Sandhills station capacity enhancement updates

[Djgr]

According to the Liverpool Echo, major improvements are to take place here over the next year, primarily to support increased traffic to Everton's new stadium, but also to support ongoing housing redevelopment.

 

[childwallblues]

Sandhills is the major interchange line between trains to/from Southport and those to/from Ormskirk and Kirkby. Whilst it has been rebuilt in recent years it is only an island platform and is in an elevated position.
To cope with the crowds that will attend matches at the new stadium which is only about ten minutes walking distance there will have to be some sort of crowd control.

 

[AGH]

Lots of spare land around there and a chunk I suspect still owned by NR. It will need a second exit / entrance for Bramley Moor Stadium (naming rights sure to change that) preferably at the Liverpool end?. I can imagine though given its proximity and likely congestion, that a walk back to the city will be first choice for those going that way. Moorfields Old Hall street exit opening on Match days might be an additional good idea. Suspect James Street will get additional flow as well so Water Street exit might be utilized (is it still open in peak hours?) Going down is infinitely better than up!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2023 ==

Liverpool Echo report Fan Management zone and extra staircase. Massive queue area in other words. Can't see that being popular and a bit of a sticking plaster.

 

[Skie]

I think from the early plans mooted last year the second entrance would come up at the Liverpool end of the platform using an existing arch/tunnel for the road at that end.

 

[Vespa]

What about a second station much closer further down the line with a much shorter walking distance tailored to crowd control and named "Everton Stadium"

 

[Skie]

What about a second station much closer further down the line with a much shorter walking distance tailored to crowd control and named "Everton Stadium"

The crayonistas have been wanting a Vauxhall station for a while. It’s not a terrible idea but the demand isn’t there yet even with BMD.

A new station on a viaduct is going to be close to £100 million, so adding a second entrance to an existing station with some match day crowd management will be much more attractive. If that area gets as popular as the council hopes then you could justify another station but that is easily 10-20 years away.

 

[TheSel]

To cope with the crowds that will attend matches at the new stadium which is only about ten minutes walking distance there will have to be some sort of crowd control.

Relegation this season, perhaps? Would that work?

 

[5562]

Nice one.
Are Everton FC paying or contributing for the improvements as a planning condition?

 

[samrammstein]

Google Maps suggests walking from the current exit at Sandhills to the new stadium will take 14 minutes (0.7 miles) which is the same distance as from Kirkdale station to Goodison Park. However with direct trains serving Sandhills from all directions (not just the OMS/KIR services that Kirkdale has) it will be a lot easier for people to take the train.

I wonder if these works will be done in 12 months time for the expected opening of the new stadium at the start of next season...

 

[prod_pep]

This seems like a good compromise to me. IIRC the proposed Vauxhall station is/was planned to be sited at or near Lightbody Street and Houlgrave Road. Much closer to Bramley-Moore than via the old entrance at Sandhills, but would it command sufficient residential demand so close to town?

 

[hacman]

If there was suitable funding, the Sandhills site has space on either side to add extra flank platforms. This would allow the central platform to be used on quiet days, and a "Spanish solution" type setup to be used on event days.

As with all things it will come down to cost though.

 

[185]

Relegation this season, perhaps? Would that work?

Lol brutal

 

[Mcr Warrior]

This would allow the central platform to be used on quiet days, and a "Spanish solution" type setup to be used on event days.

Does anywhere on the GB rail network currently adopt this practice (of having separate platforms for boarding and alighting). Can only think of the inter-terminal shuttle at Gatwick Airport as being anything that's similar.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Does anywhere on the GB rail network currently adopt this practice (of having separate platforms for boarding and alighting). Can only think of the inter-terminal shuttle at Gatwick Airport as being anything that's similar.

Tower Gateway on the DLR does, or did.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If there was suitable funding, the Sandhills site has space on either side to add extra flank platforms. This would allow the central platform to be used on quiet days, and a "Spanish solution" type setup to be used on event days.

