The Grand National is back in 2022, and an estimated 150,000 racegoers will descend on Aintree for the three-day extravaganza.
Many will slip into their Sunday best for the high fashion event, and plenty will be putting their bets on ahead of what is the most wagered-upon sporting event in the UK each year.
Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work and Any Second Now lead the way in the Grand National runners odds at 9/1 and 10/1 respectively, and that duo – plus defending champion Minella Times – will be the subject of most interest in office sweepstakes up and down the land.
History Maker!
Minella Times wins the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase @AintreeRaces for Rachael Blackmore! 🏆#ITVRacing #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/tARVJi5Sv9
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 10, 2021
Of course, with so many race fans heading to Merseyside over the weekend of April 7-9, there will be plenty of travel disruption for locals to combat.
Merseyrail have confirmed that there will be an interruption to their usual Northern lines over the course of the three days, and the good news is that more trains will be put on – however, commuters should note that their normal train may arrive earlier than usual.
Grand Day Out
The busy Southport to Liverpool line will operate as normal. However, many trains will depart from either station up to two minutes earlier than the standard timetable to allow for a heavier flow of travellers. That’s also the case for the Ormskirk-Liverpool line.
The Aintree to Liverpool city centre route has been updated with more trains added, and visitors to the racecourse will note that they can catch a ride to the Sefton village every ten minutes in the lead-up to the meeting getting underway.
Are you attending our Day at the Races on Grand National Thursday?🏇 Travel for @AintreeRaces has never been easier!🚈@merseyrail have announced a timetable for the Grand National festival, with a 10-minute frequency service!🛤️
Plan your journey here👇https://t.co/dCjrGs9XWg pic.twitter.com/ffRrRFhTWl
— Liverpool Chamber (@LpoolChamber) March 22, 2022
While train services to and from the Wirral will be uninterrupted, those travelling from Kirkby should note that between 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00, all trains will terminate at the Sandhills station. Those wanting to travel on to Liverpool should alight at Sandhills and then take any subsequent train to the city.
Passengers wanting to travel to Kirkby have been advised to board any train heading for Southport or Ormskirk from Liverpool Central or Moorfields, and then change at Sandhills to continue their onward journey.
The managing director at Merseyrail, Andy Heath, has spoken of his excitement at welcoming racegoers to his firm’s trains, and confirmed: “This special timetable means we are able to get thousands of racegoers to and from the world’s biggest horse racing event safely and efficiently, as well as delivering a reliable service to commuters across the Liverpool City region.”
“There will also be an increased number of staff on hand across the network to ensure that all passengers can reach their destination safely and crowds are managed effectively.”
More information is available via the Merseyrail website.
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