Middlesbrough train station will not be open to football fans

On Tuesday Arriva Trains Northern said it had agreed to a request from the British Transport Police to close the station at 2145 BST on safety grounds.

The decision was criticised by supporters who said thousands of fans would be left stranded after the Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia.

The Football Association (FA) described the move as "unfortunate".

But less than 24-hours later, the train company said it would keep the station open and lay on additional trains to ensure fans had transport out of the town.

Diane Crowther, commercial director of Arriva Trains Northern, said: "As from this morning [Wednesday] we are pleased to that Middlesbrough station will be operating normally after 2200 BST for the England match.

Additional carriages

"It will be open and the normal train service will be operating.

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to do this."

She said British Transport Police had revised their advice on the station closure.

She said the company, which manages the station, will be putting additional carriages on to some trains.

British Transport Police originally said there was a "serious risk" of overcrowding on trains and wanted the station closed on the grounds of safety.

Kevin Miles, international co-ordinator of the Football Supporters Federation, said the station closure would have meant "great confusion" for fans.