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Thursday 10 Apr 2025

Blues’ Wembley final means busy trains between Birmingham and London

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Thousands of Birmingham City fans will head to London this weekend for the Vertu Trophy Cup Final, meaning trains and stations will be busier than normal.

With over 40,000 Blues fans heading to Wembley on Sunday (13 April) for the first time since 2011, trains between Birmingham and London stations are expected to be packed with fans before and after the game on Sunday, which kicks off at 3pm.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys, check before they travel, and allow extra time to get to and from Wembley.

Changes to services on the Chiltern main line means all services to Wembley and London Marylebone will start and end at Warwick Parkway, with no services calling at Solihull, Dorridge, Hatton, Lapworth or Warwick at all on Sunday. There will be extra services running between Warwick Parkway to Wembley Stadium. For customers needing step-free access to trains, Leamington Spa is the nearest accessible station serving the route between Warwick Parkway and Wembley.

There will be extra staff on hand at Birmingham New Street and London Euston stations to guide passengers, with a queueing system in place at New Street to help keep passengers safe and trains leaving on time.

For Birmingham City supporters travelling from south of the city:

• Chiltern Railways’ services to Wembley Stadium will start at Warwick Parkway, calling at Leamington Spa and Banbury. Free parking will be available at Warwick Parkway, Leamington Spa and Banbury throughout the day.

For Birmingham City supporters travelling from other areas of the city and the city centre:

• London Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast are operating services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston

Elizabeth Graham, Network Rail’s Birmingham New Street station manager, said: “This is a huge match for Birmingham City with thousands of fans heading to the capital.

“We’re expecting Birmingham New Street to be extra busy on Sunday and we want everyone to get safely to and from the match, so it’s important to plan ahead and allow extra time. Our staff are here to help, so please treat them with respect if you are in the station and need their help at any point.”

Tony Baxter, operations director at Chiltern Railways, said: “Twelve Chiltern services will run from Warwick Parkway to Wembley Stadium for Birmingham City supporters heading to the match this Sunday. We are also offering free parking at Warwick Parkway, Leamington Spa and Banbury throughout the day and additional colleagues will be deployed at the stations to assist supporters.

“Customers should plan ahead as services are expected to be extremely busy and queuing systems will be in place.”

Lucy Wootton, head of the Grand Railway Collaboration, which represents the rail industry in the West Midlands, said: “We have worked collaboratively with rail operators in the region to advise Birmingham City supporters of rail options when heading to Wembley. Rail services will be in operation to London from Birmingham New Street and Warwick Parkway and there will be a similar number of services for return journeys.

“Please plan your trip in advance and choose the route which is best for you. Consider travelling on later services which will lower the demand on earlier services, when a lot of supporters tend to travel.”

Passengers can plan their journey and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk and with their train operator.