'Derby day travel plan like a military operation'

Football fans heading to the East Anglian derby said major rail disruption on the day of the game had made travelling to the ground a "military operation".

Ipswich Town will visit rivals Norwich City on Saturday as the Suffolk team chases promotion back to the Premier League.

With engineering works scheduled, no direct trains will be running between Ipswich and Norwich, so fans have had to choose one of four travel alternatives for the trip to Carrow Road.

Network Rail said it was "sorry" the disruption, but some fans told the BBC it had inconvenienced them on one of the biggest game days of the year.

Andy Cumbers had planned to get the train to the Championship fixture but said he would now instead be escorted to and from the stadium in a coach laid on by Ipswich Town.

"I get it is a sensitive fixture, but it feels like a lot of planning, cost, and aggravation all for a game of football, and it has become a task now really," he said.

"It has made it a bit like a military operation, but I do think the police will lap it up because it's given them a dream scenario - it makes it easier for them to manage.

"When the green and yellow get the train to us, they get to soak up the atmosphere, but we're not going get a chance to do that as fans."

Fans were given the option to choose between a coach, driving, using Norwich's Postwick park and ride site, or taking a train from other parts of the country.

The travel restrictions mean tickets will not be posted to supporters nor be available to collect from Carrow Road, "due to safety considerations" raised by Norfolk Police.

Instead, supporters will need to collect their tickets as they board coaches or park and ride buses, or from designated collection points near Carrow Road.

Ipswich supporter Sandra Cunningham said she thought the travel arrangements and precautions put in place were "well over the top" but did not blame Network Rail.

"Look, both sets of fans don't like each other and there has been trouble, but I don't think there's been absolutely excessive trouble in recent years," she said.

"I think the works are programmed well before the fixtures come out, so I should think this would have been in the calendar well before then.

"Even Network Rail wouldn't be that silly, or you'd hope they wouldn't be that silly."

Ipswich Town podcaster, Craig Finbow, who is heading to the derby with his son, Oscar, questioned why the works could not have been delayed until after the game.

When the Blues played an evening match against Hull City at home in March, for example, resurfacing roadworks on the A14 were paused so fans could get home.

"You would've thought that someone somewhere could have worked out that there might be a few more people using the line that day," he said.

"Other transport agencies manage to work around it, and to be fair to the club, they've done as much as they could and are sticking 16 or 17 coaches on at a reduced rate.

"It's a double-edged sword because it's safer for fans as you can get in the ground, watch the game, come out, get your head down, get on the coach, and go."

Greater Anglia said replacement buses will be laid on but capacity is limited, and they are "not intended to accommodate matchday demand" between Ipswich and Norwich.

Martin Beable, speaking previously on behalf of Greater Anglia and Network Rail, apologised to fans for any inconvenience caused by the works.

"We are sorry," he said.

"We plan our rail improvement work very carefully, a long time in advance, to minimise the impact on journeys and to allow everyone to plan ahead.

"These works will deliver long-term railway reliability to maintain a high-performing railway for everyone."

Norfolk Police said that its "primary responsibility" on the day of the game was to "keep people safe".

"Our plans have to look slightly different this year given the travel restrictions in place," a spokesperson said.

"So, we have been working closely with both football clubs and partner agencies to explore the most practical and proportionate solutions available.

"These plans ensure we collectively balance the needs of supporters with our overwhelming duty to public safety."

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.