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VIRGIN boss Sir Richard Branson has urged the FA to reconsider the kick-off time of the FA Cup final so that Liverpool FC fans can get home afterwards.

The billionaire’s train firm had to cancel all but three of Virgin’s Liverpool to London services on May 5 due to track improvements.

And with the 5.15pm kick off, Reds fans face the prospect of not being able to get home by train after the game due to further works which were planned almost two years ago.

The last train heading near Liverpool is at 8.10pm and terminates at Crewe. Fans will then have to go to either Chester or Manchester to find a connection back to Liverpool.

In a letter emailed to the ECHO, Sir Richard explained that more could be done to accomodate Liverpool FC fans.

The letter reads: “The decision by the FA to schedule the Cup Final on a Bank Holiday weekend and start at 5.15pm rather than the traditional 3pm has been made for the FA’s commercial reasons at the expense of the travelling football fan.

“As is now customary on Bank Holiday weekends, the line is partly closed for improvement work.

“This is Network Rail’s massive renewal programme, scheduled more than two years ago, which will improve reliability on the line.

“The FA were told of these plans and of the impacts of a late kick off, but chose to ignore the advice of Virgin Trains and Network Rail.

“If the FA had engaged with the industry we could have worked out a range of options well ahead of time and timed the match to minimise the disruption.

“I agree with Transport Secretary Justine Greening who said in the Commons today that the timing of the match is the underlying problem.”

“Virgin Trains carries around 100,000 people every day and our customers have changed plans to accommodate these closures. If the works are cancelled on May 5th, it will have serious knock on effects and we will have to disrupt thousands of our customers’ journeys again.

“We have a strong relationship with Liverpool Football club and twice recently have worked with them and Network Rail to bring many fans to Wembley.

“On this occasion we would ask the FA to look again at the timing of the game.”

Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, said the the House Of Commons today (Thursday April 19) that the timing of the match was a problem.

She said: “The underlying problem that we are trying to solve is that the FA Cup starts later than it was originally planned to start – at 5.15pm and it was planned to start at 3pm.

“I have spoken to Network Rail (NR) and Virgin and Department for Culture Meia and Sport.

“It is very difficult to change the NR work which is really important for maintenance and safety and has been planned for 18 months but Virgin have said that they are planning to put on longer trains on the Sunday so that we can make sure that fans have a good opportunity to get back.

“I think we all recognise that when the FA Cup starts at 5.15pm and the last train is at 8.10pm it is always going to be a stretch for fans to get there.”

A total of six MPs have signed an early day motion, calling on “all involved to take the action necessary to ensure that disruption is minimised as much as possible”.

Among them are Southport MP Dr John Pugh and Walton MP Steve Rotheram.

In the House Of Commons, Mr Rotheram called on ministers to “bang heads together” and make sure there were scheduled services from the capital back to the North West.

He said: “Are you aware of the problems being caused to passengers travelling from Liverpool by rail to London on Saturday 5 May for the FA Cup final at Wembley with no prospect of a return train until two days later?

“Will you get the relevant authorities, Virgin, Network Rail and the Football Association, round the table and bang their heads together until common sense prevails?”

Meanwhile, World Sports travel company are organising two chartered trains for Liverpool FC fans on FA Cup final day.

They leave at 9am and 9.30am from Wavertree Technology Park, arriving at Wembley Central at 12.30pm, returning for midnight. Each train can carry 671 fans.

National Express has promised to lay on extra coaches to London to meet additional demand.