Anyone know if the MUFC railway station will be open for the grand final? Northern Rail website has been saying "We will have further updates if the station will be open for this event shortly'... It's now Thursday!

Get the train to Victoria or Piccadilly in the city and then jump on the tram, which drops you off just down the road at the cricket ground.

Only nice bit of Cas is the road out

Taxi from the South end of Deansgate is a good option, they line up at the side of Knott Bar. 5 min wait usually and less than a tenner to drop off in sight of OT.

Quote ="King Street Cat"Anyone know if the MUFC railway station will be open for the grand final? Northern Rail website has been saying "We will have further updates if the station will be open for this event shortly'... It's now Thursday!'" According to this https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2017/10/04/ ... el-advice/ Quote In preparation for the final, there will be extra services across the train and tram network with Metrolink providing additional capacity for the event at Old Trafford and Northern rail operating special match day services direct to the ground. Direct rail services will operate to and from Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly from West Yorkshire.'"

Quote ="King Street Cat"Anyone know if the MUFC railway station will be open for the grand final? Northern Rail website has been saying "We will have further updates if the station will be open for this event shortly'... It's now Thursday!'" According to this https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2017/10/04/ ... el-advice/ Quote In preparation for the final, there will be extra services across the train and tram network with Metrolink providing additional capacity for the event at Old Trafford and Northern rail operating special match day services direct to the ground. Direct rail services will operate to and from Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly from West Yorkshire.'"

I don't know where this claim has come from about it being only the second GF to sell out (if it does)? My memory might be incorrect, but I'm sure the Bulls were half of three successive sell-outs in the mid-Noughties; vs Wigan in 03, vs Leeds in 04, and vs Leeds in 05.
Although, that was with the smaller capacity of 65,000, so unless they mean it's only the second sell-out since the capacity was increased

Yes you are correct i do think it was meant as in 2015 was the only sell out at the current capacity.

On that subject just been announced old trafford to be expanded to 88k capacity in the not too distant future. Cant see too many finals hitting that mark.

Correct.

65,537 vs. Wigan in 2003
65,547 vs. Leeds in 2004
65,728 vs. Leeds in 2005

Also sold out the 2001 and 2002 GF's although the capacity then was roughly 61,000 as a temporary figure until the West Stand's second tier was opened and increased the capacity to 65,000.

Better still get the Eccles bound tram and get off at Salford Quays where you can physically see OT.

We've been to all the Grand Finals and it was only last year that we decided to head to Chorlton pre match instead in the City Centre. There's some good bars round there and you're then on a tram coming from the other way in to Manchester, so it's nice and quiet.

The trams and the roads out of the centre are usually rammed (although I guess the City centre may not be quite as busy with fans as usual with it being an all Yorkshire tie as opposed to Wigan/Wire or Wigan/Saints).

The trams get worse every year. Last year the organisation was disgraceful, we didn’t get back to Piccadilly until about 2 hours after kick off and probably only stayed 20 mins after the final whistle.

Leeds tweeted earlier they have 39. That's not a d**k measuring contest claim either just saying what we have left also.

Probably not, probably won't hit 80k but still the venue for me to have it at. Glad it's staying there until 2020 at least. Unlike Wembley, empty seats aren't as obvious at Old Trafford on camera.

Haha. I know for a fact Leeds will take more fans but it's to be expected with the size of Cas compared to Leeds. I will just be happy to full the Stretford end and have plenty in the corners at our side too.

True, it is normally a section out of the way up in the gods whenever it has been a couple of thousand short of capacity in the past.

Yeah OT is perfect for our GF i would hope we keep it there as long as possible.

England football are really struggling to get Wembley anywhere close again tonight. Granted Thursday night doesn't help but loads of empty seats.

It's been a shambles for us for years when trying to go from the City centre and get back.

The thing that really frustrates me about it is that on Man Utd match days they have rows of buses waiting after the final whistle to take you back to Piccidilly Gardens for a couple of quid but surprise surprise, they've never bothered with them for the rugby.

Chorlton pre match for me Saturday and a lift home after the game with the old man.

Maybe it's just me then but I've never had a problem with the tram - yes it's always busy, but never waited more than 10/15 mins or so to get on one into the city.

When I went to see Radiohead at Old Trafford a few months ago I just walked to Piccadily. Was miles quicker.

Same here. A couple of years ago we stumbled on a row of buses that run from OT into town. If you can get on one of them it's even quicker.

Officially sold out now, good news.

I've only ever driven. Park on Michigan Ave around dinner time, have some food/drinks at Lowry and then back there again post match for an hour then back in the car and away with no bother at all. I know not everyone has access or can be on the road as early but the last years have been completely stress free and presumably tomorrow will be aswell.



I wonder if the proposed tube strike that was due to go ahead yesterday and only got cancelled on Tuesday had anything to do with it? I don't follow football so I don't know if it's a recurring problem.

Tram is a bit quieter if you walk to MediaCityUK to catch it there.

I`ve just bought 8 tickets from the RFL website and there are still tickets available in 5 different blocks so im not too sure how it is officially sold out?

From realtimetrains.co.uk (the only trustworthy site):
Departures from Piccadilly to football ground station at 15:56 (comes from Stoke) and 16:25. Both call at Oxford Road on the way. Then 17:02 from Oxford Road only.
After the match, from the football ground station - 19:49 (!) to Oxford Road, 20:12 and 20:43 to Oxford Road and Piccadilly.