South Western Railway is advising customers heading to the Southampton v Leeds Championship play-off final that they must allow extra time for their journeys.

Saints are going head-to-head Leeds at Wembley on May 26 to secure their place in the Premier League next season and train operator, SWR, has said Saints fans should set off much earlier.

The match will see thousands of extra customers travel by rail and SWR has organised some additional trains between Southampton and London, but services and stations are still expected to be extremely busy.

Queueing systems may be in place at particularly busy stations, such as those in and near Southampton and in London, so customers will likely have to wait longer to board a train.  

As SWR moves trains and colleagues to support the fixture, the company has warned there will be some other alterations to the timetable on Sunday.

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Customers not attending the match and who are traveling between Southampton and London are encouraged not to travel when the service is busiest during the morning and evening. 

Steve Tyler, performance and planning director at South Western Railway, said: “We are doing everything we can to get as many customers as possible to London to watch the match, as well as ensure anyone else who plans to use the railway on Sunday can get to their destination. 

“We are expecting a huge number of fans to head to our stations, meaning customers must allow extra time to complete their journeys and should set off extra early, as they will likely have to wait longer to board a train.

“I would like to thank customers for their cooperation and hope fans enjoy the final.”

Customers intending to travel on Sunday can check their journeys using the Plan My Journey page from Friday, when it will be updated with the additional services and other alterations.

The Southampton v Leeds Championship play-off final is set to see more than 36,000 Saints fans travel up to London.