Sandhills upgrades signed off
Measures to improve access and capacity have been given the go-ahead for the closest railway station to Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.
Approved conditionally under delegated powers with a decision notice of 31 March, the applicant for the project is Merseytravel, advised by Owen Ellis Architects, the design firm having submitted the planning application for the civils design completed by other parties.
Covered by the consent are the construction of a new ramp, staircase, footbridge and associated landing arrangement from the already-delivered crowd management zone towards the southern end of Sandhills’ island platform.
The application also covered an emergency egress staircase and footpath to Dunes Way, connected to the new staircase and footbridge, along with a new Merseyrail secure compound arrangement for stage containers and associated on-site infrastructure with new fencing and pedestrian and vehicular access gates.
After some worries around the first test event at Bramley-Moore Dock, the second event was widely received as a success, with an estimated 50% of the 25,000 in attendance using public transport beefed up by additional rail services with more carriages.
Crowding around the station has been an area of concern, hence the desire to add infrastructure that will aid the flow of people once attendances at or close to capacity are heading to and from matches at Bramley-Moore Dock from August. Place North West understands that there is, unsurprisingly, an eagerness from city leaders that the project is started as soon as possible.
The plans can be viewed on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal, reference 24F/2773.
From sheep pens to a new staircase: not bad in the four years they’ve had to think about this. And no, the trial event was not a success: too few trains with too few carriages, meaning fans were left standing on stations because they couldn’t get on; and dangerous over-crowding on Sandhills platform. There is no credit due to anyone at Merseytravel, I’m afraid.
By Saint Domingo
Clearly this is something that needs addressing, but this looks like a very poor response to the problem. Is this the arrival that visitors to the new stadium should receive? Even as a red, I would say not….
By Anonymous
Need a new platform going to town and for southport and Ormskirk lines someone will be killed there falling onto the railway lines
By Anonymous
There’ll be less pressure on trains if they put some more frequent bus routes on Gt Howard St,as well as putting a new a new station in at Vauxhall. Why does Rotheram always dither when it’s obvious this area will see a resurgence in population as well as more football and other events at the Everton Stadium. A more sensible parking system will allow more people to use their cars, meanwhile the local businesses can operate as normal.
By Anonymous
A tram system would be more beneficial
By Anonymous
Did not need 2 test events to see the blatenly obvious shortcomings of Sandhills. What’s the betting it won’t be ready for the start of the season
By David
This could all have been done years ago in advance of the new stadium and as part of wider efforts to revive North Liverpool. As always, Rotherham behind the curve.
By Anonymous
Probably done on the cheapest budget, looks it anyway,it’s like the bendybus proposal the cheap alternative to proper trams. The platform at Sandhills is not the narrowest, if anyone knows the tube station at Clapham South then you’d be horrified,and that gets far more crowd pressure. Something had to be done of course but proper forward planning could have avoided all this last-minute activity, as the stadium has been under construction for nearly 4 years.
By Anonymous
I can’t understand the cynicism in these responses: this is a masterpiece of forward planning. Review the minutes of the relevant committee meetings these last four years and you’ll see for yourselves the pace at which the mayor’s team have moved and the challenge posed by the issue.
By More Anonymous than the others
Thats it? a crazy looking footbridge? no additional platforms, wider steps/paths extra ticket hall or toilets? The docks should have had its own line with a underground station at the stadium or trams
By GetItBuilt!
I went the 2nd test event using the train from South parkway. I totally refute it went well , this is clear evidence of marking your own home work. Trains were rammed , Sandhills is embarrassing way too small . The cattle pens as a fix are contemptable , a quick note i challenged the station manager on arrival about the open air pens and the suitability when its raining for example , his reply ? “oh we are now looking for a roof” just about sums up the ineptitude of the people involved . The club and fans have been badly let down.
By Paul M - Woolton
The true test will be the first fullhouse game, and I envisage problems, which you would of course till things settle down, but the whole area needs a transport upgrade.
As a comparison its not much fun getting away from West Ham`s stadium as there are marshalls at various point holding the crowds mostly heading in the same direction from the stadium, the saving grace there is that eventually you reach the public transport which is 2nd to none.
By Anonymous
These proposals are an absolute disgrace. 4 years to plan for a 53000 stadium. Sandhills is not fit for purpose. Anyone who uses Merseyrail knows this.
These proposals will have customers standing out in all weathers with no toilet facilities and no shelter. Winter, with rain or snow?
The 2 test events clearly identified Sandhills station as being totally inadequate to provide a service to EFC supporters attending Everton Stadium and the proposed frequency and size of trains again inadequate for the volume expected to use the service.
By Keith Paterson
We’ve been talking about how were gonna get there and back again befor the concrete was poured city council so slow again if this was Manchester or london we would have had a brand station at sand hills .
By Phil
never any commercial thinking. Always reactive never proactive. Need multiple options, car, rail, ferry. A new rail station is needed nearer to the ground. New car parks near the ground. Option of a ferry. One size doesn’t fit all. Sandhills is not enough on its own. The area around bramley moore needs developing. As someone said below, tram would also be perfect. The stadium was built in a bad location but its about providing solutions. Park and ride to the stadium.
By Anonymous
Are we confident this will be up and running by this August, don’t forget the planning application to build the Baltic Station was submitted in early November 2024 and 5 months later there’s still no go ahead,looking at that application you’d think they were building Crossrail not just one station.
By Anonymous
What does the wheelchairs user do once he/she is up the ramp and is met with another staircase 😂
By Joe burns
The stadiums has been planned and under construction for over 6 years! Why the last minute decision. As an example of the incompetence we have to endure the escalators are finally working at Moorfields. Nearly 2 years out of action for a major railway station in the centre of the business district…. no surprise LCC were responsible for their upkeep!
By Anonymous
Do Merseytravel not like people with mobility issues?
No doubt the lift will be out of service like most other stations.
It probably wont improve the Headbolt lane service either, will lead to more train cancellations……..oh yeah, and fairs will increase!
By TaxPayer
This is 5 years behind in thinking, and if anything like the Garden Festival site, then should be ready for building in 2047…
See the council have given themselves a pat on the back today for a job well done with the private sector……..they could have just said we are giving a big thank you to Home Bargains as they seem to be the only ones getting planning approvals.
By Resident
So when interviewed by Giulia Bould, BBC Mr Rotherham explained more trains can’t run due to an “analogue signalling system” and needing ” Headway” between trains.
So how come during the Grand National the frequency of trains on the same Northern line is doubled from 1 every 15 mins to 1 every 7.5 mins.
Same line,same signalling equipment presumably same “headway”
Somebody isn’t telling the truth.
By Ray Carvin
I have arthritis where is the additional ramp at the south end of the platform a big lift would help people with serious mobility issues
By I have arthritis where is the additional ramp at the south end of the platform a big lift would help people with serious mobility issues
Can someone please explain to me how this is going to help capacity and access I have arthritis and am incapable of walking up stairs I thought the work would have incorporated a lift as well as stairs and the stairs should have lead down to the other side of the track to shorten the distance to the stadium 😤
By Graham