Newcastle are due to travel to the south coast to face Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, but their travel plans are now in doubt.
Newcastle United’s travel plans are in chaos as Storm Eowyn has thrown a spanner in the works.
The Magpies’ scheduled flight to Southampton is now up in the air, with the team waiting on tenterhooks after their training session to see if they can jet off this afternoon (Friday). With Newcastle Airport’s timetable disrupted by the fierce wind and rain, and an Amber weather warning blanketing the North East until 9pm on Friday, January 24, fears of gusts reaching a staggering 90mph have put the club’s movements in jeopardy.
“We’ll see how today goes. Our plan, as always, is to travel today, but we’ll seek advice from the authorities at the airport and everyone involved whether it’s safe to fly.” Howe also mentioned the possibility of a last-minute dash tomorrow morning, saying, “If it’s not, we could end up travelling tomorrow morning.”
Dismissing the idea of a bus ride due to the lengthy and potentially hazardous journey, Howe concluded: “But nothing is guaranteed. We’ll seek advice and try to make the right decision.”
Newcastle Airport has been hit with a wave of flight cancellations amid dire weather, impacting travellers’ plans. But Howe remains unfazed, stating: “We have travelled before on the day of the game. Sometimes, that is the easiest way because you are in and you are out. It is slightly windy today. I struggled to get in. Hopefully we can find a place that is sheltered enough, we do have a dome here. We will find the safest place.”
Up to 3,000 fans are anticipated to trek to Southampton over the weekend for the upcoming match, despite engineering delays on LNER services already causing a headache. A nationwide advisory has been broadcasted, warning against all but essential travel and suggesting remote work as an alternative.
LNER has issued detailed guidance for those who must take to the rails: “Customers are advised to travel on a southbound LNER service to Peterborough and join a rail replacement coach service to Bedford [approximately 30 to 40 minutes]. From Beford, frequent Thameslink trains operate to London St Pancras [approximately 60 minutes].
“Please note that during these weekends, alternative routes in and out of other London stations are expected to be busier than usual due to the closure of the East Coast Mainline which is used by several train operators, including LNER. We have sourced frequent rail replacement coaches to connect with trains operated by Thameslink between Bedford and London St Pancras, to provide a comfortable journey to and from London.”
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