on routes from Southampton.

Engineering work between Woking and Basingstoke on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April will significantly reduce the number of direct trains running between Southampton and London. The work, described as safety-critical, has been scheduled since 2024 and must be completed ahead of the summer to avoid speed restrictions and performance issues on a key part of the network.

Network Rail engineers will be carrying out a range of upgrades, including refurbishing switches and crossings at Farnborough, improving power supplies in the Woking area, and completing signalling maintenance, vegetation clearance and electrical work at Winchfield.

The disruption coincides with Southampton FC’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, with the club having sold out its allocation of 33,000 tickets. While extra train services will operate, operators have warned they will not be sufficient to meet demand.

Only a small number of direct services will run between Southampton and London, and these will be diverted via Havant, increasing journey times. Passengers who do travel by rail are being advised to plan ahead and allow significantly more time for their journeys.

At Southampton Central railway station, a queuing system will be in place to manage demand, while other stations including Fareham, Havant, Clapham Junction and London Waterloo railway station are expected to be particularly busy.

Supporters are also being warned that there will be very limited services returning to Southampton after 8pm, which could cause issues if the match goes to extra time or penalties. Additional time should be allowed for onward travel across London to and from Wembley.

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer for South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said:

“We’ve been working closely with Southampton Football Club since their quarter-final victory earlier this month, and we understand just how much the semi-final means to both their supporters and the City of Southampton. We have carefully reviewed the work taking place between Woking and Basingstoke, and because it is safety-critical and must be finished before the summer, it won’t be possible to reschedule. That’s why we must ask supporters to consider alternative travel options this Saturday. For those supporters who must travel by train, please be aware that there will only be a very limited number of services, and they’ll take longer than usual. Make sure to plan ahead and allow extra time to complete your journey. We’re sorry for the disruption that this weekend’s engineering work will cause. We wish Southampton the best of luck for Saturday’s game and their attempt to repeat the famous run of 1976.”

Andy Darbyshire, Head of Event Safety & Security for Southampton Football Club, said:

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our supporters for the incredible backing you’re giving the team ahead of this Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final. South Western Railway has advised that train services will be extremely busy, even with additional services in place, and stations are expected to be very crowded with a queuing system at Southampton Central. Please allow plenty of time for your journey and be prepared that you may not be able to board the first train you intend to take. A revised timetable will also be in operation across parts of the network, so we strongly encourage fans to check train times in advance and listen carefully to station announcements. Your support means everything to the players and staff — travel safely, allow plenty of time, and we look forward to seeing the red and white in full voice at Wembley.”

Image: South Western Railway