The Football Association (FA) have announced plans to provide free limited return bus travel to Liverpool and Manchester City supporters for next month’s FA Cup semi-final.
The FA say they will charter 100 buses from Anfield and the Etihad Stadium to Wembley and back for the heavyweight last-four showdown on April 16, providing free travel for up to 5,000 fans.
They have also pledged to lay on free buses for fans for Manchester City Women’s own FA Cup semi-final fixture against West Ham at Victoria Road on April 17, while confirming that hundreds of miles of unessential roadworks would be put on hold on the dates in question.
The FA had faced strong calls to move the men’s tie away from Wembley, with fans expressing their anger over significant travel issues.
Engineering works on the West Coast Mainline mean there are no direct trains between London and either Manchester or Liverpool across Easter weekend, with supporters strongly advised to take other modes of transport.
However, the FA never planned to move the fixture despite pressure from the respective mayors of both cities, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, instead liaising with Network Rail and National Express in a bid to find a solution.
City had already announced plans to provide subsidised coach travel for fans heading to Wembley, confirming on Thursday that they had secured an initial 50 coaches to operate a day trip travel package, with tickets priced at £40 per person.
