Merseyrail plans to expand facilities at Sandhills amid concerns over Everton matchday congestion

Everton's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium has significantly increased demand at nearby Sandhills station, with Merseyrail now seeking permission to expand its facilities on matchdays.

The plans are aimed at easing congestion and improving safety as thousands of supporters use the station before and after Everton fixtures.

Merseyrail plans further Sandhills improvements for Everton matchdays

Merseyrail has submitted plans to Liverpool City Council to further improve Sandhills station following a significant rise in matchday demand since Everton moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2025.

Thousands of supporters now use the station around Everton fixtures, placing greater pressure on its existing facilities.

A new footbridge and crowd corralling area was recently installed, but Merseyrail believes further measures are required to safely manage the increased footfall.

The latest proposals include an expanded corralling area with destination-specific queues, additional passenger welfare facilities, permanent toilets and space for potential future catering services.

Further stair access to the platform footbridge and a new bus stop and interchange at Dunes Way are also planned.

Owen Ellis Architects, acting for Merseyrail, said the previous measures had increased the station's access capacity but that further improvements were necessary to handle match and event-day pedestrian traffic effectively.

A major increase in train services or a completely new Sandhills station appears less likely in the near future.

Steve Rotheram previously estimated a new station could cost around £100m and said existing footfall may not justify the investment.

The Liverpool City Region mayor has also warned that the network's analogue signalling limits the scope for running more frequent services, with conversion to digital signalling previously estimated at around £200m and likely to cause significant disruption.

FGG says: Sandhills improvements are much needed for Everton fans

Everton's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium has clearly changed the demands placed on Sandhills, with thousands of supporters now passing through the station around every home fixture.

The previous investment in a new footbridge and crowd control measures has helped, but Merseyrail's latest plans demonstrate that there is still work to be done to make matchday travel as safe and efficient as possible.

With a major expansion of train services unlikely in the foreseeable future, improving passenger facilities and managing the flow of supporters will be particularly important for Everton fans heading to and from the new stadium.