Euro 2028: Manchester - Liverpool Corridor

[Tetchytyke]

The rapid transit vehicles are bendy buses…!

What's wrong with that?

Single decker buses are much better suited to airport routes because most people are travelling with luggage. Nobody wants to leave their suitcase downstairs and sit upstairs where they can't see it.

Bendybuses give you more capacity than a rigid single decker, so they're the most sensible option.

The 500 used to be an express bus using Citaro bendies. It should never have changed.

The 500 bus is every 30 minutes express from Liverpool Airport - Liverpool ONE Bus station, but the 86A which is every 7/8 minutes stops at Liverpool South Parkway (which the 500 doesnt) and stops everywhere.

The 500 isn't an express. I think it skips a couple of stops through Cressington but otherwise it stops everywhere. Most of the time saving is because it doesn't go into South Parkway. It's no faster than the 82A which also doesn't serve South Parkway.

The 86A takes forever because it does a tour of Allerton on the way into the centre.

Most international fans landing at Manchester Airport will inevitably end up at Piccadilly and then look for the quickest route to Liverpool.

They'd just get the direct train from Manchester Airport to Lime Street, no? Usually they're six carriages; you can get a lot of people on a double 323.

 

[Fokx]

The 500 used to be an express bus using Citaro bendies. It should never have changed.

It should because it's now a much busier service than it ever used to be whilst it was as an express (or as the brief period or was a stopping service via South Parkway and ran to Runcorn)

The 500 isn't an express. I think it skips a couple of stops through Cressington but otherwise it stops everywhere. Most of the time saving is because it doesn't go into South Parkway. It's no faster than the 82A which also doesn't serve South Parkway.

It's limited stop as far as Jericho Lane/Aigburth Vale then all stops until it once again reaches Jericho Lane/Aigburth Vale

Roughly half the journey is express, half the journey is a stopping service

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2026 ==

There used to be 10+ years ago a express bus called the 501 that was basically just the 500 but stopped at Liverpool South Parkway if I remember correctly, I don't know why they got rid of it but they did.

Passenger numbers were low except for specific flights times, and Arriva were effectively competing with themselves on route 80A and 86A which already served the airport and South Parkway directly.

(Both the 80A and 86A have seen timetable reductions since, the 80A is now every 40 minutes, and the 86A no longer runs a 24/7 service)

 

[Paul AC]

There’s a valid argument that had Old Trafford been selected as a venue, it would have seen more local people travelling to the matches there than in normal circumstances!

I suggest your argument is NOT valid, though it is widely held. Yes there are many people who live in the London area (say) that support Manchester United and will try to attend most of their home games, but the same applies to Liverpool and Manchester City, and others. The reverse also applies with north-based fans attending London teams' home games in large numbers.

With an average home attendance of around 74000, it is inevitable that large numbers of Manchester United fans will be travelling from London and elsewhere; it does not mean that there are relatively few local fans!

Even now the number of match attendees is limited by the size of the stadium, hence the desire to build a new 100k-seat stadium.

 

[The Planner]

I suggest your argument is NOT valid, though it is widely held. Yes there are many people who live in the London area (say) that support Manchester United and will try to attend most of their home games, but the same applies to Liverpool and Manchester City, and others. The reverse also applies with north-based fans attending London teams' home games in large numbers.

With an average home attendance of around 74000, it is inevitable that large numbers of Manchester United fans will be travelling from London and elsewhere; it does not mean that there are relatively few local fans!

Even now the number of match attendees is limited by the size of the stadium, hence the desire to build a new 100k-seat stadium.

Thats one hell of a bite.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's limited stop as far as Jericho Lane/Aigburth Vale then all stops until it once again reaches Jericho Lane/Aigburth Vale

Roughly half the journey is express, half the journey is a stopping service

They've changed it again, it stops everywhere along Riverside Drive and it stops everywhere through the business park after the Crowne Plaza/retail park stop. It's just the bit along Aigburth Road where it skips a few stops, but still picks up a fair few even there.

