More than 111,000 journeys as Tap & Go makes Grand National debut

More than 111,000 rail journeys were made during this year’s Grand National Festival, as Merseyrail hailed a successful three days of travel to and from Aintree.

The 2026 event also marked a major first for the Merseyrail network, with its new Tap & Go system introduced for Grand National racegoers, offering a quicker and more convenient way to pay for journeys.

Working alongside partners including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Network Rail, Stadler, British Transport Police and The Jockey Club, Merseyrail rolled out a dedicated event timetable to cope with the surge in demand.

Careful planning and close collaboration helped keep queues, delays and cancellations to a minimum across the three-day festival, one of the busiest dates in the city region’s calendar.

Passengers travelling through key stations were also treated to live music and entertainment, helping to create a welcoming atmosphere across the network.

And Merseyrail’s popular free flip flops made a return once again, offering some much-needed relief for racegoers after long days at the festival.

Merseyrail Flip flops — Credit: Merseyrail

Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said the operation was a major success.

He said: “The Grand National is one of the biggest and most complex events we support each year, and transporting more than 111,000 journeys safely and smoothly is a real achievement.

“Introducing Tap & Go at such a high-profile event is a significant step forward and shows how we’re continuing to make travel easier and more flexible for our customers.”

Merseyrail has thanked customers, staff and partners for helping deliver a smooth and successful service during one of the region’s busiest events.