6 days Ago
Racegoers will have an easier time getting to the Grand National this weekend by train – with extra services and carriages added. The annual festival, which started today (April 3), will see people flock from all across the UK to Aintree to watch, and bet, on races. More than 60,000 people are expected to make the journey on Friday (April 4) – and more than 70,000 on Saturday (April 5).
Northern Railway will be strengthening some existing services with extra carriages on trains to and from Liverpool. These trains will be on the Wigan North Western to and from Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens Central on Friday evening and throughout Saturday. Extra carriages will also be on the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport line on Saturday evening.
The train operator will also be bringing extra staff in to help. Northern service train at Liverpool Lime Street Station (Image: Northern) Have a story? Get in touch at eoin.mccaul@newsquest.
co.uk Northern Railway will also be running extra trains between Preston and Omskirk on both days to cope with the numbers. The extra trains will run on both Friday and Saturday from Preston to Ormskirk at 9.
34am and 11.34am and from Ormskirk to Preston at 7.18pm and 9.
18pm. READ MORE: Drones banned from flying above racecourse during Aintree festival READ MORE: Celebre d’Allen poised to take Grand National chance READ MORE: Dry week forecast as Aintree continues to water Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “We’re delighted to be providing some extra horsepower to help get racegoers to the Grand National and safely home again. “The Grand National is one of the biggest sporting events in our calendar, and we’re working closely with our partners at Merseyrail and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to ensure the event is a success.
“With increased capacity and the extra services that we’ve been able to provide, we’re making it easier than ever for racing fans to enjoy the excitement of the day. “Driving to the festival is going to be difficult, so we’re encouraging everybody to back a winner and get home by train!”.
