Liverpool fans will face no added disruption on the London Underground this weekend after it looked set to further impact supporters’ journeys to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final.
Supporters from both clubs are already facing a challenge in order to get to London for the Wembley showdown with no direct trains running from the north west due to scheduled works across Easter weekend. However, despite calls from both sets of fans and Jurgen Klopp for the game to be moved to a more convenient location, these pleas were dismissed by the FA .
There looked set to be further complications to Liverpool fans’ travel routes, with Transport for London [TfL] calling for urgent checks on trains on the Metropolitan line after a fault was discovered within the train wheels. But TfL have since confirmed that the London Underground will operate a normal service this weekend.
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In a statement to the Manchester Evening News , TfL said: “A normal weekend service will be running on the Metropolitan line from Saturday 16 April to Monday 18 April, and on weekends and bank holidays in the coming weeks.
"Customers travelling to Wembley for the FA Cup Semi Finals this weekend are advised to check before they travel as the network could be busier. Alternative routes, including Jubilee line services and Chiltern Railways, will also be running to Wembley. Details of the weekend service on the Metropolitan line can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/timetable/metropolitan/
"We have undertaken detailed checks of our Metropolitan line trains, following a fault that we found with some of the wheels on the fleet. Following those checks and while the faulty wheels are fixed, we have enough trains to run a normal weekend service."
Last week, Liverpool supporters were advised not to travel by train by rail operators, while the FA have provided free coaches to 5,000 Liverpool and Manchester City supporters. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already hit back at the decision to keep the match in London, despite the obstacles that fans will face in trying to attend the game.
“It's one of the most ridiculous stories I ever heard,” he said. “I heard that they know it since 18 months. I'm not sure what the FA thought. No club from the North West will be part of the semi-finals?
"I really can't believe that things like this can happen with all the information you have out there. I heard the FA – probably we'll do it as well – put on some coaches on the road, but what is it, usually four and a half hours to London, it will be then 12 probably because all the coaches are in the same direction. It makes absolutely no sense.”
