Merseyrail says more than 111,000 journeys were made between Liverpool and Aintree during the three days of the 2026 Grand National meeting with both tap and go and free flip-flops hailed a success. Tony McDonough reports

There were more than 111,000 train journeys on Merseyrail between Liverpool and Aintree during the 2026 Grand National meeting.

Working alongside the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Network Rail, Stadler, British Transport Police and The Jockey Club, Merseyrail delivered a dedicated event train plan to manage exceptionally high demand during the three-day event.

This was also the first Grand National since tap and go was rolled out on Merseyrail a few weeks ago. This allowed passengers to dispense with paper tickets and pay for their rides by tapping their bank cards, phones or smart watches on terminals at the stations.

And Merseyrail also said the free pairs of flip-flops it has been giving out to racegoers with sore feet for the last few years had also proved to be a hit.

Neil Grabham, Merseyrail managing director said careful planning and close partnership working helped keep queues, delays and cancellations to a minimum throughout the festival.

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

READ MORE: GPH paid £12.5m to take over Liverpool’s cruise terminal

READ MORE: Major facelift for Southport Station gateway mall

“Introducing tap and go at such a high‑profile event is a significant step forward for the network and shows how we continue to make travel easier and more flexible for our customers.

“I’d like to thank our colleagues, partners and customers for helping make this year’s festival such a success.”