Why Everton fans were left stranded at train station after Carabao Cup victory

Everton supporters were left stranded at Sandhills station on Wednesday night due to a camera fault on one of the scheduled trains.

The Toffees were playing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the third round of the EFL Cup against Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday (September 16).

The game looked destined for penalty kicks before substitute midfielder Charly Alcaraz scored the match-winning strike in the 80th minute, breaking the hearts of the second-tier visitors.

As a result, David Moyes's side have been rewarded with a fourth-round clash against fellow Premier League side Newcastle United on the week commencing October 26.

Everton return to top-flight action at the Hill Dickinson on Saturday afternoon, when relegation favourites Ipswich Town are the visitors to the newest Merseyside venue.

Explained: Everton fans learn reason for severe delay at station

The jubilant scenes inside the Hill Dickinson on Wednesday night soon turned to frustration for many on their way home, with 8,000 supporters passing through Sandhills train station after the match.

Fans quickly jumped onto social media after the fixture to complain of delays with the public transport, with some Merseysiders waiting around an hour at Sandhills for a train to arrive at the platform.

This led to major queues on site which spilled out onto the main roads, with certain sections of commuters not moving for 30 minutes before the next service arrived at the station.

Responding to the complaints, Merseyrail have released a statement addressing Wednesday night's difficulties, which reads: “We had an additional service post-match scheduled for 10.20pm, however this service was terminated at Sandhills after a fault was identified with one of the train’s door-monitoring cameras. In line with our safety procedures, the train was withdrawn from service and returned to depot for assessment.

“The train involved was moved after 10 minutes, this resulted in some delays to Northern Line services while passengers were safely detrained. We apologise to customers affected, particularly those travelling home after the football, and thank them for their patience.”

What is being done to prevent future Sandhill problems?

Wednesday night's issues have come at an important time, highlighting the challenges faced by Sandhills station before and after Everton home matches.

Next week, plans to expand the station will be presented to Liverpool Council's planning committee, hoping to address the overcrowding problems recently experienced.

The proposal includes an expansion of the waiting areas, as well as new toilets, a new bus stop and a section for food and drink kiosks.

FGG says: Teething issues at Sandhills

It is important to remember that the Hill Dickinson has only been officially open for just over a year, meaning that the surrounding public transport is still going through different stress tests.

Although delays and queues like the ones witnessed on Wednesday night are frustrating, supporters can rest assured that the local authorities are committed to improving the experience at Sandhills station.