Man Utd vs Bournemouth travel closures latest as statement released and fans warned

· Mirror

Fans travelling to watch Manchester United's clash against Bournemouth at Old Trafford may face transport disruption in and outside of the city

All you need to know about the travel disruption surrounding Manchester United vs Bournemouth

- The game: Manchester United play Bournemouth today at 2pm in what feels like a make-or-break clash for Michael Carrick's reign. But whilst the stakes are incredibly high on the pitch, navigating your way to the Theatre of Dreams is proving to be the real battle.

- Travel chaos: A sell-out crowd of 74,000-plus supporters heading to Old Trafford will face widespread travel disruption across the region. This includes tram services in Manchester and the wider rail network.

- Engineering works: Significant engineering works mean the Metrolink's Altrincham, Trafford Park and Eccles lines have been entirely shut down for a two-week period. Consequently, punters hoping for a straightforward tram ride directly from the city centre to the stadium will be completely out of luck.

- Weather impact: To make matters worse, the torrential rain and gale-force winds brought by Storm Boelo have severely battered the wider rail network. Trains travelling up from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly are facing sudden cancellations, compounded by a knock-on shortage of train crew.

- Warning and rail advice: The Met Office has issued weather warnings and because of this, rail disruption across England is likely. For example, Avanti West Coast strongly recommends that travel on the West Coast Main Line north of Preston be avoided on Sunday and that a reduced timetable will be in operation.

- Tram closures: For those relying on the surviving Metrolink network, the Airport and East Didsbury lines are operating on a heavily stripped-back schedule. Local transport bosses are urgently advising anyone commuting from these specific zones to catch a service to Firswood instead.

- Shuttle buses: In an effort to alleviate the mounting gridlock around the stadium, £2 replacement shuttle buses have been organised for supporters. These quick load-and-go vehicles will depart frequently from both Altrincham Interchange and Piccadilly Gardens to ferry ticket-holders to the match.

- Official statement: Publishing their full guidance, the Bee Network announced:

> "To support football fans travelling to and from Old Trafford, a range of alternative public transport options will be available, including replacement bus services, Bee Network bus services, ticket acceptance on selected rail services and a programme of dedicated football shuttle buses. Allow plenty of time for travel; we suggest departing an hour earlier than normal to ensure you arrive at the ground on time."

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