RAIL and bus services are to be increased for next week’s Grand National Festival at Aintree – which is expected to attract 150,000 racing fans.
To help get everyone to the start line in time, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and local partners including transport operators, are working hard to make sure everybody’s journey to and from the world-famous event is as smooth as possible.
Both rail and bus operators are providing additional services over the three days of the festival, which runs from 3 April - 5 April 2025. Merseyrail services to and from Aintree station will be every seven-and-a-half minutes before and after each days’ racing - compared to the usual 15 minutes.
To ensure racegoers don’t fall at the 1st hurdle, we are asking they follow travel advice and plan their journeys in advance.
Travel advice and information can be found on the Merseytravel website.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:- "The Grand National is 1 of the highlights in the City region sporting calendar, bringing thousands of people into the area to enjoy the world's biggest horse race. We will be working together with all of our partners to keep people moving during the 3 days of the event. We want everyone to enjoy themselves so it’s important that racegoers think ahead and plan their journeys to avoid any disappointment. And we also ask that people are kind, patient and respectful of each other and our transport staff who will be working so hard to get everybody to and from this year’s festival."
Top travel tips for racegoers:-
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Walk or cycle to the event if you can
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Use public transport wherever possible – roads leading to and around the course will be busy and parking very limited
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Make sure you check routes and plan ahead
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Consider your options - services will be busy so plan your options
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Check operator websites and social media channels for up-to-date timetables
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Be prepared for last minute changes to services
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Allow extra time for your journeys – services will be much busier than usual
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Buy tickets in advance if possible
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Be kind to transport staff – they will be working hard to get you there and back
What you need to know
RAIL
Merseyrail
During the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Festival, Merseyrail will operate a 7-and-a-half-minute frequency service between Liverpool City centre and Aintree stations on the Merseyrail Northern Line before and after the races.
The 7-and-a-half-minute service will run between Aintree and Liverpool Central/Moorfields stations at the following times:-
To accommodate the more frequent services between Liverpool city centre and Aintree there will be reduced services to some stations on the Ormskirk branch of the Northern Line and a slightly amended 15-minute timetable on the Southport branch of the Northern Line.
On the Headbolt Lane branch of the Northern Line, services between 11am and 2pm and 5pm and 9pm will terminate at Sandhills with passengers having to change trains to complete their journeys from here.
The Wirral Line will operate a normal timetable during the festival. Customers travelling to the festival from any Wirral line stations are advised to change at Moorfields for an Aintree-bound train.
For further information please visit the Merseyrail website.
Before travelling check rail operator websites and Twitter accounts for more information:-
@merseyrail – www.merseyrail.org
@northernassist - www.northernrailway.co.uk
@TPEassist - www.tpexpress.co.uk
@avantiwestcoast - www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk
@LNRailway - www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
@tfwrail - www.tfwrail.wales
@eastmidrailway - www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk
@NetworkRailLIV - www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/liverpool-lime-street
@nationalrail – www.nationalrail.co.uk
BUS
The 300, 310 & 345 services run regularly between Queen Square bus station and the Aintree area. Please be aware that these services will be on diversion throughout the festival. Find out more:- Travel Updates
Stagecoach will be operating a regular Shuttle Bus Service from Liverpool city centre to Aintree Racecourse on all 3 days of the festival.
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Shuttle buses will depart Elliot Street [Stop GE].
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Return shuttles will depart from Park Lane (opposite Aintree rail station) - return trips will be running on Friday 4 April and Saturday 5 April 2025 only.
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Return and day rider tickets will be available to buy, and all buses will accept contactless and mobile payments.
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Find out more:- Stagecoach 922
Check bus operator websites and social media accounts for up-to-date schedule information.
@arrivanorthwest - www.arrivabus.co.uk
@stagecoachMCSL - www.stagecoachbus.com
@nationalexpress – www.nationalexpress.com
WALKING, CYCLING AND E-SCOOTERS
If you live nearby or are staying local, walking and cycling will be some of the healthiest, quickest and easiest ways to get around.
Please help us by walking or cycling if you can, to ease some pressure on transport services and keep our air clean.
If you are staying in Liverpool City Centre during the event, E-scooters and E-bikes operated by Voi are available for hire throughout Liverpool and can be located and unlocked by downloading the Voi app. E-scooters are available to hire in the City centre and surrounding areas as well as key transport hubs and hospitals.
@voitechnology – www.voi.com
MERSEY FERRIES
The iconic Mersey Ferries offer a great option for cross-river travel – with regular commuter services each weekday morning and evening, alongside River Explorer Cruises during the day.
You can find out more details on the Mersey Ferries website.
@MerseyFerries - www.merseyferries.co.uk/
AIRPORTS
Liverpool is connected to the world via John Lennon International Airport, which is less than 20 mins drive from the City centre.
Several regular bus services to Liverpool City centre operate from outside the terminal building, including the Arriva 500 service.
Manchester Airport is less than 1-hour drive from Liverpool City Centre and is served by its own train station, with services operating from here to Manchester Piccadilly and some Liverpool stations.
Up-to-date information about flights and how to travel to the City from either airport can be found on their websites.
@LPL_Airport – www.liverpoolairport.com
@manairport – www.manchesterairport.co.uk
MERSEY TUNNELS
The Wallasey (Kingsway) and Birkenhead (Queensway) are cross-river road options to get from Wirral to Liverpool, with the Wallasey Tunnel providing the best link to the racecourse.
Check Merseytravel social media channels for most up-to-date information on both tunnels.
@Merseytravel - www.merseytunnels.co.uk
