LEEDS fans have been left outraged after prices for their train tickets home from the team’s fixture against Chelsea in London have seemingly been bumped up to nearly £220.
The FA Cup fifth round match will see fans of the Yorkshire club travel to Stamford Bridge in Fulham, West London next Wednesday.
However, some supporters have spotted that the late train home after the match has been bumped up to a whopping £218 per ticket – more than four times the price of a train just 90 minutes earlier.
Fans have now slammed the train operator, claiming that the company knew that footy fans struggle to make it on any earlier trains so have jacked up the prices.
A screenshot of the tickets available from London to Leeds reveal that fans’ only options are one at 10pm for £47.45 or a rail replacement bus service at 11:35pm, that takes over eight hours, for £82.80.
Between both of these options though is a one-way journey from London Kings Cross station to Leeds at 11:33pm for an eye-watering £218.65, or £245.75 if any swanky fans fancy first class travel.
Supporters also discovered that tickets available for the same service on a different app were not much better, being chalked up at £196.80.
One fuming fan took to social media yesterday to share the screenshot, writing: “Country is a joke.
“LNER making the 11:33pm train £220 knowing Leeds fans need to get back to Leeds and won’t make the 10pm train when that is £47”
The supporter’s grievances received over 9,900 likes and more than 390 comments from fellow fans left furious with the prices.
One said: “£83 for a rail replacement service. Or £13 for a national express coach. How can they justify that one?”
Another added: “Basic supply and demand. Free market pricing. Railways need to be nationalised and in public ownership.”
A third claimed: “I see they’ve said it’s sold out, but I used to work for a train company (I won’t say which in case I get abused online) and a colleague used to research when events were on e.g gigs at the First Direct Arena and put prices up accordingly. They’re crooks”
A fourth wrote: “Just don’t pay and get on the train, it’ll be too busy for them to check tickets.”
The LNER social media account later replied to the post, writing: “Hello. That service is fully booked so, you’d be buying an anytime ticket (the most expensive) in order to board hence the price difference.
“Apologies about this.”
An LNER spokesperson said “We understand that the FA Cup fifth round game against Chelsea is an important match for Leeds United fans, with many of them travelling with us to and from London on Wednesday 28 February.
“Due to unprecedented demand for travel back to Leeds on the 23:33 service from London King’s Cross, the service has sold out. We’re continuing to work with our partners to explore ways to further support fans travelling back from London after the match.”
