Network Rail is advising passengers in Liverpool to plan ahead this Saturday as two sporting events take place in the city.

The new Hill Dickinson Stadium will host England v Australia in the return of Rugby League’s Ashes series.

Later on, Liverpool FC take on Aston Villa in the Premier League, with kick-off at 8 pm.

Fans have been advised for either of the sporting events to plan ahead of expect busier trains throughout the day.

Network Rail is also advising passengers of potential service disruption due to planned CrossCountry strike action on the 1st November.

“It’s great to see the new stadium hosting the new rugby league series and we know how popular Liverpool FC games always are.

“To make everyone’s trips as smooth as possible we would urge passengers to plan their trips ahead of time and check in for updates before you travel. It’s always important to check the times for your last train home, especially for Liverpool and Aston Villa fans with the weekend’s late kick off.”

Rachel Rahbazare, station manager at Liverpool Lime Street

“We’re excited to welcome fans travelling on Merseyrail to the Rugby League Ashes at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 1 November 2025.

“We’ll be running enhanced services, including a 15-minute timetable on key lines before and after the game. Sandhills is the nearest station, just a 15-minute walk from the stadium, with a fan management zone in place to help people move through safely and efficiently.

“Fans arriving at Lime Street can take a short five-minute walk to Liverpool Central for connections to Sandhills. Please plan ahead, allow extra time, and check the Journey Planner on the Merseyrail website before travelling.”

Stephen Dodd, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail