Merseyrail announce special timetable for Randox Grand National 2024

Merseyrail will run a special timetable for The Randox Grand National 2024 Festival, with a seven-and-a-half-minute frequency of service running between Liverpool City Centre and Aintree station before the start and after the finish of the races on each day of the festival.

Trains on the Merseyrail Northern line will run to a slightly amended timetable to provide the best possible service to those attending the iconic event, which takes place from Thursday 11 until Saturday 13 April. Customers should check the journey planner on Merseyrail’s website or app for up-to-date departure times before travelling.

On all three days, a seven-and-a-half-minute service will run between Aintree and Liverpool Central/Moorfields stations at the following times:

• Liverpool city centre to Aintree, from approximately 11:00 – 13:00 (before the races)
• Aintree to Liverpool city centre, from approximately 16:30 – 20:30 (after the races)

A 15-minute service will run at all other times.

Ormskirk line: Trains will run to a slightly amended 15-minute timetable. Stations between Liverpool City Centre and Ormskirk will have a 15-minute service. However, to enable extra trains to operate, Aughton Park station and Town Green station will be served by a 30-minute service. 

Southport line: Trains will run to a slightly amended 15-minute timetable. Arrival and departure times will be different to the normal timetable.

Headbolt Lane line: Services between 11:00 and 14:00 and between 17:00 and 21:00 will start and terminate at Sandhills. Customers for Moorfields or Liverpool Central, or those making the return journey to Rice Lane, Fazakerley, Kirkby, or Headbolt Lane will have to change at Sandhills during these times. 

Wirral line: All services will run to the normal timetable. Customers travelling to the festival from any Wirral line stations are advised to change at Moorfields for an Aintree-bound train. 

Anyone planning to travel between the 11 – 13 April is advised to plan their journey in advance using the journey planner on Merseyrail’s website or app to understand how the changes affect their journey.

Customers are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance to help reduce queuing time on the day.

These can be bought in advance from any staffed Merseyrail station, or a Day Saver can be purchased online via the Merseyrail website and emailed directly to you. 

Any tickets bought via Trainline.com or any other train operating companies’ websites must be printed at a Merseyrail ticket office before travel. 

A range of entertainment is planned to welcome those using the rail network to attend this exciting event in the City Region’s calendar with some surprises in store. As always, Merseyrail staff will be there handing out their famous flip-flops to anyone with sore feet after a long day at the races.

Suzanne Grant, Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:

“We are delighted to once again provide a special timetable for The Randox Grand National 2024 Festival. This is a huge event for the Liverpool City Region, and Merseyrail is proud to play such a vital role in ensuring people have a great day at the races.

“Not only are we providing a seven-and-a-half-minute service, but as usual we will have entertainment and fun at the main stations’ festival goers will travel through. 

“It’s always a busy time for us across the Merseyrail network, so I would advise anyone travelling over the three days to check before you travel by using the journey planner on our website or the Merseyrail app.” 

For more info on Merseyrail click here. For the latest news in Liverpool click here.