Network Rail is advising passengers that trains between Birmingham and London will be busier than usual tomorrow (Saturday 26 April), due to the FA Cup semi-final being played at Wembley stadium.

London club Crystal Palace will be playing against Birmingham’s Aston Villa.

With tens of thousands of fans making the journey from the West Midlands to London, stations as well as trains are likely to be congested.

The semi-final match will kick off at 5.15pm. There are two 45-minute halves, with a 15 minute break between them. If the scores are level at full-time, there will be a further 30 minutes of extra time, and if that does not break the deadlock, there will be a penalty shootout. Therefore, the match could finish at any time between 7 and 8.30pm.

Network Rail issued travel advice last week, and is now reminding passengers to plan their journeys, check before they travel, and allow additional time to travel to and from Wembley.

For Aston Villa fans travelling from the West Midlands, all train services to Wembley Stadium and London Marylebone will start and end at Warwick Parkway.

Services will not call at Solihull, Dorridge, Hatton, Lapworth or Warwick at all on Saturday. Extra train services will run between Warwick Parkway and Wembley Stadium.

Step-free access to trains is available from Leamington Spa station.

Network Rail will deploy additional staff at Birmingham New Street and London Euston stations. They will help with managing congestion and ensuring that trains depart on time.

Travel arrangements are similar to those which operated when Birmingham City played against Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy final on Sunday 13 April.

For Aston Villa supporters travelling from south of Brimingham:

Chiltern Railways’ services to Wembley Stadium will start at Warwick Parkway, calling at Leamington Spa and Banbury. There will be free parking at Warwick Parkway, Leamington Spa and Banbury stations throughout the day.

For Aston Villa supporters travelling from the city centre and other parts of Birmingham:

London Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast will be operating services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.

The second semi-final will be played on Sunday (27 April) between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, kicking off at 4pm.

“With Aston Villa heading to Wembley and other key sporting events taking place across the weekend, we’re expecting Birmingham New Steet to be extra busy, particularly on Saturday.

“We want everyone to get safely to and from the match, so I’d urge passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time. Our staff are here to help, so please treat them with respect if you are in the station and need their help at any point.”

Elizabeth Graham, Network Rail’s Birmingham New Street station manager