Everton supporters were left with another late home time following Monday’s game against Manchester City.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium has been a real positive for Everton, but it is hard to deny some of the logistical problems that have come from the move.
Monday night fixtures have become somewhat of the norm for Evertonians this season, yet the issues experienced getting away from the ground have not improved.
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Everton supporters have complained about stadium transport links, with a fresh response coming from Merseyrail on the back of more fan frustration.
Merseyrail respond to Everton frustration after Man City draw
Pep Guardiola was in awe of Everton’s new stadium as the Man City boss congratulated the club for their fine work in developing the ground.
However, he does not have to experience the same journey home as Everton fans after the match.
Reporter Tony Scott shared his experience following the Man City draw on Monday evening, with frustrations over the service being limited to every 30 minutes at Sandhills.
“Top quality service again at Sandhills with Ormskirk trains running every 30 mins!! What happened to the service every 15 minutes on matchdays that was promised?” he said.
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“Our matchday operation at Sandhills station supported over 15,000 journeys by rail for last night’s [Monday] game,” Greg Suligowski, Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications at Merseyrail told Everton News.
“A 15-minute service was in place before and after the game. Additional colleagues were on hand to support passengers and Sandhills station was cleared by 23:10. The event was managed safely, with no accidents or incidents reported.
“Matchdays are very busy on our network and we thank customers for their patience, as we worked to get everyone to where they needed to be.”
Merseyrail have issued warnings to Everton fans in the past, with the expectation for their services to be extremely busy after matches.
Almost a year on from the stadium opening, it is clear that some fans are still experiencing issues, though.
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By no means is this going to be an easy fix, but it is a problem that is having a real effect on match-going Everton supporters.
Merseyrail remain confident in their service, although there is an acceptance that their matchday service still consists of mixed carriage operations.
A four-carriage service is naturally going to cause crowding in comparison to the eight-carriage offering also in operation on matchdays.
Liverpool City Council are upgrading the walkway to Hill Dickinson Stadium from the city centre in the near future, but that will not ease the strain on the rail network following late kick-offs.
Although fans will demand the club to find a solution ahead of the new season, it feels unlikely that a quick solution will be found.
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