As with all things it will come down to cost though.

Sandhills was originally 4 tracks and 4 platforms (2 side and an island), there were remnants of the old side platforms visible there when I was a kid. So there's certainly space.

Amazingly this Pinterest post shows what it used to look like!

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/298645019032989388/

I've never noticed that former junction before, but it's clearly visible on a Google Maps aerial view. It looks like the platforms have been shortened at the bridge, presumably to allow it to be raised to let larger lorries pass.

If they had more money to spare it actually looks like rebuilding it the other side of the bridge would make crowds easier to handle, as it would allow a VERY wide island and side platforms. It also appears that there's some sort of old entrance under the bridge, all bricked up.

 

[Skie]

If they had more money to spare it actually looks like rebuilding it the other side of the bridge would make crowds easier to handle, as it would allow a VERY wide island and side platforms. It also appears that there's some sort of old entrance under the bridge, all bricked up.

The first location of the station was on the Southport side of the bridge, hence the now bricked up entrances. Can’t really move platforms there due to the junction layout being so close, though there is plenty of space in the area to shift them up but that would just add to the costs and disruption.

Spanish style solution could be neat though, with the outer platforms being exit only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

This video:

provides a nice little history of the station though doesn't seem to mention the original site being the other side (though the present station did extend across the bridge). About 2/3 of the way through it shows the island being rebuilt wider onto two of the four trackbeds and where the side platforms were (and could be again if your suggestion was taken up).

 

[Parjon]

Nice one.
Are Everton FC paying or contributing for the improvements as a planning condition?

"Lol"

This stadium will be an expensive infrastructure disaster, with the local authorities compelled to fund solutions to numerous very obvious issues, rail being just one.

But none of that mattered. The previous "mayor" was an everton fan. The lump may not have given two hoots about the city, but... It is only by concerted effort that the taxpayer wasn't on the hook for the stadium itself (via a loan) never mind the necessary supporting infrastructure.

Don't worry though: Every penny will be charged to us in the Liverpool region, taking money out of the budget for worthwhile things.

 

[Skie]

This video:

provides a nice little history of the station though doesn't seem to mention the original site being the other side (though the present station did extend across the bridge). About 2/3 of the way through it shows the island being rebuilt wider onto two of the four trackbeds and where the side platforms were (and could be again if your suggestion was taken up).

NLS shows the layout here https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...&lon=-2.99144&layers=117746212&right=ESRITopo

Pre 1874 as Liverpool Central isn’t yet built. Incredible amount of railway already in place considering!

 

[karlbbb]

NLS shows the layout here https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...&lon=-2.99144&layers=117746212&right=ESRITopo

Pre 1874 as Liverpool Central isn’t yet built. Incredible amount of railway already in place considering!

Very interesting to see Sandhills was originally entirely on the other side of the road to what it is now. Switching the left map to a later map (link here) shows the extension across the road to be in place somewhere between 1892-1914.

 

[childwallblues]

What a fantastic video. Although I lived around 5 miles from the Sandhills/Bank Hall area it was safe cycling every where in the late 50s/early sixties and the road bridge on Stanley Road just north of Sandhills Station had low walls to see all these activities. My photograph was taken by the late Jim Peden in 1957 shows Bank Hall Jubilee 45698 Mars passing through the station with a Liverpool Exchange to York express.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

To cope with the crowds that will attend matches at the new stadium which is only about ten minutes walking distance there will have to be some sort of crowd control.

Wonder whether Sandhills will end up not being served by trains for an hour or so immediately after matches / events have ended at the new (Everton FC) stadium, similar to the practice elsewhere at Coventry Arena station?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wonder whether Sandhills will end up not being served by trains for an hour or so immediately after matches / events have ended at the new (Everton FC) stadium, similar to the practice elsewhere at Coventry Arena station?

