Plans to increase passenger capacity for Everton fans at Sandhills station on matchdays put on hold as city councillors tell Merseyrail the proposal falls well short of what is needed. Tony McDonough reports
Merseyrail has faced heavy criticism from councillors on Liverpool’s planning committee as its plans to increase passenger capacity at Sandhill station on matchdays are put on hold.
On Tuesday the committee considered Merseyrail’s proposals for the station, close to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, which include an extension of the existing corralling area for destination specific queue routes.
Merseyrail also wants to provide additional passenger welfare facilities, permanent toilet provision and an area for future potential catering services.
There will also be additional stair access to the existing ramp connection to the platform footbridge and a new bus stop / interchange astride the boundary at DunesWay.
However, councillors said they were unconvinced about the plans in their current form and deferred a decision until after a site visit had been carried out. One councillor, Richard Kemp, accused Merseyrail of treating fans “like cattle”.
Another, Cllr Pat Maloney, addressed Merseyrail executives present, saying: “Why didn’t you get this right the first time, because this is a major change?
“The language is appalling and dehumanising; a corralling area, a sterile zone, this is human beings we’re talking about here.”
Since Everton FC relocated to the Hill Dickinson Stadium at Liverpool Waters in 2025 there has been a significant increase in fans arriving and departing the area via Sandhills.
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A new footbridge was installed to cope with the thousands of fans each matchday as well as a crowd corralling area. However, the volume of passengers using the station after matches has put a strain on the station, prompting safer concerns.
Speaking to the committee on behalf of Merseyrail, Daniel Hopkins said: ““By having this increased safety, increased operational robustness on site, that’ll in turn positively impact our operational resilience on the network.”