Southampton fans urged not to take train to Wembley

South Western Railway (SWR) is advising against using trains due to major engineering works between Woking and Basingstoke on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, which will significantly disrupt journeys to London.

SWR said the work will result in fewer direct services between Southampton and London, and those that do run will be diverted via Havant, increasing journey times.

There are 15 direct services between the city and Southampton with departure times between 8am and 2pm. As reported, MPs called for more services during the works and this was granted.

Stuart Meek, chief operating officer for South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said: "We’ve been working closely with Southampton Football Club since their quarter-final victory earlier this month, and we understand just how much the semi-final means to both their supporters and the City of Southampton.

"We have carefully reviewed the work taking place between Woking and Basingstoke, and because it is safety-critical and must be finished before the summer, it won’t be possible to reschedule.

"That’s why we must ask supporters to consider alternative travel options this Saturday."

The engineering work includes refurbishing a vital set of switches and crossings at Farnborough, power supply improvements at Woking, and a broader package of work that includes signalling maintenance, vegetation clearance and power supply upgrades at Winchfield.

Both SWR and Network Rail have said there are no alternative dates available until at least 2027 and a significant cost impact, making postponement impossible.

Southampton FC has sold out its allocation of 33,000 tickets for the match against Manchester City.

Although some additional trains will run, they will not be able to accommodate all supporters hoping to travel by rail.

Andy Darbyshire, head of event safety and security at Southampton FC, said: "South Western Railway has advised that train services will be extremely busy, even with additional services in place, and stations are expected to be very crowded with a queuing system at Southampton Central.

"Please allow plenty of time for your journey and be prepared that you may not be able to board the first train you intend to take.

"A revised timetable will also be in operation across parts of the network, so we strongly encourage fans to check train times in advance and listen carefully to station announcements."

Passengers who do travel by train will encounter queuing systems at Southampton Central and should expect crowded conditions at stations including Fareham, Havant, Clapham Junction, and London Waterloo.

Fans are also reminded that only a limited number of trains will depart London for Southampton after 8pm, which could affect those whose return journeys are delayed by extra time or penalties.

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