It's not good enough for what pretends to be a major airport. But, in fairness to Arriva, when I've caught it towards the airport most people on it from the city centre haven't been heading to the airport at all, quite a lot have been getting off at DPD in the business park. Away from the airport it has been busier but that makes sense with 100 people off a flight all heading for the same bus.

The fact that it's no faster than the 82A- which could also do with being a bendy-bus because of the low bridges on the Runcorn busway- is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Djgr]

I suggest your argument is NOT valid, though it is widely held. Yes there are many people who live in the London area (say) that support Manchester United and will try to attend most of their home games, but the same applies to Liverpool and Manchester City, and others. The reverse also applies with north-based fans attending London teams' home games in large numbers.

With an average home attendance of around 74000, it is inevitable that large numbers of Manchester United fans will be travelling from London and elsewhere; it does not mean that there are relatively few local fans!

Even now the number of match attendees is limited by the size of the stadium, hence the desire to build a new 100k-seat stadium.

And of course Manchester United is not even in Manchester!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2026 ==

They've changed it again, it stops everywhere along Riverside Drive and it stops everywhere through the business park after the Crowne Plaza/retail park stop. It's just the bit along Aigburth Road where it skips a few stops, but still picks up a fair few even there.

It's not good enough for what pretends to be a major airport. But, in fairness to Arriva, when I've caught it towards the airport most people on it from the city centre haven't been heading to the airport at all, quite a lot have been getting off at DPD in the business park. Away from the airport it has been busier but that makes sense with 100 people off a flight all heading for the same bus.

The fact that it's no faster than the 82A- which could also do with being a bendy-bus because of the low bridges on the Runcorn busway- is pretty ridiculous.

And I believe all of this will be changed in time for the Euros, as a result of bus franchising coming in.

And one reason that franchising is coming in is to stop this constant changing of routes that deters many casual passengers and all to throw some more coffers into the fat cat pot.

 

[AlexSJW]

Euro 2028?
Game in Manchester, many will come in via Ringway. No problem.
Game in Liverpool at Bramley Moore Dock, then I assume both airports will be used. From John Lennon, shuttle to Sth Parkway, then Northern Line to Sandhills. From Lime St, a shuttle to Bramley Moore Dock. Or change onto Merseyrail then onto Sandhills.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Euro 2028?
Game in Manchester, many will come in via Ringway. No problem.
Game in Liverpool at Bramley Moore Dock, then I assume both airports will be used. From John Lennon, shuttle to Sth Parkway, then Northern Line to Sandhills. From Lime St, a shuttle to Bramley Moore Dock. Or change onto Merseyrail then onto Sandhills.

No. From John Lennon*, extra buses to town/the north docks.

It's cheaper to lay on extra buses than extra trains, and why insist on all the visitors having to change from airport bus to train instead of getting a bus right through?

*Incidentally, why 'Ringway' and 'John Lennon'? Surely Ringway and Speke, or Manchester International and John Lennon?

 

[The exile]

What's wrong with that?

Single decker buses are much better suited to airport routes because most people are travelling with luggage. Nobody wants to leave their suitcase downstairs and sit upstairs where they can't see it.

All very true - it’s the “over puffing” of a bus connection and the consequent devaluation of the term “rapid transit”. A fully segregated guided busway using large bendy buses at frequent intervals might just about qualify as rapid transit; normal buses or even on-street trams do not.

 

[AlexSJW]

No. From John Lennon*, extra buses to town/the north docks.

It's cheaper to lay on extra buses than extra trains, and why insist on all the visitors having to change from airport bus to train instead of getting a bus right through?

*Incidentally, why 'Ringway' and 'John Lennon'? Surely Ringway and Speke, or Manchester International and John Lennon?

A Merseyrail train can hold around eight hundred. Buses cannot compete.
I do not think it will be a problem as many of the fans will want to be in the city centres before the games. Many will stay overnight.

