Travel warning ahead of Bolton Wanderers’ play-off final at Wembley

Wanderers take on Stockport County on Sunday 24 May, kick-off 1pm, but engineering works and huge travelling support means that getting down to the capital by train is set to be a nightmare for fans making the trip.

Wembley Stadium (Image: PA)

Network Rail is carrying out upgrade works between Wigan and Warrington on the day of the match, which will have a significant knock-on effect for Avanti West Coast services on the West Coast Main Line, the key route from Bolton and Manchester to London Euston.

As a result of the works, Avanti’s Scotland services will divert via Manchester Piccadilly without making a normal stop there, significantly reducing the number of trains available from Manchester Piccadilly to London ahead of the early kick-off.

Bolton Wanderers Football club warned in an official statement: “There will be a very limited train service that can get Bolton Wanderers fans to London in time for the early kick off, and given the estimated number of fans expected to travel and journeys being uncomfortable due to extremely busy trains, we are advising you to avoid using rail to get to London.”

Trains will not call at Warrington Bank Quay or Wigan North Western, with rail replacement buses operating between those stations and Crewe.

London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly services are also set to be reduced to just two trains per hour in each direction throughout the day.

The club has confirmed there will be trains available after the final whistle for the return journey back to Bolton via Manchester or Preston.

Fans wishing to travel by rail are therefore advised to head to London on Saturday 23 May instead.

For those who haven’t already secured a seat, there are several coach travel options available though some are filling up fast.

Bolton Wanderers’ official club coaches have officially now sold out.

Fans still looking for travel options are in luck, with both Coach Innovations and National Express continuing to sell seats available.

Coach Innovations is offering standard return coaches at £55 per person, departing Bolton Train Station on Trinity Street at 6am, with tickets available at coachinnovations.co.uk, though the company’s premium Club Class option has already sold out.

Meanwhile, National Express is running a dedicated Wembley Express service for the final, with adult returns priced at £60, dropping fans directly at the stadium gates in time for an 11am arrival.

Fans travelling by car can pre-book a parking space at Wembley via wembleyofficialparking.com, with prices set at £50 per car, £25 for Blue Badge holders, and £120 for coaches. Prices may rise on the day.