CARLISLE UNITED’S team coach has been spotted acting as a rail replacement service in Manchester city centre.
A coach with the League Two outfit’s team name, badge, and colours was snapped at Manchester Victoria station being used as a rail replacement service.
The Carlisle team bus being used as rail replacement at Manchester Victoria. What a nation. #cufc pic.twitter.com/PEX4wMnEV7
— Alex Noble (@AlexNobleTweets) March 23, 2025
GettyFans joked Sir Jim Ratcliffe would replicate the move for Man Utd[/caption]
The EFL‘s bottom club played at home to Bromley on Saturday, winning 2-1.
This left the coach free to be used elsewhere, which led to it being deployed for transport as engineering works left a number of lines closed over the weekend.
The affected lines included between Manchester Victoria and Bolton (calling at all intermediate stations) and Manchester Victoria and Wigan Wallgate via Atherton.
Fans on social media spotted it all over the area, with fans reporting sightings in Wigan, Ardwick, Cheadle Hulme, and even taking the Manchester Storm ice hockey team to an away game.
However, football fans on social media saw the funny side relating to one football club, Manchester United.
Following the extensive cuts made at the club following Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s arrival, fans have often poked fun at the British billionaire’s perceived stinginess.
And fans took the opportunity to highlight this when reacting to the photo of Carlisle’s team bus.
One fan said: “Don’t let @ManUtd see this. They will be all over it.”
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A second said: “Don’t give Sir Jim ideas.”
A third said: “Jim Ratcliffe is going to try steal it for United isn’t he?”
Others were astonished by the photo in general, with one commenting: “Brings a tear to your eye. What a nation.”
Another said: “Can’t beat this country sometimes.”
Carlisle are playing away at Doncaster next weekend, so despite more engineering works scheduled on lines coming out of Manchester Victoria, the coach may be missing in action.
Before that, Mark Hughes‘ side play MK Dons at home on Tuesday evening.
They are currently seven points adrift of safety, sitting level on points with Morecambe but with an inferior goal difference.
Tranmere in 22nd place currently represents the team Carlisle need to overtake to stay in the football league.
They have not fallen outside of the EFL since 2005, while they were only relegated from League One last season.
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