Merseyrail shares travel advice ahead of Hill Dickinson Stadium test event

Merseyrail is urging football fans to plan ahead for their journey this Saturday 9 August, as Everton Football Club hosts the third and final test event at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Merseyrail is working closely with Everton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council to help supporters travel safely and smoothly on what’s expected to be a busy matchday.

Sandhills station will be the main Merseyrail stop for fans heading to the stadium. A newly built second entrance and pedestrian bridge at the station will be open for the event to help ease congestion and manage large crowds.

Here’s what fans need to know:

Trains will run every 15 minutes on the Southport, Ormskirk, Hunts Cross and Headbolt Lane lines before and after the match, with all available 4 and 8-car trains in service to handle increased demand.

Passengers using the Southport line should check for changes to arrival and departure times, while a revised timetable will be in place for anyone travelling to or from Cressington station.

Merseyrail is encouraging everyone to use the journey planner on their website or app to check updated train times and plan their trip in advance.

If you’d rather avoid the post-match rush at Sandhills, both Moorfields and Bank Hall stations are within a 25-minute walk of the stadium and are good alternative options. These will also act as back-up stations if any disruption occurs at Sandhills on the day.

Wirral line trains will operate as normal, with extra services running from 7.30pm onwards to support demand.

Supporters using buses, ferries or other transport can find tailored advice for the day on the Merseytravel website.

Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:

“We look forward to welcoming Everton fans to what will be a historic event at Hill Dickinson Stadium. We’ve got extra trains and staff in place across the network, but it will be very busy on Saturday. Just like other football stadiums across the country, stations like Sandhills can get crowded. The best thing fans can do is plan ahead, allow extra time, and think about alternative routes if there’s any disruption.”