LONDON: Liverpool fans were struggling to rearrange their travel plans for today’s League Cup Final clash against Cardiff City after a train derailment blocked the West Coast mainline.

Thousands of fans, due to travel by train from Liverpool Lime Street, were being advised to drive or catch buses to Crewe, Manchester, Stafford or Stoke to start their rail journey.

An engineering train had derailed in Winsford, Cheshire, last night, blocking the line between Liverpool and Crewe.

The operator, Virgin Trains, said: “Virgin Trains apologises for this disruption and is doing everything it can to minimise the major disruption to services being caused.”