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Grand Central running extra services for the Cup Final

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GrandCentral

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It has been announced that Grand Central are running extra Sunderland trains non-stop from Sunderland to KX for the cup final next week.
Apparently they will be hired from another operator. Any idea what they will be and where they are coming from?
 
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cactustwirly

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It has been announced that Grand Central are running extra Sunderland trains non-stop from Sunderland to KX for the cup final next week.
Apparently they will be hired from another operator. Any idea what they will be and where they are coming from?

Could be EMT and their old HSTs, as they're not used at weekends?
 

Doomotron

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Probably a Class 180 from Hull or maybe an HST. I wouldn't expect anything like a Turbostar or Meridian, but it could be possible.
 

Killingworth

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The Cup Final? Ah no, it's the Checkatrade Trophy for EFL League One and League Two clubs, plus an additional 16 invited sides from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs with Category One Academies. I see Sunderland beat Newcastle United U21s in an earlier round.
 

dk1

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Would imagine it just a hired in charter set & crew. Would be amazed if it's a HT 180 & GC crew traction knowledge on HSTs has probably lapsed if extra crew are even available. The hire in option is far easier.
 

DarloRich

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It will be a charter set.

It isnt the cup final either. It is the final of the ldv vans/sherpa van/autoglass/ whatever the hell it is called now cup
 

Puffing Devil

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I hope Virgin do something similar the following weekend for the FA Cup Semi-Final. Kick-off 1730, last train to Manchester, 2100.
 

ForTheLoveOf

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I hope Virgin do something similar the following weekend for the FA Cup Semi-Final. Kick-off 1730, last train to Manchester, 2100.
Fat chance, I'd have thought - the WCML has a strict shutdown time on a Saturday night for overnight possessions. If people want to get back to Manchester, the 21:00 is their last train and that's their lot. Fans will have to stay overnight in London or Coventry/Birmingham/Wolverhampton (there's a 21:43 to Wolverhampton).
 

DarloRich

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Fat chance, I'd have thought - the WCML has a strict shutdown time on a Saturday night for overnight possessions. If people want to get back to Manchester, the 21:00 is their last train and that's their lot. Fans will have to stay overnight in London or Coventry/Birmingham/Wolverhampton (there's a 21:43 to Wolverhampton).

If possible Virgin will run extra trains. They have a decent record of doing so.
 

DarloRich

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If football fans get an exemption to WCML possessions, who else can apply? :|

All kinds of people. If the numbers justify it. I am sure there is a bit of flex available with agreement between TOC and NR. The WCML isnt closed on a Saturday as a general rule. It simply runs as a two track railway south of Rugby.

In any event the WCML is closed on the 6/7th April between Stoke and Manchester that weekend so any trains will have to run via Crewe
 

Puffing Devil

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Fat chance, I'd have thought - the WCML has a strict shutdown time on a Saturday night for overnight possessions. If people want to get back to Manchester, the 21:00 is their last train and that's their lot. Fans will have to stay overnight in London or Coventry/Birmingham/Wolverhampton (there's a 21:43 to Wolverhampton).

Do you know what work is planned?

Despite that, I'm sure most fans would be more than happy with a 3pm KO and a more relaxed trip home.
 

38Cto15E

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If Virgin trains were in a position to start their Footex trains at Wembley Central that would give the Manchester City fans some extra time to catch their trains back home.
 

ForTheLoveOf

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All kinds of people. If the numbers justify it. I am sure there is a bit of flex available with agreement between TOC and NR. The WCML isnt closed on a Saturday as a general rule. It simply runs as a two track railway south of Rugby.

In any event the WCML is closed on the 6/7th April between Stoke and Manchester that weekend so any trains will have to run via Crewe
Well, I understood that "possessions" was the justification for the ridiculously early last trains on a Saturday!
 

Puffing Devil

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Why do the matches kick off so late?

TV Audience. And the FA continues to push games into Wembley to recover the build costs; FA Cup Semi-Finals used to be spread around the country at neutral grounds, that stopped in 2008.
 

pompeyfan

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At the other end of the country, South Western Railway are not currently running any extra services. With Winchester shut, Weymouth services are diverting via Havant, reducing capacity on the line. Southern are expecting to run all Portsmouth and Southampton services as 8 v 4.
 

Darandio

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Last edited:

DarloRich

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It is. Any fans boarding that one will be in for a shock when they get to London.

Edit*

It seems that it's outbound on Saturday and return on Monday. Very strange for an extra train to a cup final.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10813/2019/04/01/advanced

Further to that, you cannot buy tickets for the services, there is no guarantee you can travel and there is no catering.


Must be a weekend package including hotel, travel & match. Could be the team/club staff travel
 
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