Extra Merseyrail trains, shuttle buses and even a Mersey Ferry will be utilised to get 25,000 Everton fans to and from their new £750m stadium later this month. Tony McDonough reports
Everton FC will hold a second test event for 25,000 fans at its new stadium this month and there will be a significant increase in public transport capacity.
In mid-February the club held its first test event for 10,000 spectators at the £750m 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley Moore-Dock. While the event was seen as a success for the club there was criticism of public transport provision.
A new crowd-marshalling area at the nearby Sandhills rail station was used for the first time to handle access to the platform. Multiple fans complained of congestion at the station and called for better arrangements and more capacity.
This next test event, featuring a match involving Everton’s under-21s team, will kick off at 2pm on Sunday, March 23. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority says lessons have been learned from the first event with a new transport plan now in place.
Rail, shuttle bus and Mersey Ferry services will all be stepped up with extra trains through Sandhills, shuttle buses to and from Liverpool city centre and Bootle and a Mersey Ferry departing the Pier Head to Seacombe terminal in Wirral at 5pm.
Under the co-ordination of a Transport Working Group chaired by Everton FC, the Combined Authority is continuing to work closely with local partners including Liverpool City Council, Merseyrail, bus operators and Merseyside Police.
They aim to ensure journeys to and from the new stadium are as easy, smooth and safe as possible. The ferry service could become a regular matchday feature if passenger numbers are high enough.
Sunday rail services will increase before and after the event, with Merseyrail trains running every 15 minutes – instead of the normal 30 minutes – on the Hunts Cross, Southport and Ormskirk branches of the Northern Line.
Eight-car trains will operate where possible. Services on the Wirral Line will run to a normal Sunday timetable.
As well as commercial bus services, an increased number of shuttle buses will operate ahead of and following the event – both from Liverpool city centre and Bootle bus station with park and ride options available at both locations.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Everton’s new stadium is a massive moment – not just for the club, but for the regeneration of north Liverpool. We want to make sure fans can get to and from matches easily, safely, and sustainably, while keeping disruption to local residents to a minimum.
“That’s why we’re working closely with Everton, transport operators, the council, and, most importantly, supporters themselves, to make sure we get this right.
“The test events are a key part of that – helping us see what works, what doesn’t, and what needs improving before the first league game in August.
“We’ve already made changes based on fan feedback, including putting on additional transport services, and we’ll keep listening.”
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In early March Liverpool City Council said it would make “several amendments” to the experimental parking zone surrounding Everton’s new stadium following a business backlash.
In February the council said it would impose a parking zone in the docklands area around Bramley-Moore Dock similar to those around Anfield and Goodison. However, businesses in the zone were not happy saying it would disrupt trade.