Supporters travelling to the second test event at Everton Stadium next weekend will see an increase in public transport.

Travel services have been stepped up for the 25,000 fans attending the U21s fixture on Sunday, 23 March, as confirmed at the latest meeting of the Everton Stadium Transport Group.

Additional and longer trains to nearby Sandhills station, and an increased number of shuttle bus services to and from Everton Stadium, will be in place before and after the game, which kicks off at 2pm.

The new plans also include a special 5pm direct Mersey Ferries sailing between the Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal at Liverpool’s Pier Head and Seacombe – a service which could become a regular matchday feature if passenger numbers are high enough.

Fans are also reminded that Everton Stadium is also easily accessible on foot from Liverpool city centre - and are being asked to consider their journeys and plan for the best mode of travel for their needs.

More information specific to the second test event, including details on travel, parking and the matchday experience, will be communicated by Everton next week.

Everton’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Stadium Development Officer Colin Chong said: “All parties are united and working together, in consultation with supporters, to ensure the matchday and non-matchday experience at Everton Stadium is the best it can be.

“That starts with travel to and from the stadium and an area of the city that is set for huge regeneration in the decades ahead. 

“Our test events are designed to stress test the stadium and also understand supporter behaviours in terms of how they reach the stadium. We have taken a lot from the first event and I have no doubt we will learn even more later this month when we open our doors to almost two-thirds as many Evertonians for the second test event. 

“The importance of travel to supporters, especially those with accessibility needs, is not lost on anyone. We have already taken on board fan feedback from that event and, alongside our colleagues from the local council, combined authority and transport authorities, have committed to continue open dialogue and to enhance communication around transport as we welcome more and more people.”

Under the new plans, Sunday rail services are to be increased 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, with eight car trains operating 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. Local car parks at both locations provide convenient links to the shuttle buses.

Public transport services have been strengthened, both ahead of kick-off and the end of the event. Anyone leaving the stadium between these times needs to be aware that normal Sunday services will be in operation.

Under the co-ordination of the Everton Stadium Transport Group - which is chaired by Everton and involves officials from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, Merseytravel, Merseyrail and travel consultants, and supporter representation from the Everton Fan Advisory Board, Fans' Forum, EDSA and Everton Supporters' Club committee - the Combined Authority is continuing to work closely with local partners to help plan transport and ensure journeys to and from the new stadium are as easy, smooth and safe as possible.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region 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. This is about making sure we get the best matchday experience possible – not just for Evertonians, but for the whole city region.”

Key travel advice  

Plan your journey in advance - to ensure you can get where you want to go and back home again

Walk or cycle if you can – the stadium is within easy walking and cycling distance of Liverpool city centre with plenty of cycle parking available for supporters to use

Check before you travel – Sunday timetables can be different to the rest of the week, with some services running less frequently

Leave more time for your journeys - services may be busy and you may need to queue so try to allow enough time to catch a later service if you don’t make the one you expect

Buy travel tickets in advance – many tickets can be purchased ahead of time or online, speeding up your journey. Saveaway tickets can be used on all services.

Be patient – services to and from the stadium may take longer than usual.

Be kind to staff - staff will be working hard to keep services running and on hand to provide help and travel advice.

Summary of transport services

Rail

Merseyrail 

Although the event is being hosted on a Sunday, Merseyrail will have an amended timetable in place, stepping up from 30-minute to 15-minute services running on the Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane lines. Wherever possible capacity will be increased with 8 car trains. All other lines will be a 30-minute services as usual.

If you’re travelling by train from north Liverpool or Sefton on Merseyrail’s Northern Line you can get off at Sandhills which is around a 15-minute walk to the stadium. 

If you’re travelling by train from other parts of the city region we recommend you use Moorfields or James Street station, which is around 30 minutes’ walk to the stadium.

At Sandhills and Liverpool City Centre stations, a crowd flow management system, similar to ones used for other major events in the city region, will be in place to help make journeys smoother and safer.

Northern  

Northern operate reduced services on a Sunday due to an on-going industrial dispute, which can also lead to short notice cancellations. Please check direct for the latest information just before you travel.

Mainline and City Line

Lime Street station will be open as usual.

Trains will be running to Sunday timetables.   

Bus 

Commercial services

There are a number of commercial bus services that serve the area near to the Stadium including 54/ 54A, 56, 58/ 58A, mainly along Vauxhall Road.  Customers should note that these will be operating to Sunday timetables.

Shuttle buses

There will be three commercially operated shuttle bus services on matchdays, running from two hours before kick-off and then from the end of the test event, but not during the match. These include:

919 Service from / to Commutation Row (Close to Lime Street)

City Centre Pick up & Drop Off: Commutation Row
Stadium Drop off – Great Howard Street at Blackstone Street
Stadium Pick Up: Great Howard Street at Bentinck Street

929 Service from / to Liverpool One Bus Station

City Centre Pick Up & Drop Off: Liverpool One Bus Station
Stadium Drop off – Great Howard Street at Blackstone Street
Stadium Pick Up: Great Howard Street, north of Denbigh Street

939 Service from / to Bootle Strand Bus Station.

Bootle Pick-Up & Drop Off: Bootle Bus Station, Washington Parade (Strand Shopping Centre)
Stadium Drop Off: Derby Road at Wellington Employment Park, north of Blackstone Street
Stadium Pick Up: Derby Road, north of Boundary Street

Please note if using these services, we will ensure relevant signage is in place at each pick up location.

Accessible Shuttle Service

An accessible shuttle bus service will operate between Sandhills Station (Sandhills Lane), the 919, 929 & 939 Football Special Stadium Bus Stops and Boundary Street (at Royal Crest Hotel) specifically for those with limited mobility.

This service must be booked in advance by emailing accessibility@evertonfc.com

Mersey Ferries

Mersey Ferries will operate a Sunday timetable, starting at 10am from Pier Head, then 10.20am at Seacombe until the last sailing at 4pm. The stadium is a 30 mins walk from the Pier Head. 

Mersey Ferries have arranged a special service at 5pm from Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal at Liverpool Pier Head to Seacombe for match goers who wish to use the Ferry and walk to and from the stadium. If used frequently enough this could be a new service to serve future match events at the new stadium.

Mersey Tunnels

The Queensway Tunnel (Birkenhead) will open as usual all day and night.

The Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) will open as usual for the majority of the day but will close for essential maintenance at 19:00 hours, 3 hours after the end of the match. Please plan this if travelling through the Kingsway Tunnel.

Car parking

Parking is available in Liverpool City Centre and Bootle Strand with access to the stadium available by shuttle bus.  

Liverpool City Council have made changes to the parking scheme around the new Everton stadium, more information can be found at: https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/council-announces-amendments-to-new-experimental-parking-zone-around-everton-stadium/

The key advice shown can be found on the Merseytravel website at https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk