Authorities mobilise ahead of second Everton Stadium test event
Civic and transport authorities are stepping up transport options for the next test event at Everton FC’s new £760m stadium, on March 23, in response to stiff criticism from fans following the first event, on February 17.
The club will stage three such events needed to earn a safety certificate for the new 52,888-seat ground which is set to open in time for the 2025-26 football season.
February 17 test event
Last month 10,000 fans were welcomed to the South Stand for an Under-18 friendly between Everton and Wigan Athletic. But many took to social media after trying to access the nearby Sandhills rail station following the game.
Many said a new fans’ marshalling centre next to the station, delivered by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, was inadequate, with queues quickly forming, leading to unsafe conditions on the platform of the ‘island’ station – a one-platform structure serving both railway lines either side.
Fans were also critical of Merseyrail, calling on the rail operator to add more services, and bigger trains, to handle the sudden influx onto the station.
The main criticism seemed to be that, while the combined authority has had four years to improve access at the station since Everton was granted planning permission on March 16, 2021, the current facilities appear woefully inadequate to handle many more thousands on a normal matchday.
The city council has also introduced an experimental parking zone within a 30-minute walk of the stadium which severely restricts parking, driving more people onto public transport.
Next week’s event will welcome a 25,000-capacity crowd for an Under-21s match.
Now, authorities said rail, shuttle bus and ferry services are to be stepped up for the second test event.
Under the co-ordination of a transport working group chaired by Everton FC, the combined authority is working with local partners including Liverpool City Council, Merseyrail, bus operators and Merseyside Police to help plan transport and ensure journeys to and from the new stadium are as easy, smooth and safe as possible.
Transport services will be stepped up ahead of, and following the match, which kicks off at 2pm, with additional trains to Sandhills and an increased number of shuttle bus services to and from Everton Stadium.
Mersey Ferry Snowdrop
Plans 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.
The new stadium is also easily accessible on foot from Liverpool city centre. Fans are being asked to plan their journeys and think about the best mode of travel for them.
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.”
Everton’s interim chief executive 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.”
He added: “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.”
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 with park and ride options available at both locations.
Public transport services have been strengthened both ahead of the kick-off time of 2pm 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.
More information specific to the second test event, including details on travel, parking and the matchday experience, will be communicated to ticketholders by Everton directly.
Fans attending the event are advised to plan their journey in advance, walk or cycle if they 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 travelling as Sunday timetables can be different to the rest of the week, with some services running less frequently. Leave more time for journeys as services may be busy and there is likely to be queues.
Fans are also advised to buy travel tickets in advance, be patient and be kind to staff.
Regarding transport services available, Merseyrail says that, although the event is being hosted on a Sunday, it will have an amended timetable in place.
It says travelling by train from north Liverpool or Sefton on the Northern Line means fans can get off at Sandhills, which is around a 15-minute walk to the stadium.
Travelling by train from other parts of the city region, it recommends passengers use Moorfields or James Street stations, which are 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.
Train operator Northern operates reduced services on a Sunday due to an ongoing industrial dispute, which can also lead to short notice cancellations. Fans are urged to check direct for the latest information before travelling.
For Mainline and City Line services, Lime Street station will be open as usual, but rains will be running to Sunday timetables.
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.
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:
Liverpool One bus station
919 Service. City centre pick up and drop off at Commutation Row, close to Lime Street, and stadium drop off at Great Howard Street at Blackstone Street. The stadium pick up is on Great Howard Street at Bentinck Street.
929 Service from/to Liverpool One Bus Station. The stadium drop off is on Great Howard Street at Blackstone Street and the stadium pickup on Great Howard Street, north of Denbigh Street.
939 Service from/to Bootle Strand Bus Station, Washington Parade (Strand Shopping Centre). The stadium drop off will be on Derby Road at Wellington Employment Park, north of Blackstone Street. The stadium pickup is on Derby Road, north of Boundary Street.
Please note, if using these services, relevant signage will be in place at each pick up location.
A free shuttle bus service will operate for supporters with accessibilty needs, between Sandhills Station (Sandhills Lane) and Boundary Street (around 175 metres from Everton Stadium), before and after matches. This service must be booked in advance by contacting the Accessibility Team at Everton on 0151-556 1878 (option 1, then 2, followed by 3).
The 919, 929 and 939 shuttle buses also stop at stadium bus stops and Boundary St (at Royal Crest Hotel), for those with limited mobility. More information can be found at: https://www.evertonfc.com/season-25-26/test-event-2-dfhfsjaj/shuttle-buses
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 minute 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.
Kingsway Tunnel toll plaza
The Queensway road tunnel, serving 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, three hours after the end of the match. Please plan this if travelling through the Kingsway Tunnel.
Regarding car parking, Liverpool City Council has made changes to the parking scheme around the new stadium and more information can be found at: https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/council-announces-amendments-to-new-experimental-parking-zone-around-everton-stadium/
Parking is available in Liverpool city centre and Bootle Stand, with access to the stadium available by shuttle bus.
All this key advice can be found on the Merseytravel website at https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/customer-information/everton-test-event/
