Merseyrail thanks customers after successful Grand National Festival

Merseyrail has thanked its customers and key delivery partners, as racegoers flocked to the network over the three days of the Grand National Festival.

This was the first year that all customers were able to travel on Merseyrail’s new 777 trains to the event.  Delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Network Rail, Stadler, British Transport Police and The Jockey Club, Merseyrail’s train plan ensured services ran smoothly across the three-day festival. Despite the huge demand, queuing times, delays and cancellations were kept to a minimum, thanks to detailed planning and outstanding teamwork across the network.

With sunny skies adding to the atmosphere, live DJs and musicians entertained racegoers at Aintree, Liverpool Central and Moorfields stations, creating a memorable experience for visitors heading to and from the iconic race meeting.  Volunteers from Merseyrail’s 2025 Charities of the Year, Centre 56, Blackburne House, and Parkinson’s Wirral were also present throughout the weekend helping to raise awareness and funds for these vital causes.

This safe and efficient delivering of the event comes off the back of Merseyrail’s 2024 Grand National train plan being recognised with a prestigious national award. The operator recently received the ‘Event Plan of the Year’ award at the inaugural UK Rail Industry Planning Awards, with judges praising the delivery of last year’s transport plan, which saw customers safely moved across the network. In winning the award, Merseyrail beat off stiff competition including Cardiff’s train plan for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and Newcastle’s Great North Run plan. 

Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, commented.

“The success of this year’s Grand National Festival train timetable is testament to the planning, teamwork and dedication of everyone involved. To follow on from our 2024 success, which was recognised with a prestigious national award, with such a strong delivery of our plan, makes me incredibly proud. During the course of the event, we were able to safely transport record numbers of customers, and I’d like to thank our partners for their support in delivering the rail plan for this iconic event.”

Find out more on the Merseyrail website.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here.