'Public transport should be able to respond flexibly to peaks in demand'.
That's the message from Newcastle Central Labour MP, Chi Onwurah, after LNER confirmed that no additional trains will be available to operate between Newcastle and London on the weekend of the Carabao Cup Final.
Thousands of Newcastle United fans will be travelling to the Capital next weekend to see their club take on Manchester United in their first cup final since 1999. The game created a surge in demand for train tickets, with LNER announcing that tickets have sold out between Newcastle and London on February 25 and 26.
Read more: LNER asked to 'take action' to ensure Newcastle United fans get to Wembley
It has left many fans unable to book train travel down to Wembley for the game, prompting Ms Onwurah to write to LNER Director, David Horne, to ask what action the company would be taking to meet this demand. In her letter she said it was "disappointing" that LNER did not have "sufficient capacity" to transport NUFC fans "quickly and safely" to and from the game.
But the company has since replied to explain that no additional trains will be available. It added that more than 11,500 customers had booked to travel from Newcastle, Durham and Darlington to London King's Cross on February 25 and the morning of February 26 and tickets had been on sale since January 5.
In response to the letter from LNER, Ms Onwurah MP told ChronicleLive: "LNER say they cannot run any more trains because of delays to timetable revision. I would have hoped that a public transport service could respond flexibly to peaks in demand.
"They also say Newcastle fans should have booked trains for the final before the team had even kicked off their Quarter final!
"I wish all fans a safe journey to and from Wembley."
LNER said a delayed rail timetable uplift which was due to take place in May would have seen a 50% increase in the number of trains running between Newcastle and London in time for Carabao Cup Final. It added that the uplift would have had a "hugely positive impact" on passengers, particularly at times of "significantly increased demand" such as the Carabao Cup Final and Great North Run weekends.
In a letter to Ms Onwurah LNER Director, David Horne, wrote: "Thank you for your letter regarding Newcastle United's Carabao Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday 26 February 2023. We recognise this match - the first time Newcastle have been in a cup final since 1999 - is a hugely important occasion for fans and we will be operating as many services as possible; carrying many thousands of supporters.
"On Saturday 25 February and the morning of Sunday 26 February there are more than 11,500 LNER customers booked from Newcastle Durham and Darlington to London King's Cross - around a third of Newcastle United's Wembley ticket allocation. These tickets have been available to purchase since Thursday 5 January.
"Following Newcastle's victory over Southampton in the semi-final there has been even higher demand for our Newcastle / London King's Cross services, as fans make their travel arrangements for the Final. LNER continues to see an incredibly strong return to rail following the pandemic with customer numbers exceeding pre pandemic levels - helped in part by running a full timetable since February 2022 - We were one of the first operators to do so.
"However, this means that we do not have additional trains available to operate between Newcastle and London Kings Cross
"As you will be aware, the tremendous demand for LNER services has been evident for some time, and is one of the many reasons why we hope to see a timetable uplift introduced soon. The timetable uplift, planned to come in May 2022, would have seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of trains running between Newcastle and London.
"Such proposals would have a hugely positive impact on your constituents, not only in their everyday lives but particularly at times of significantly increased demand, such as the Carabao Cup Final or Great North Run weekends.
"Unfortunately, the uplift has been delayed. LNER would still very much like to see the new timetable uplift come into play, to support the thousands of Newcastle customers, and to boost the environmental impact and economic impact LNER makes to the North East of England, currently around £698 million a year.
"We'd be delighted to meet you to talk through the huge benefits of a timetable uplift to Newcastle and to the wider country. We understand the great excitement of so many people across Newcastle ahead of the Carabao cup Final and are looking forward to transporting many thousands of fans to London for such a monumental occasion."
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