Following Everton’s move to Hill Dickinson Stadium last summer, the crowds at Sandhills station have been a hot topic of discussion, but services on the Wirral Line also need attention, according to some fans.

After raising concerns over the crowded services on the Wirral Line, season ticket holder Alan Runswick has now been offered a meeting with Merseyrail to discuss the network’s match-day plans.

Mr Runswick told the LDRS that himself and others have felt “unsafe” getting the train back from Everton matches.

He explained how, in addition to Wirral Blues, many fans from north Wales get the Merseyrail train to Bidston before connecting to a Transport for Wales service.

He said James Street station has become a “pressure point” with fans, and those just visiting Liverpool, trying to get back to Wirral. He is hoping to secure 15-minute services after all Everton matches to alleviate the crowds.

A spokesperson from Merseyrail told the LDRS: “Every Everton home fixture has a dedicated operational plan based on the kick-off time, expected customer demand and available resources. For Sunday and evening fixtures in particular, Merseyrail routinely operates significantly more services than would otherwise run at that time of day, with additional train services introduced across the network. We also deploy additional station staff at key locations, including James Street, to help manage customer flows safely.

“Demand following Everton matches is typically concentrated on services from Sandhills immediately after the final whistle. However, we recognise the importance of providing sufficient capacity for customers travelling on the Wirral Line and have operated additional Wirral Line services at a number of fixtures where this has been required. We continually review customer feedback, demand and operational data to ensure we are meeting the needs of both Everton fans and other customers travelling on the network.”