Officers from northern forces steam down to London on May 10.

A chartered train will whisk officers from Merseyside Police and Cheshire Constabulary down to London for the May 10 protest march.

The planned route to London Euston has been made to fit in with the entire rail network on the day, Merseyside Police Federation has told members.

However, the 6.35am departure will not suit all members who may find it difficult to arrive on time at Liverpool Lime Street, it acknowledged.

Around 500 officers from both forces are expected to make their way down on the train.

Cathryn Caine, Chair of Merseyside Police Federation said. “We have chartered a train together with our colleagues from Cheshire as we can logistically move our people down from three pickup points – at Liverpool Lime Street, Runcorn and Crewe.

“Had we gone for coaches it would have taken much longer.

“The muster time for the event is quite early and I know that some colleagues who are coming from Northumbria are starting their coach journeys at 2am or 4am.

“Last time, when we had the Fair Pay march in 2008, we chartered a train so we decided to once again use this tried and trusted method. We are now putting the finishing touches to our plans.

“We have 385 officers coming, although I do not know how many colleagues are coming from Cheshire.”

Other forces to travel in their hundreds…and thousands

As to be expected, the Met will have the largest number of officers present at the Police Federation march on May 10, with 4,000 set to turn out.

Greater Manchester Police is likely to bring the highest number of officers from a northern force with 1, 200 expected. Its federation has booked 28 coaches for the trip.

Devon and Cornwall Police will add around 560 PCs to the march, travelling in 12 coaches, and Sussex Police Federation will send down around 600, this website has been told.

North Yorkshire Police has around 117 officers making the journey down to the capital by train while Gloucestershire Constabulary has three coach loads – totalling 110 officers.

Around 100 PCs from Dyfed-Powys Police will travel down the M4 from Wales.

Meanwhile the smallest force in the UK, City of London Police, will be represented by 100 officers.

Thirty officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will travel to the capital from the Isle of Wight itself.

For more information about the chartered train click here

Forces Secure Train For Protest March