Rail strikes leave London’s biggest train stations empty ahead of FA Cup final

Rail strikes have left several major train stations almost entirely empty on the day of the FA Cup final.

Today should be one of the capital’s busiest, with rivals Manchester United and Manchester City set to play against each other at Wembley Stadium this afternoon.

And yet, Waterloo, Euston, Paddington and King’s Cross have been pictured pretty much deserted.

Manchester Piccadilly station, where the majority of supporters for the teams in the FA final are coming from, was also photographed empty today.

This is becaused around 12,000 members of the drivers’ union Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Train (RMT) union are on strike over pay and working conditions.

The industrial action has affected 15 train companies and around 40% of trains, according to the Rail Delivery Group.

Trains that do run are due to start later and finish much earlier than usual, between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

This has meant fans travelling to London to watch the football have had to rely on cars and coaches.

Platforms at Euston Station in London were closed with just a few London Overground trains running, while Avanti and Northwestern services were cancelled

The major transport hub connects London to cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Meanwhile, Paddington Station, which manages trains to Wales, Devon, Cornwall and south-west England, was only operating an hourly service to Bristol Temple Meads.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan has said strikes could continue for years if a resolution is found.

He told Sky News: ‘We do not want to be on strike. But we are in this if it takes us four years, five years, whatever it is, to get a resolution to this, we will do what it takes to get to that resolution.

‘We have gone four years without a pay rise, as have many other sectors and many other workers.

‘But to stop now after four years, what will happen, we’ll not get a pay rise next year, the year after, the year after that.’

He added that the union had not heard from the Government in more than six months.

Thousands will have already flocked to the city to watch the final, with the FA securing 60 coaches for both clubs to help supporters get to the game.

Thankfully, the Tube is still operating normally but the lines are expected to be much busier than usual given that 90,000 people are expected at Wembley for the final.

This is complicated further by the fact England will be playing Ireland in the third day of their test match at Lord’s, and Beyonce is performing on her Renaissance World Tour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Wembley Park Station is the dedicated Tube station for Wembley Stadium.

The station is only two stops from Baker Street on the Metropolitan line and it is also served by the Jubilee line for further connections across the Underground.

Alternatively, Wembley Central Station is on the London Underground Bakerloo line.

Supporters travelling by rail should aim to arrive at Wembley stations no later than one hour before kick-off.

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