The whole point of the work is to provide added capacity for precisely that, is it not? It's hardly used other than interchange at other times, it's basically in the middle of a run down industrial area, and those in the only significant housing nearby, the Eldonian estates, are probably going to use the bus as it's a shorter walk.

(Indeed there's been argument before for a new station, Eldonian, to directly serve that housing).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The whole point of the work is to provide added capacity for precisely that, is it not?

Indeed, but will the new stadium be open and operational before the station improvements have been completed?

 

[childwallblues]

Wonder whether Sandhills will end up not being served by trains for an hour or so immediately after matches / events have ended at the new (Everton FC) stadium, similar to the practice elsewhere at Coventry Arena station?

Highly unlikely as the station is served by 24 trains per hour.

 

[73001]

Highly unlikely as the station is served by 24 trains per hour.

They're pretty good at queuing people after events, eg Aintree, so I expect they'll get it sorted as to what they're doing after each match quite quickly.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Everton FC held their opening test event at their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium on Monday evening (17th February 2025), this an u18s friendly fixture with c. 10,000 in attendance. Despite this being less than 20% of the new ground's 52,888 capacity, various media outlets, including the BBC, have been reporting significant problems occurring at Sandhills station afterwards.

Everton: Fan concerns after Bramley-Moore Dock test event

Everton: Fan concerns after Bramley-Moore Dock test event

www.bbc.com

Extract...

...Speaking to BBC Sport, Barry Williams from Everton Fans' Forum said: "When we got back to Sandhills there was no organisation at all. It was basically just a free-for-all to get back on the platform. No structure to it. They weren't guiding anyone where to go.

"The ground was one fifth full. It just doesn't look like Sandhills is going to be able to cope. The Council haven't helped themselves with the parking restrictions. They need to really reconsider it. The fans forum will be writing to the Council over the next few weeks...

More here...

Everton: Bramley-Moore Dock - Reaction to Sandhills complaints

Everton: Bramley-Moore Dock - Reaction to Sandhills complaints

www.bbc.com

Extract...

...Fans were full of praise for Everton's new home but some took to social media to raise issues - particularly at Sandhills station, which is the closest stop to the ground, where there seemed to be overcrowding on the platform.

Liverpool councillor Richard Clein told the Liverpool Echo, he fears "major safety issues" at the station, and the infrastructure "clearly hasn't been thought through..."

Be interesting to see how the issues are satisfactorily resolved.

 

[Mikey C]

It's a pretty pokey station really. The island platform layout isn't ideal either, as at least with separate north and southbound platforms you can have separate queues for each direction.

Instead, there's one holding area and it seems people are being released when their train arrives.

 

[73001]

Everton FC held their opening test event at their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium on Monday evening (17th February 2025), this an u18s friendly fixture with c. 10,000 in attendance. Despite this being less than 20% of the new ground's 52,888 capacity, various media outlets, including the BBC, have been reporting significant problems occurring at Sandhills station afterwards.

Everton: Fan concerns after Bramley-Moore Dock test event

Everton: Fan concerns after Bramley-Moore Dock test event

www.bbc.com

Extract...



More here...

Everton: Bramley-Moore Dock - Reaction to Sandhills complaints

Everton: Bramley-Moore Dock - Reaction to Sandhills complaints

www.bbc.com

Extract...


Be interesting to see how the issues are satisfactorily resolved.

As with any new venue, it'll take a bit of time for people to find their preferred route. As well as Sandhills, there will be a constant flow of buses from Lime St, Liverpool ONE and Bootle Strand. Traffic issues around match time are a constant issue for Liverpool, so trying to 'encourage' more people to use public transport is a must for the city.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Traffic issues around match time are a constant issue for Liverpool, so trying to 'encourage' more people to use public transport is a must for the city.

That's potentially the nub of the problem, if too many folk then decide that Sandhills station is the way to go to/from the new stadium using public transport and the station gets overwhelmed.