Increased train services for Magic Weekend 2026 at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium
Merseyrail advises fans to plan ahead for a busy travel weekend
Fans heading to the Magic Weekend 2026 at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium will experience extra train services as Merseyrail prepares for increased demand on the weekend of 4th and 5th July.
The event follows last year's successful ABK Rugby League Ashes fixture at Everton's new venue, drawing enthusiasm from supporters and setting expectations high for this summer's occasion.
On Saturday, 4th July, train services on the Southport, Ormskirk, Hunts Cross, and Headbolt Lane lines will operate every 15 minutes to accommodate the crowds attending the games. Adjustments to the regular timetable will occur on the Southport line between 10:45 and 16:30, and throughout the day on the Headbolt Lane line from 10:51 to 19:36. At Cressington station, trains will run every 30 minutes from the start of service until closing.
A special timetable will be in effect on Sunday, 5th July, ensuring additional services are available to support travel to and from the stadium.
Fans can use the Journey Planner on Merseyrail’s website or app to check train times before travelling.
For those choosing to walk, the Old Hall Street exit at Moorfields station offers approximately a 25-minute route to the stadium. Sandhills station will feature a dedicated fan management zone to ensure safe crowd management.
"We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of fans onto our network for Magic Weekend and are working closely with partners to make sure everyone can travel safely and smoothly," Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said.
He advised, "We’ll be running extra services and putting in place measures to help manage busy stations, but we expect trains to be very busy at peak times. We’re asking customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journey, and check before they travel so they can enjoy the event from the moment they set off."
Merseyrail welcomes approximately 90,000 passengers on its network each weekday, known for its extensive service coverage with over 600 trains daily.