This highlights the missing Merseyrail train station at John Lennon airport. Visitor to the country will not be impressed having to take a shuttle bus to a staion a mile away.

 

[The Planner]

No. From John Lennon*, extra buses to town/the north docks.

It's cheaper to lay on extra buses than extra trains, and why insist on all the visitors having to change from airport bus to train instead of getting a bus right through?

*Incidentally, why 'Ringway' and 'John Lennon'? Surely Ringway and Speke, or Manchester International and John Lennon?

This is RailUKForums, people have to call things by what they were originally named 70 years ago.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

This is RailUKForums, people have to call things by what they were originally named 70 years ago.

Mr Lennon was still at Quarry Bank High 70 years ago, and the airport wasn't named after a schoolboy (or at the current location).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

This highlights the missing Merseyrail train station at John Lennon airport. Visitor to the country will not be impressed having to take a shuttle bus to a staion a mile away.

So why not stay on the bus all the way to town?

 

[mmh]

This highlights the missing Merseyrail train station at John Lennon airport. Visitor to the country will not be impressed having to take a shuttle bus to a staion a mile away.

They'll have quite likely had to do similar at their departure airport and won't bat an eyelid. Most airports don't have a railway station on site.

 

[AlexSJW]

They'll have quite likely had to do similar at their departure airport and won't bat an eyelid. Most airports don't have a railway station on site.

Even the T and W Metro has a station as the airport. I can't think of a city with a comprehensive metro and airport that does not have a station at the airport.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Thisw highlights the missing Merseyrail train station at John Lennon airport. Visitor to the country will not be impressed having to take a shuttle bus to a staion a mile away.

They’ll just take a bus to the city centre. Works in a lot of European cities, most airports don’t have trains.

 

[frodshamfella]

Even the T and W Metro has a station as the airport. I can't think of a city with a comprehensive metro and airport that does not have a station at the airport.

There has been lots of discussion about bringing Merseyrail to Liverpool Airport, and whilst it would be most welcome, its all down to cost. The easiest access is a spur from the main Liverpool to Crewe railway line, East of that airport, as it mainly farmland. If it was going come directly from a Merseyrail line at Hunts Cross or South Parkway, there would be a lot of tunnelling required. Unfortunately this is not London, so much less cash is spent up here on much needed infrastructure.

 

[Djgr]

This is RailUKForums, people have to call things by what they were originally named 70 years ago.

Only renamed in 2001! Yes it's annoying when people don't acknowledge the change.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==

Even the T and W Metro has a station as the airport. I can't think of a city with a comprehensive metro and airport that does not have a station at the airport.

Liverpool is the 10th busiest UK airport. Above it neither Bristol nor Glasgow have stations (and access to Bristol is particularly bad)

 

[childwallblues]

The Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority says we cannot afford it. He prefers to spend it on bringing the buses back into public ownership instead.
Perhaps Mr Rotheram should ask his mate Mr Burnham who is an Everton supporter for the money.

 

[The exile]

Even the T and W Metro has a station as the airport. I can't think of a city with a comprehensive metro and airport that does not have a station at the airport.

Hardly big airports but try Dortmund and Karlsruhe fir starters.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

The Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority says we cannot afford it. He prefers to spend it on bringing the buses back into public ownership instead.
Perhaps Mr Rotheram should ask his mate Mr Burnham who is an Everton supporter for the money.

A question or three: how many people use the buses? And how many use the airport? And of those at the airport, how many would use a rail link if there was one?

 

[kento]

Liverpool Airport is mostly budget airlines with heavy demand for early morning departures and late night arrivals. Allowing for check-in times the rail network cannot service these travellers, for example the first trains on Merseyrail are around 6am. So public transport probably isn't an option if your flight is before 9am. Liverpool South Parkway has regular service bus links (80A 86A) to the airport with a journey time around 15/20 minutes but over the years since LPY opened several dedicated direct buslinks have been withdrawn, presumably because of lack of passengers. However, what might help as a first step is a ticketing facility at the airport for a bus/train through ticket, currently you cannot even buy a Merseyside dayticket at the airport on arrival.

