Liverpool fans face delays after Winsford derailment

Thousands of Liverpool fans going to the Carling Cup Final face travel chaos after a train derailed in Cheshire.

The engineering train's derailment, near Winsford, has meant the cancellation of trains from Liverpool Lime Street to Crewe.

Fans going to the match, against Cardiff City at Wembley, were advised to reach Crewe or other stations by alternative means.

Virgin Trains apologised and said coaches would be laid on.

"Due to the high number of passengers intending to travel from Liverpool/Runcorn to London for the football at Wembley it is recommended that if possible they consider driving to Crewe, Stafford or Stoke stations and use rail services from there," a spokesman said.

"Coaches will be provided to connect Liverpool and Crewe and Runcorn and Stafford," a spokesman said.

"Virgin Trains apologises for the disruption and is doing everything it can to minimise the major disruption caused by the derailment."

London Midland trains are also affected by the derailment, as are trains using the Preston-to-Crewe route.

Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration.

One, Alistair GW, joked: "All trains between Liverpool and London are cancelled? What have the Cardiff fans been up to?"

Passengers travelling between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe towards London Euston have been advised to travel via Chester or Manchester Piccadilly, while those heading to the capital from Runcorn have been told to take a replacement bus service to Crewe.

Commuters travelling from Wigan North Western or Warrington Bank Quay have also been advised to travel to London via Manchester Piccadilly.

Merseyrail is running services from Liverpool to Chester every 15 minutes.

Fans will be able to catch trains from Chester to Crewe to pick up connecting services to London.

Affected passengers may also use First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail services between Liverpool and Manchester, Arriva Trains Wales services between Chester and Crewe and CrossCountry and East Midlands Trains on any reasonable route.

London Midland said it hoped to have services up and running by 14:00 GMT.

Details of the ongoing delays can be found on the National Rail website.