Fans face rail chaos

HEARTS and Hibs fans are facing transport chaos if the SFA insists on keeping the Scottish Cup semi-final in Glasgow.

A 12.15pm kick-off on Sunday, April 2 means that fans travelling by rail will only have the realistic option of two early trains to make it to Hampden in time for the match.

And engineering works at Haymarket Station mean there will be only one train every hour for fans heading back from Glasgow later in the day.

The SFA is under increasing pressure to switch the semi-final meeting between the Capital clubs to Murrayfield in a bid to avoid the problem of transporting 50,000 people to Hampden.

A third train that leaves Waverley at 10am would arrive about an hour later at Glasgow's Queen Street station. Fans would then face a 15-minute walk to Central Station before catching a connecting train that wouldn't get them to Mount Florida, which is next to Hampden, until 11.58am.

Operator FirstScotRail says that while there would be separate queuing arrangements and extra carriages, it does not know whether opposing fans will be placed in separate trains or simply segregated by carriage.

The train company also ruled out designating Waverley for Hibs fans and Haymarket for Hearts to keep supporters apart.

Lord Provost Lesley Hinds has called for the game to move to Murrayfield, which would allow an extra 15,000 fans to see the game.

Councillor Hinds, who has already won the informal backing of the police, said: "Any scheduled disruption to train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow makes it an even more sensible decision to hold the game at Murrayfield.

"Although agreement would have to be reached with Hibs and Hearts, in order that a case can be put forward to the Scottish Football Association, Murrayfield would enable many more local fans to attend what I am sure will be an exhilarating game."

A FirstScotRail spokesman confirmed that major works at Haymarket, part of the £150 million redevelopment of Waverley, will mean a reduced service on the weekend of the semi-final.

Fife and Aberdeen trains will go through the same lines as Edinburgh-Glasgow services, which means trains between the two cities will be hourly, instead of the usual half-hourly service between 12pm and 9pm on Sundays.

Neil Greig, head of policy at the AA, said the reduced service will mean more cars on the M8. He said:

"There is definitely now an argument for the match to be played in Edinburgh and the SFA should show a bit of flexibility in at least considering the move."

Political support for the Murrayfield move has also come from Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle, who lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the match to be moved to Murrayfield.

He said:

"If the game was moved then 15,000 more supporters could attend and we would not have the practical and environmental issues of 50,000 unnecessary journeys to Glasgow."

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: "We have given details of our work and alternative travel arrangements to the SFA to help with its decision on where to hold the semi-final."

Officials at Hearts have called on the SFA to consider using Murrayfield while Hibs have remained silent on the idea but are believed to prefer to keep the tie at Hampden.

An SFA spokesperson said today that no decision would be made before discussions with both clubs and the police have taken place, and that may not happen until early next week after Scotland's international friendly with Switzerland tonight.
'Why go to Glasgow when we can dance in our own streets?'

J Dalgleish: "It has to be Murrayfield. The thought of at least 40,000 fans travelling along the M8 and then hitting Glasgow is a nightmare. The SFA can't give us the excuse of the money paid to the SRU for rent because the extra 15,000 fans would more than make up for that."

Irwin M Fletcher: "The Evening News reported that those on hibs.net are keen on the semi-final being played at Murrayfield due to a link to an internet petition being on this site. The petition was started by a Hearts fan and the comments of the majority of Hibs fans indicated they would rather not see Hearts play this tie on what is effectively their home ground."

David Greig, Carricknowe: "It doesn't make any sense to have all the fans travelling to the game in Glasgow in the morning when Murrayfield is right there."

Rhona McPherson, Edinburgh: "I think it makes sense to have the match played at Murrayfield. My son is a Hibby and has travelled three times to Hampden, each time missing the kick-off due to road works on the M8."

Gareth Manson, Hibby: "I think the game should be played at Murrayfield. I don't see why both teams have to travel to Glasgow when it makes perfect sense to have the game played in Edinburgh. Hampden shouldn't be used until the final anyway as it makes getting there more special."

Caroline, Elphinstone: "Murrayfield is where the semi-final should be played. Hearts wouldn't have an advantage - we only played a few games there."

John Walker, Perth, Western Australia: "I am coming home for the semi-final and it has been a dream of mine to see Hibs play Hearts at Murrayfield. It would be the highest seated attendance at a Scottish football game and a record unlikely to be beaten. Murrayfield is the best option."

Grant O'Connor, Easter Road: "The game should definitely be played at Murrayfield, primarily for safety and secondly for the extra capacity."

Alan Knox, Loanhead: "If the game is to be played at Hampden, we should get assurances from Glasgow police that fans will be treated fairly. In the past, they have been treated like animals."

Iain Simpson, Hibby: "Provided the economics work out sensibly between the clubs, SRU and the SFA, the advantages much outweigh the minuses in having the game in Edinburgh."

Kevin Wood, South Queensferry: "The semi-final should be played at Murrayfield because Hearts only played three European games there, we lost two and only a few players still play for Hearts, so we wouldn't have an advantage. It's closer & more fans could attend."

