Southport train times to change during Grand National Festival

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Getting to The Grand National Festival couldn't be easier than by train, with a 10 minute service running between Liverpool city centre and Aintree station before and after the races. 

During the three day festival there will also be timetable changes to some other Merseyrail lines. Please find the details below and the Journey Planner at the bottom of this page for you to check your train times.

Trains to and from Aintree

On Thursday 7 and Friday 8 April, a 10 minute service will run between Aintree and  Liverpool Central and Moorfields stations at the following times:

  • From approximately 10:30 – 13:50 before the races
  • From approximately 16:45 – 20:25 after the races

On Saturday 9 April, a 10 minute service will run between Aintree and Liverpool Central and Moorfields stations at the following times: 

  • From approximately 10:30 – 13:50 before the races
  • From approximately 17:35 – 21:00 after the races

Buy your tickets in advance from any staffed Merseyrail station or purchase a Day Saver online and avoid the queues.

Entertainment will be at Aintree station welcoming our race-going passengers and we'll be giving out the famous Merseyrail flip flops to anyone with sore feet!

Wirral line travel information

There are no changes to Wirral timetables during the three days of The Grand National Festival but if you are travelling from any of our Wirral line stations to the races, we recommend changing onto a train for Aintree station at Moorfields station. 

Ormskirk line timetable changes

  • Trains from Ormskirk to Liverpool will depart up to two minutes earlier than usual during the three days of The Grand National Festival. 

Kirkby line timetable changes

  • Trains between Kirkby and Liverpool city centre will terminate at Sandhills, where passengers can board another service to complete their journey.
  • This will apply to all services between 11:00 – 14:00 and 17:00 – 21:00.
  • Kirkby line passengers travelling towards Liverpool should alight at Sandhills and board any train to Liverpool.
  • Passengers travelling towards Kirkby, should board any train to Southport or Ormskirk from Liverpool Central or Moorfields and change at Sandhills for trains to Kirkby

Southport line timetable changes

  • Trains from Southport to Liverpool will depart up to two minutes earlier than usual during the three days of The Grand National Festival.