Extra trains to run for EFL Cup final

An LNER Azuma train heading into King's Cross Station. The red, grey and yellow train is leaving a tunnel and is nearing the station.PA Media

LNER has put on extra services for fans travelling to Wembley

Jonny Manning
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Extra trains are to run to help football fans get to Wembley in time for the EFL Cup final.

Newcastle United face Liverpool on 16 March and thousands of supporters will be heading to London from the north of England to watch the match.

Journeys already faced disruption because of engineering works being carried out by Network Rail between Newcastle and York, with rail replacement buses servicing Durham and Darlington.

But LNER has confirmed it will be running six extra services on 15 and 16 March to help address the extra demand from football fans.

"We have been working hard with Network Rail to find some additional services," an LNER spokesperson said.

"As always, tickets are limited and subject to availability," they added.

Extra EFL Cup trains

LNER will be running the following additional services on 15 March:

  • 12:20 GMT - Newcastle to York

  • 14:20 - Newcastle to York

These services have been designed so customers can connect to existing LNER services leaving from York station.

The company will also be running the following additional services on 16 March:

  • 07:23 - Newcastle to London King's Cross

  • 07:52 - Newcastle to London King's Cross

  • 21:30 - London King's Cross to Newcastle

  • 22:00 - London King's Cross to Newcastle

The extra Sunday trains will be direct, non-stop services.

Engineering works

LNER is running an amended timetable because of engineering works being carried out by Network Rail over six weekends.

The work means the additional trains will be running via the Durham Coast route and will travel through Sunderland, Hartlepool, and towards Yarm, before re-joining the East Coast Main Line at Northallerton.

LNER said the route would add extra time to journeys and meant it could not run as many services between Newcastle and London.

The engineering work also means there will be no trains running through Durham or Darlington, with rail replacement coaches being used between York and Newcastle.

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