Blues fans have asked why the same speedy service used at Aintree can't be run to Sandhills
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Aintree train station
Aintree train station (Image: Andrew Teebay)
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has explained why Everton fans won’t be able to access the same seven-and-a-half minute train services made available over the Grand National weekend during matchdays next season. Over the next three days, fans going to and from Aintree for the world’s most famous horse racing event will be able to access more regular trains between the course and Liverpool city centre.
Merseyrail is providing a speedy service between Aintree and Liverpool Central/Moorfields from 10am to 1pm before the event begins on each day and recommencing from 4.30pm to 8pm after last races. Tens of thousands of fans are expected to use the rail network throughout this weekend.
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To date, around 35,000 people have attended the first two test events at Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium ahead of the new season starting in August. During the second event last month, almost half the reduced capacity - more than 12,000 people - used the Merseyrail network throughout the day to get to and from the ground.
As Sandhills is the nearest station to the new ground, it has prompted some fans to ask why more regular services cannot be put on during matchdays. Speaking to the ECHO as the Grand National festival began on Thursday, Mr Rotheram explained why the events differ in each location.
The scene at Aintree train station after the Grand National 2014
The scene at Aintree train station after the Grand National 2014
He said: “We can squeeze a little bit more out of the infrastructure that we've got, but it's an analogue signalling service, so we couldn't do all of the lines, which obviously Everton fans would want to use to get to Bramley Moore, but we've been able to squeeze in an extra in between service in the schedule for one line, which is the Ormskirk line, and it's only going from Aintree into town and then from town back to Aintree.
Everton Football Club matchday test event at Everton Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and nearby transport links. Photo by Colin Lane
Everton Football Club matchday test event at Everton Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and nearby transport links. Photo by Colin Lane
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
"That's to get the huge numbers who will be at the Grand National festival over three days to get them away from the area and to where they want to as quickly as we possibly can.
“It's the same sort of queuing system, I was there yesterday and today to have a look at what's happening at Aintree. It’s the same sort of queuing system where tickets will be checked and people will be allowed into the quantum that is safe to have on a platform so that they can quickly get onto the trains and that that train will be away.
“We just haven't got the digital infrastructure and that would cost £200m or something ridiculous that Network Rail have said for us to convert over and cause huge disruption for an awful long time.
"Something's going to have to happen because one; we can buy more trains so we can do that and I’d commit to doing that and we can get more trains running, but the actual analogue system won't allow us to put more trains across the whole network.”
Everton Football Club matchday test event at Everton Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and nearby transport links. Photo by Colin Lane
Everton Football Club matchday test event at Everton Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and nearby transport links. Photo by Colin Lane
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
To deal with the increased number of users passing through, Merseyrail amended its Sunday timetable accordingly during the first test event. Services ran every 15 minutes on the Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane lines, with eight car trains where possible.
Merseyrail said the use of 8-car trains and additional services before and after the event helped manage the increased number of customers, keeping queues to a minimum and ensuring everyone reached their destination safely and swiftly.
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