Manchester City and Liverpool fans condemn lack of trains for semi-final

Liverpool and Manchester City fans have united in their condemnation of the “shambolic” travel arrangements for their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next month.

Leading supporters groups from both clubs said they were “appalled” as the Football Association began liaising with Network Rail after it emerged no direct trains to London from Manchester and Merseyside are scheduled over the Easter weekend.

Engineering work dictates that trains from Liverpool Lime Street will terminate at Rugby and those from Manchester Piccadilly at Milton Keynes, forcing fans to either travel by road, air or contemplate circuitous cross-country rail journeys that make day-return trips virtually impossible. Avanti West Coast on Monday confirmed the lack of direct trains.

With television companies still finalising their plans for broadcasting the two semi-finals – Chelsea meet Crystal Palace in the other Wembley tie – on 16 and 17 Aprilthe Football Association were exploring ways of minimising the potential disruption and travel costs .

“The FA will be liaising closely with both Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC on all match arrangements, including supporters travel for the upcoming Emirates FA Cup semi-final fixture at Wembley Stadium, with further details to be announced in due course,” said a spokesman night. “We are also continuing to work with both Network Rail and National Express to find a solution so that supporters of both teams are able to travel to and from the fixture with as minimal disruption as possible.”

The leading Liverpool supporters group Spirit of Shankly is working with its counterparts at City’s We are 1894 to push the FA and television companies into finding some sort of compromise. “Fans representatives from both