Wattie Boke, Rosewell: "It's okay for the SRU to play a game at Falkirk stadium on Friday night but it is not okay for them to stage the Hibs v Hearts Scottish Cup semi at Murrayfield because the SFA wants it played in Glasgow? It's absolutely horrendous."

Joan Walker, Craigour: "I would like the semi-final to be held at Murrayfield because if there are two different sets of fans making their way back home there could be a gridlock on the M8."

Stuart Pearson, Edinburgh: "I don't see any problem with playing at Murrayfield. Either venue would suit Hibs' style of playing."

Shirley Donachy, Edinburgh: "I think the semi-final should be played at Hampden because it gets played there every season. Hampden is the place for football and Murrayfield is for rugby."

Neil Markham, Ravelston: "Let's stop the talk about Hearts having an advantage if the game is played at Murrayfield. Only Gordon, Pressley, Webster, Hartley and Neilson of the current squad have ever played in the stadium. Given that four of these guys are mainstays of the Scotland team, surely they then obtain a bigger advantage by the game being played at Hampden in a stadium that they have played in many times."

Kevin Flynn, Bonnyrigg: "Logistically it should be Murrayfield for the semi, but the bureaucrats at the SFA will never allow it. The event would be such a spectacle, it would show Hampden up for what it really is, an inaccessible toilet."

Linzi Charlton, Gorgie: "I don't know why all these Hibees fancy their chances against us on a wide open pitch, Sproule can run but he ain't no football player. Rudi is a foot ball player and he will run riot at Hampden or Murrayfield."

Ben, Stenhouse: "Being a Hibee I don't want the semi-final at Murrayfield because that is like a home draw for Hearts and, after all, Hibs were drawn first. Keep to a neutral ground and town."

Pauline, Stenhouse: "Keep rugby at Murrayfield and football at Hampden. If the Jambo fans can't afford to go to Glasgow, what's the chance of them following them in Europe?"

Dougie, East Craigs: "Why go all the way to Glasgow when we can dance in the streets of Edinburgh?"

G Hogg, Clovenstone: "The Scottish Cup semi-final should be played at the home of Scottish football, simple as that."

Brian Tolcher, Edinburgh: "A Hearts v Hibs match like this one does not happen very often. It won't kill the SFA to allow it to be played at Murrayfield this once. I remember the League cup final of 1982 being played at Dens Park between Aberdeen and Dundee Utd. So why should a change of venue be a problem for semi-final now?"

Mike Dickson, Piershill: "There is no way the game can be played in Hearts' backyard.The main reason Jambos want the game played at Murrayfield is that it is right next door to Tynecastle."

Jeremy Robb, Fife: "I'm a Hibs fan and definitely think the game should be played at Murrayfield. The extra cost and travel time for fans, transport issues and kick-off time makes going to Hampden an inconvenience when there's a superb stadium with a larger capacity in Edinburgh."

Craig Pennycuick, Edinburgh: "I'm a neutral but still think it should be at Hampden, the Scottish game is in a bad state as it is without the SRU taking it's share. Both sets of fans should just go and enjoy what has the potential to be a cracking advert for Scottish football."

Ragnar Lochen, Dalgety Bay: "I read with dismay (Tuesday, February 28) the piece with Frank Dougan, Treasurer of the Hibs Supporters' Association.

"His opinion typifies a small minority of Hibs fans who cannot see past the green of their club and will do anything to differentiate between themselves and Heart Of Midlothian FC. I am pretty confident the majority of Hibs fans would welcome the tie to be played at Murrayfield. For the sake of common sense, health and safety and last, but not least and more importantly, the fans, who will actually benefit by being allocated more tickets; surely the tie should be held at Murrayfield? Will Frank Dougan be able to control the many thousands of Hibs fans' anger due to the fact they were unable to claim a brief for the game due to his "traditional" values or opinions? I think not. Just remember Frank, Hibs have played Scottish Cup semi-finals at Tynecastle and Dens Park in the past."

Cliff Pike, Edinburgh: "I would rather see the game be played at Hampden as it is our national football stadium. I don't really fancy the game to be played on a rugby pitch! I think Hearts would also have the advantage if the game was played at Murrayfield due to the European ties they have played there."

Stuart Crowther, Edinburgh: "This may be an important game but, believe me, I have been to more important games in my time as a Hibs fan. I think the game is best to be played at Murrayfield. I also think the 12:15pm kick-off time on a Sunday is a joke! What happened to 3pm Saturday?"

Trevor Hannant, Edinburgh: "I personally think Hearts will destroy Hibs! Our attack is fast while their defence is slow. Looks like another year will pass without the Hibees winning the Scottish Cup."

Louise Swan, Bonnyrigg: "The Hearts versus Hibs semi-final must be played in Murrayfield. Surely it's mad to ask 55,000 fans to travel along the M8 at 10am on a Sunday morning? The SFA aren't renowned for their common sense approach, lets hope they can show they care about football supporters."

Taken from the Scotsman