 

[Fokx]

However, what might help as a first step is a ticketing facility at the airport for a bus/train through ticket, currently you cannot even buy a Merseyside dayticket at the airport on arrival.

There used to be one at the Airport under the former stairs/escalator to the departure lounge that had information on local bus timetables, tickets, sold Savaways and also Liverpool themed memorabilia

It didn't last too long though, becoming a passenger assistance area and then JET 2 passenger services agents offices and information desk

 

[Djgr]

There used to be one at the Airport under the former stairs/escalator to the departure lounge that had information on local bus timetables, tickets, sold Savaways and also Liverpool themed memorabilia

It didn't last too long though, becoming a passenger assistance area and then JET 2 passenger services agents offices and information desk

In the context of Euro 2028, the bus fare structure and schedules at LJLA are likely to be substantially different than now because LCR bus franchising will be fully in place by then.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think most foreign visitors will come via Manchester and Liverpool airports, as there are direct flights from most European airports, just not "British" Airways.

Liverpool only really has beach-type flights to the Mediterranean, there are far fewer European city flights compared to Manchester.
Any flights will already be full of UK holiday passengers anyway, in almost peak season.

 

[Ellis101]

Liverpool only really has beach-type flights to the Mediterranean, there are far fewer European city flights compared to Manchester.
Any flights will already be full of UK holiday passengers anyway, in almost peak season.

The European flights have expanded a lot in the recent years, majority of EU destinations you can get to from Manchester you can now get to from Liverpool.

 

[Djgr]

The European flights have expanded a lot in the recent years, majority of EU destinations you can get to from Manchester you can now get to from Liverpool.

Yes. A lot of the destinations are in no way package holiday type places.

During the month of October I counted 59 destinations in 25 countries.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

During the month of October I counted 59 destinations in 25 countries.

This may not be comparing like with like, but DuckDuckGo's AI tells me

Manchester Airport serves over 200 destinations in 2026, making it one of the largest airports in the UK for international travel.

It's really not terribly viable to argue that Liverpool airport should directly compete with Manchester (and so have rail links equivalent to Manchester). I have always said that I don't want Liverpool to be a second rate Manchester: I'd rather have it be a first rate Liverpool. And that applies to the airports as much as the rest of the cities. Airport-wise, just as neither Southend or White Waltham try to compete with Heathrow, let's have Manchester as a world class airport for the entire North West (and maybe the entire North) while Liverpool is a properly served airport for Liverpool.

 

[Mikey C]

Surely more people will be staying in hotels than for domestic games, so that even if someone arrives in Manchester airport for games in Liverpool, they will then just take the train to Liverpool for their hotel.

Sandhills station after the game will be more of a bottleneck.

 

[AlterEgo]

The European flights have expanded a lot in the recent years, majority of EU destinations you can get to from Manchester you can now get to from Liverpool.

Manchester Airport serves 127 EU airports compared to Liverpool's 56, it isn't even close.

 

[AlastairFraser]

world class airport for the entire North West

hahahahhaha world class.
Returning to the topic - I wonder if ferry shuttle services with a temporary jetty at the bottom of Speke Hall and another temporary jetty at Bramley Moore Dock would make sense.
You could charge a premium fare and I'd think it would go down quite well with overseas football fans heading for a match.
For the others, a cheaper option could be direct shuttle buses via the A562 and Queens Drive.
It's probably quicker to avoid Liverpool City Centre in times of heavy traffic, and it would still only be around 35-40 mins using that route.
Circular shuttle buses to Liverpool South Parkway then Hunts Cross from the Airport might make sense too, 20-25 mins, but may be worth timetabling at 30 mins to add a bit of padding.

In terms of Manchester - I wonder if they can ramp up capacity on the tram network to Trafford Bar, and then close some nearby roads to create a safe walking route to the stadium. A shuttle service into Picc and then a non-stop shuttle to the Etihad might make sense if that stadium is hosting any matches too.