Manchester City and Manchester United supporters heading to Wembley for the FA Cup final on Saturday are being advised to use separate travel routes and motorway service stations to minimise disruption. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) issued the guidance amid fears of major congestion, compounded by a planned train strike by drivers that will halt Avanti West Coast services on Saturday.
City fans are recommended to travel via the M62 and M1; M6 and M1; or M6, M6 Toll and M1, while United supporters are urged to use the M6, M42 and M40. Specific service stations have also been suggested: City fans should use Lymm, Sandbach, Stafford, Norton Canes, Corley, Rugby, Watford Gap, Northampton, Newport Pagnell, Toddington and London Gateway; United fans are directed to Knutsford, Keele, Hilton Park, Warwick, Cherwell Valley, Oxford and Beaconsfield.
The AA warned that service stations are likely to be incredibly busy and advised non-football fans to take breaks off the motorway network. A park-and-walk facility will be available at Fryent Country Park near Wembley, and the Football Association has laid on 120 extra coaches. AA public relations manager Tony Rich said the best mode of travel for fans would be official coaches, and those driving should set off early using alternative routes.
TfGM has also warned that Saturday will be the busiest day on Greater Manchester's transport network so far, with Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Sir Elton John all performing in the area, alongside the first day of the We Invented The Weekend festival in Salford. The guidance is not officially enforced, but authorities hope it will ease congestion on the M1, M6 and other major roads.
