By james art Birmingham FC, Walsall and Aston Villa all play home games tonight.
Ahead of a hat-trick of home games in and around Birmingham tonight, we are being urged to consider travel plans and be aware of an increased police presence.
Aston Villa play their third Champions League game against Bologna at Villa Park tonight. Meanwhile, Birmingham City face Bolton in League One and Walsall face Carlisle in League Two. All this means that six groups of fans will travel to and from the kick-off area within fifteen minutes of each other.
Chief Constable Jack Hadley, of West Midlands Police, said: “We are used to dealing with large events, including high-profile football matches, and have a plan in place to allow fans to enjoy the game safely and keep the general public safe.
“Bologna’s visit to our city is a real celebration and a great opportunity to show what our city has to offer.
“There will be extra staff in the town throughout the day to ensure all visitors are safe.
“I encourage everyone to reach out to the officers and say hi.”
“While we do not anticipate any problems, staff will deal with anyone who is not behaving as expected in a positive manner.”
“Anyone who behaves anti-socially can expect to be chased out of town and anyone who commits crimes can expect to be arrested.
“We are really pleased to be able to showcase the very best of British policing to all our visiting fans.”
Birmingham New Street, Aston and Witton stations and trains between them are expected to be particularly busy as fans travel to and from Villa Park, St Andrew’s and Bescot Stadium.
Travelers are urged to plan ahead and check before traveling to avoid any personal travel goals on the day. They need to know the times of the last few trains and not rely on the last train of the day to get home.
Stephen Ireland, Head of Stations, Security and Customer Relationship Management for Network Rail’s Central Route, said: “Our team at Birmingham New Street station are ready to help football fans get to and from their matches seamlessly.
“With three domestic schedules all landing on the same evening, it is important that passengers plan ahead, allow extra time to get to their destination and know the time of their train home.
“Check before you travel at nationalrail.co.uk or with your train operator for the latest travel information.”
Lucy Wootton, head of the Grand Railway Collaboration, said: “We expect the rail network to be busier than normal from early tonight with football fans and commuters in and out of the city.
“Make sure you plan ahead, allow plenty of time for your journey and be patient and courteous to your fellow passengers and the train crew.”
Chief Inspector Christopher Hodgkiss said: “We expect Birmingham to be busy so our officers will be on hand and patrolling throughout the day to deter anti-social behavior and ensure everyone can travel safely to and from the games.
“If you have any concerns or see something that doesn’t seem right, speak to an officer or text British Transport Police on 61016.”
Passengers should remain vigilant while traveling on the rail network and report any concerns to a member of staff or British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016. In an emergency, always dial 999.
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