As thousands of Birmingham City fans head to Wembley Stadium for their team's thrilling Vertu Motors Cup final against Peterborough United, rail companies have organised extra train services to meet increased passenger demand.
The number of enthusiastic Birmingham City fans flocking to London for the grand final is expected to exceed 40.000. Acting on this demand, London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has planned more than 20 additional train services from the region to London. These special services will provide around 13.000 additional seats for fans.
Regulation and Routing from Chiltern Railways
Fellow train operator Chiltern Railways has also extended its services from Warwick Parkway to London Marylebone, but will not be stopping at some of the regular stops in a bid to maximise capacity. On Saturday, Chiltern trains will not be picking up passengers at Birmingham Moor Street, Solihull, Dorridge, Lapworth, Hatton or Warwick stations. A limited rail change service will be running from Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon to help fans travelling from these areas.
LNR has advised fans in Stechford, Lea Hall and Marston Green to start their journeys directly from Birmingham New Street station. It has been warned that trains from smaller stations may already be full when they arrive due to congestion. Both LNR and Avanti West Coast offer direct trains from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. Once in Euston, fans will be able to easily reach Wembley Stadium via London Underground.
Excitement at its Peak, Fans on the Road
The excitement among the fans is building ahead of the final match. Among those who have travelled to London is famous comedian Jasper Carrott. Also drawing attention is a fan named Chris Jay, who flew more than 4.000 miles from Atlanta, Georgia, to the match. After moving to the US in 2021, Jay told his wife that wearing the Wembley jersey is a rare event for Birmingham City fans and therefore missing out was not an option for him.
As well as the excitement of the final, Birmingham City fans are also celebrating the recent League One title win. The title came after rivals Wrexham failed to beat Wigan on Saturday, sealing the Blues' title. All eyes are now on the Vertu Motors Cup final, where the fans will be packing the stands with great support.
