More upgrades required at Sandhills to cater for Toffees

After the installation of a new footbridge to accommodate the thousands of Everton supporters who use the station following the club’s move from Goodison Park to Liverpool’s waterfront, additional improvements are now planned.

Operated by Merseyrail, Sandhills is the closest train station to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which can hold 54,000 fans.

Matchdays throughout the 2025/26 season have seen a spike in users of the station, prompting safety concerns.

As a result, Merseyrail is seeking to expand the crowd management zone at Sandhills, increasing capacity. Destination specific queues are to be established as part of the crowd management strategy.

Recent improvements at the station included the installation of a new footbridge, however, more work is needed to make sure the station can function in light of its new-found popularity.

Planning documents submitted to Liverpool City Council state that it has “become evident that the station’s continued ability to cope with the demand seen on match/event days requires further improvements to able to efficiently and effectively handle the volume of pedestrian traffic being generated”.

A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson said: “The Fan Management Zone at Sandhills station plays a vital role in safely managing large volumes of supporters travelling to and from major events at both Hill Dickinson Stadium and Anfield.

“The proposed improvements will expand the capacity of the zone and enhance the layout, accessibility and crowd flow, helping to ensure a more efficient and comfortable experience for fans while minimising disruption to the wider transport network and local area.”

Owen Ellis Architects worked with Merseytravel on the application, which can be found by searching reference 26F/1465 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.