Planning to catch train back from the National? Well, don’t bet on it...
GRAND NATIONAL racegoers risk getting stranded in Liverpool as Northern Rail warns its late trains will be axed due to strike action.
The majority of Northern Rail services won’t run next Saturday, and the last train to Manchester will leave Liverpool Lime Street at 6.30pm, just after the last race of the day is due to finish.
There is now a timetable for April 8, when a second 24-hour walk-out over the role of guards will mean two-thirds of services will be cut.
With Merseyrail also striking, it’s set to wreak havoc on a bumper day of sport - with City also due to play Hull at the Etihad.
IT will also coincide with the WBO title fight between Liverpool’s Liam Smith and Wales’ Liam Williams at the Manchester Arena.
So it’s likely to be worse than the last strike in March, when transport bosses asked people to work from home after the operator axed 40pc of services.
The 24-hour strike runs between midnight Friday to midnight Saturday. There will be no Northern or Merseyrail trains before 8am or after 7pm.
With all 11 later Northern services now axed, racegoers will have to find alternative transport or catch trains run by TransPennine or East Mid- lands, which run eight between them on a Saturday evening. These are expected to be extremely busy.
Greater Manchester transport bosses are warning passengers to plan ahead as Northern expects to run just 822 trains, around 32 pc of its usual service.
These services are expected to be extremely busy and passengers are warned to avoid travelling if possible.
Paul Barnfield, regional director for Northern, said: “We are doing everything we can to keep customers on the move. Unfortunately, planned strike action will severely limit our services, with the majority of the trains that we do run operating between 9am and 5pm.
“Wherever possible we have provided extra carriages on the trains we are able to operate, but racegoers need to know Northern’s last train out of Liverpool Lime Street will leave at 6.30pm.
“To get a Northern train home, visitors will need to leave Aintree well before the last races.
“All of Northern’s services will be limited and we ask customers to plan their travel carefully.”
John Fryer, TfGM events manager, advised using park and ride sites to use public transport locally and help reduce congestion on the roads. He said Metrolink would be operating to the Etihad and advised passengers to check for updates.
He added: “We are taking action to minimise the disruption to the transport network but we know there will still be problems, especially given the number of events taking place on Saturday.”