MERSEYRAIL will operate a special timetable to support the Randox Grand National Festival, ensuring racegoers and passengers can travel smoothly during 1 of the busiest events of the year.
The 3-day timetable will run on:- Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 April 2026, with frequent services between Liverpool City Centre and Aintree, along with changes on several lines across the wider network.
To help customers get to and from the event, Merseyrail are running a 7½-minute service between Liverpool Central & Moorfields stations in the City centre and Aintree at the following times:-
· Liverpool Central & Moorfields to Aintree:- around 10:00–13:00
· Aintree to Liverpool Central & Moorfields:- around 16:30–20:30
To keep the network running reliably during the festival the changes below have been made to the usual timetable:-
Ormskirk line
· Services will arrive and depart at different times than normal.
· Between 16:30 and 20:30, services towards Liverpool will not stop at Orrell Park or Walton.
· There will be no direct services between Ormskirk and Hunts Cross. Customers travelling between these stations should change at Moorfields.
Southport & Hunts Cross lines
· Services will arrive and depart at different times than normal.
· Trains will run between Southport and Hunts Cross throughout the festival.
· To support the special timetable, some services will not stop at Cressington station.
Headbolt Lane line
· A 30-minute service will run across the line during all 3 days.
· Between 10:00–13:00 and 16:30–20:30, services will start and finish at Sandhills.
· Customers travelling towards Moorfields, Liverpool Central, Rice Lane, Fazakerley, Kirkby or Headbolt Lane should change at Sandhills during these times.
Wirral line
· Services on the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines will arrive and depart at different times than the normal timetable between 07:00 and 19:00.
· Racegoers travelling from the Wirral are advised to change at Moorfields for Aintree-bound services.
Customers can find the latest departure times by using the journey planner on the Merseyrail website or mobile app. Alternatively, they can speak to a team member at their local staffed station for assistance.
As usual, a range of entertainment is planned to welcome those using the rail network to attend this exciting event in the City Region’s calendar with some surprises in store. As always, Merseyrail staff will be there handing out their famous flip-flops to anyone with sore feet after a long day at the races.
Getting to Aintree racecourse by train is now even quicker and easier with Merseyrail's Tap & Go. No need to queue for a train ticket, simply tap in and tap out with your bank card or smart device and you'll automatically be charged the cheapest fare.
Suzanne Grant, Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- “We’re delighted to once again provide a special timetable for The Randox Grand National Festival. As one of the biggest events in the Liverpool City Region, Merseyrail is proud to play a key role in helping people enjoy their day at the races and with Tap & Go now available across our network, travelling is easier than ever.”
