Alcohol ban on Carabao Cup final trains criticised for ‘targeting’ football fans
The Football Supporters’ Association has accused London North Eastern Railway (LNER) of “targeting” football fans after the rail company banned alcohol on London to Newcastle trains on the evening of the Carabao Cup final.
Manchester United take on Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday, with the Magpies looking to secure a first major domestic trophy since 1955 when they were 3-1 winners against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The game kicks off at 4.30pm, and an LNER tweet read: “LNER services between Newcastle and London King’s Cross on 25 and 26 February will be very busy. Trains from London King’s Cross to Newcastle after 19:00 on 26 February will be dry trains, meaning no alcohol is permitted on these services.”
The FSA criticised the decision, tweeting: “We’ve long been opposed to dry trains that target football fans for just being football fans on a day out.
This move from LNER for the League Cup final won’t achieve much and has completely misread the mood amongst #NUFC fans, which will be celebratory regardless.”
Replies were mixed, with some in favour of LNER’s move.
A response from the rail company read: “The decision has been taken in co-operation with the British Transport Police to prevent any unnecessary antisocial behaviour, fuelled by alcohol. We want fans to enjoy themselves, but not at the risk of injury to other customers or our colleagues.
“We will have additional security and Transport Police in place at London King’s Cross to assist our colleagues and manage the capacity levels on services to ensure everyone travelling with us, for football or not, gets to their destination safely and enjoys their journey.”
The FSA remained unsatisfied, replying: “Thanks for the reply – we remain completely unconvinced by the explanation, however. If you could feed that back to the senior management at LNER, they’ve got this one wrong.”