Fans will struggle to get to play-off final by train

IREAD with interest your article about getting to London to watch the Mariners play their crucial match against Solihull Moors. I was pleased that train travel was mentioned as not only doesn’t everyone have access to a car, but coaches are extremely slow when it comes to long distance travel if you compare them to the railways.

Potential rail passengers were advised to get trains leaving Town station at 06.42, 06.50 and 08.38 in order to get to the ground in time.

However, I was talking to someone who used to sit on the Eng-Age transport group with me, and he didn’t think that there were any early morning services on a Sunday.

He was therefore thinking of going with a motorist friend to Newark, and picking up an East Coast Main Line train from there.

Anyway I thought I’d inquire for myself, especially as I know that the RMT were planning industrial action, due to take place this Sunday, June 5. So I went to the ticket office in person, and was duly told that the first appropriate train departure is the 10.33, which after a change en route gets you to King’s Cross at 13.40.

But that’s only half the story, as then you have to travel from there to the former Olympic stadium. I therefore Googled the latter, and found out that those travelling by rail are recommended to go to Stratford station, served by both the Tube and overground rail.

Which would mean a journey on the joint Circle\Hammersmith & City\Metropolitan line to Liverpool Street, where you would change for either a Central line or Network rail service to Stratford.

Thus you’d be struggling to arrive in time for a 3pm kick-off, and sadly I wouldn’t recommend anyone to take this option. Thus another missed opportunity for rail travel.

Incidentally, I can understand why fans are miffed at having to fork out £40 for a ticket, especially when there’s a handling charge on top. I thought people wanted you to do your business online as it saved them money!