Hearts and Hibs reveal routes for winner’s parade through city

PARADE routes for the Scottish Cup winners have been unveiled amid news that extra police patrols will be deployed to safeguard the huge crowds expected to line the streets.

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An open-top bus will leave the City Chambers the day after game and travel to either Easter Road or Tynecastle for a celebratory bash inside the stadium.

Both Hibs and Hearts have remained tight-lipped about the schedule of entertainment within their grounds should they win but it is understood there are no plans for a live music concert at Tynecastle.

For the first time each club was invited to submit its preferred route and the council has now approved both plans.

In the event of a Hearts victory, the parade will travel to Tynecastle via Johnston Terrace, Morrison Street, Dalry Road and on to Gorgie Road. Dalry Road will be closed to eastbound traffic from 1pm until 6pm on Sunday, May 20 with Gorgie Road – from Ardmillan Terrace to Wheatfield Road – closed for 24 hours from 6pm on May 19.

For Hibs, the bus will head to Easter Road via North Bridge, Leith Street and London Road. Road closures will be in place in the streets surrounding the stadium (St Clair Street, Hawkill Avenue and Albion Road) from 6pm on May 19 until 5pm on May 20, while London Road will be closed from 7am until 3pm on Sunday.

Council chief executive Sue Bruce said the all-Edinburgh final would be a “historic” day for the Capital.

“We are looking forward to this historic event, which will be a wonderful day for Edinburgh,” she said. “Regardless of who takes the cup home, it will be a fantastic day of celebration and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere.

“We are asking people to plan ahead and to behave responsibly both on match day and during the celebrations that follow. This will help to ensure that the weekend passes smoothly and safely.”

The News told yesterday how police had helped to quash 21 bids for longer drinking hours on Cup final day and the force has announced that extra resources will be on the streets to “ensure the safety” of large numbers of celebrating fans.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, divisional commander for Edinburgh said: “Lothian and Borders Police and the council have worked closely with Hearts and Hibs to ensure the celebratory parade will provide fans with an optimal view.

“The parade routes for both teams were proposed by the clubs and agreed by a multi-agency team who will address any issues that may arise during the planning stage.”

A ticket-only party will be held at the home of the winning team the day after the final but it is “unlikely” supporters lining the route will also be allowed inside their stadium for “safety reasons”.

Tickets to the stadium event will be made available free of charge, at the turnstiles by the winning club on a first-come-first-served basis from 1pm. Anyone wishing to attend must be in the stadium before 2.15pm, ahead of the arrival of the parade bus.

11,000 extra train tickets made available

AN EXTRA 11,000 train tickets have been made available for fans travelling to Hampden for the Scottish Cup final – as it emerged they will be banned from drinking alcohol on train carriages.

The booze ban affects all Edinburgh to Glasgow trains from 9am to 1pm on May 19; Glasgow Central trains to Mount Florida and Kings Park stations from noon to 3pm and return services from 5pm to 9pm, and also on all Glasgow to Edinburgh services from 5pm to 9pm.

The ban was announced as ScotRail said it would provide an extra 11,000 seats between the cities for the big game.

The trains with extra seats will run on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts line as well as the two routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High and Bathgate respectively.

ScotRail will also run several longer trains at Glasgow Central to and from Mount Florida and King’s Park stations, which both serve Hampden Park.