Private-hire coach operators are likely to be booked close to capacity on 3 June with news that a rail strike will take place on the day of the FA Cup Final in Wembley.
The director of a coach hire comparison website believes availability of coaches will dry up within seven days due to the third of three ASLEF walkouts, which are due to affect 16 rail companies.
As well as the other ASLEF strikes on 12 May and 31 May, the RMT union also announced yesterday it would launch industrial action on 13 May – the day of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
With coach operators in the North West already busy for the Merseyside event and the Manchester derby, their counterparts around the country are now set to be heavily called upon for both days.
James Stokes, Director of Coach Hire Comparison website, says: “Coach Hire Comparison always see a big spike in enquiries and bookings when rail strikes are announced. Even more so for the 3 June because of the weekend already being busy with both Manchester football teams reaching the FA Cup final.
“We can see vehicles being utilised from all over the country in the North West for that weekend of the 3-4 June.
“I do think availability will be non-existent for that weekend within the next seven days.”
Coach operators in and around Manchester told routeone that, even before the strikes were announced, they were already fully booked or near to it for 3 June.
Orion Travel Coaches had been “inundated” with enquiries regarding the final date but could not take any more booking, already having four coaches going to the capital.
Belle Vue Coaches will have 15-20 vehicles at the match as they cater for several Manchester City supporters clubs. “The demands have been high and we’re at capacity. We sold out within four hours of Man City qualifying for the final,” says Managing Director Philip Hitchen.
Sounds Travel of Rochdale is fully booked up on that day and has received several enquiries since the strike news.
Bullocks Coaches of Stockport had received a couple of calls, including from National Express but were unable to take any more orders.
Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Official Supporters Club, tells Independent: “We’d already seen, prior to the announcement of this strike, an increase in the cost of arranging coach travel for the final compared to the semi-final, on the back of demand outstripping supply because all the coach requirements are coming from this area.
“Demand is certainly now going to increase again and I can only imagine the cost is going to increase.”
