How train strikes will affect the FA Cup Final

Train drivers will stage three fresh strikes including on FA Cup final day.

Fans travelling down to Wembley as it hosts Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3 will be affected by the industrial action.

The Football Association only confirmed on Wednesday that the final will start at the traditional time of 3pm after Metropolitan Police deemed it a high-risk match, therefore insisting upon a kick-off time no later than 4.45pm.

The earlier kick-off allows for fans to travel back from London via public transport, but Aslef’s planned rail strike has thrown thousands of fans’ plans into chaos.

Both clubs are assessing the situation and will be liaising with the FA, authorities and fans groups, with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) expressing their frustration at the situation.

“A train strike on cup final day will be a huge inconvenience to the tens of thousands of supporters travelling down from Manchester to London on the day,” MUST said in a statement.

“We need all modes of transport available to cope with the level of demand and the railways are a key part of that.

“We call on the Government and the trade union to get round the table and find a way to avert this industrial action.”

But, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said drivers have not had a pay rise at the companies they are in dispute with since 2019.

“Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group,” he said.

“The proposal – of just four per cent – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10 per cent and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.

“The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.

“Consequently, we have today announced three more days of strike action on Friday May 12, Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3 at the companies with which we are in dispute, and which are letting down passengers, and taxpayers, so badly.

“We are also withdrawing non-contractual overtime from Monday May 15 to Saturday 20 inclusive, as well as on Saturday May 13 and Thursday June 1.”

Currently, tickets are still available on some websites but as with past strikes, no trains will be running from Manchester Piccadilly to London - meaning fans will have to opt for coach travel or rail replacement buses.

Aslef said its negotiating team has met representatives of the employers on eight occasions over the past year to try to find a resolution to the long-running dispute.

The union said it took eight one-day strikes to bring the train operators and the government “to their senses and persuade them to sit down and talk properly”.

Mr Whelan added: “We do not want to go on strike, we do not want to inconvenience passengers, we have families and friends who use the railway, too, and we believe in investing in rail for the future of this country but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.“

It is now up to them to come up with a more sensible, and realistic, offer and we ask the government not to hinder this process.”

Rail Delivery groups have said targeting events like the FA Cup final is "disappointing" and "will heap more pressure" on the industry."

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