Rail services have resumed after a train derailment caused transport chaos for football fans heading to the Carling Cup final at Wembley.
An engineering train derailed at Winsford in Cheshire, leaving the main line between Liverpool and London blocked as thousands of Reds supporters travelled to the capital to watch their team take on Cardiff City in the cup clash.
Virgin Trains said the West Coast Main Line had now reopened and passenger trains are returning to normal.
The incident blocked the lines between Liverpool and Crewe and Warrington and Crewe from early on Sunday morning until 3.18pm.
The rail company said it provided alternative road and rail arrangements for passengers to join London trains to get them to the match.
Services between London Euston and Liverpool, between London Euston and Preston/Glasgow and between Birmingham and Scotland were also affected by the disruption.
A statement from Virgin Trains said there would still be delays as the schedule returned to normal after trains and crews were displaced, adding: "Virgin Trains apologises to passengers for the disruption and thanks its railway industry colleagues for working to help minimise the problems and then start to return services to normal this afternoon."
London Midland trains between Crewe and London Euston and Birmingham New Street and London Euston are operating with long delays.
