Getting to the the Grand National Festival couldn't be easier than by train, with 7½ 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 plan your journey ahead.
Trains to and from Aintree

On Thursday 4 and Friday 5 April, a 7 ½ minute service will run between Aintree and Liverpool Central and Moorfields stations at the following times:

  • From approximately 12:00 – 13:30 before the races
  • From approximately 16:20 – 20:00 after the races

On Saturday 6 April, a 7 ½ minute service will run between Aintree and Liverpool Central and Moorfields stations at the following times:

  • From approximately 11:30 – 13:30 before the races
  • From approximately 17:35 – 20:00 after the races

Buy your tickets in advance from any staffed Merseyrail station and avoid the queues.
Radio City 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!
If you are travelling from Wirral to the races, you can change from an Wirral line service onto a train for Aintree at Moorfields station.
Ormskirk line timetable changes

  • Trains travelling from Liverpool towards Ormskirk will depart 8 minutes earlier than usual until 20:00.
  • Trains travelling from Ormskirk towards Liverpool will depart 2 minutes earlier until 20:00.
  • There will be a 30 minute service at Town Green or Aughton Park stations between 07:00 and 20:00, for train times see below.


Kirkby line timetable changes

  • Trains from Kirkby to Liverpool will terminate at Sandhills, where passengers can board another train to Liverpool to complete their journey. This will apply to all services between 11:28 – 13:13 and 16:28 – 19:28 on Thursday and Friday, and 10:58 – 13:13 and 17:28 – 19:28 on Saturday.
  • Trains from Liverpool to Kirkby, will start at Sandhills. Passengers should board any train for Southport at either Liverpool Central or Moorfields and change on to a Kirkby service at Sandhills. This will apply to all services between 11:50 – 13:35 and 16:50 – 19:35 on Thursday and Friday, and 11:20 – 13:35 and 17:50 – 19:05 on Saturday.

Southport line timetable changes

Trains from Brunswick towards Southport will leave stations 4 minutes later than usual at all stations until 20:30.
Ellesmere Port line timetable changes

The 16:33 and 17:33 from Moorfields to El