How to travel around as Eurovision celebrations approach

LOCAL people and visitors joining in with celebrations for this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, as well as our regular commuters, are being advised to plan their journeys as the City Region gears up for the big event.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to travel to the Region in May when it hosts the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.

A packed events programme means the public transport and road network is going to be busier than usual as people make the most of this experience, especially during peak event start and end times.

As excitement builds in the run up to Eurovision, the Combined Authority and transport operators are making sure that public transport services are ready to help keep everyone moving, with some extra services being put in place to help people travel between festival venues and travel home after the events.

Richard McGuckin, the Combined Authority's Executive Director for Place, said:- "We can't wait to welcome the world to our City Region in just a few weeks' time for the Eurovision festival. Our Region knows how to put on a good show and we're working with our partners to keep people moving throughout the event, including putting on some additional services and capacity across the network on key dates. Whether you're planning to enjoy Eurovision or travelling around for other reasons we're asking you to think ahead and plan your journeys to help people travel safely. We thank people in advance for their kindness, patience and respect for each other and our transport staff who will be working hard to get everybody where they need to go."

The Eurovision Festival starts on:- Monday, 1 May 2023, with the Eurovision Song Contest Turquoise Carpet event and the National Lottery's Big Eurovision Welcome, providing a major opening ceremony, at St Georges Hall, on Sunday, 7 May 2023. The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest culminates in a series of live shows at the M&S Bank Arena between:- Monday, 8 May 2023, and the Grand Final on:- Saturday, 13 May 2023.

Top travel tips...

Whether you are travelling to enjoy the Eurovision events, commuting to work or taking the family out for a day trip, key information and advice is now available to help you plan your journeys.

If you live or are staying local and are able to…

Cycle, walk or use an E-scooter if you can: you'll avoid very busy bus and rail services and help keep our air clean by doing it. In the City Centre, active travel will often be the quickest way of getting around.

If you're using public transport…

Plan ahead: We expect services to be busier than usual across the whole fortnight.

Check timetables:- Make sure to do this ahead of and on your day of travel in case there are any changes; in particular check last bus and train times. Merseytravel and operators will use social media to publish changes made at short notice.

Leave plenty of time:- Some journeys might take longer than usual or be subject to delay or changes at short notice;– so whether attending the event or not please be aware of the plans and changes.

Consider your options:- The transport network is expected to be busier than usual. Think about staggering your travel home times and have a plan B in case you can't get the service you planned for. In particular, don't wait for the last scheduled train or bus home as these can often be very busy.

If possible buy travel tickets in advance and online: This will speed up your journey and help you avoid queues on the day.

Travel light if you can: Busy services will mean less room for large items of luggage.

Arrive early at the Station, stop or ferry terminal in good time: This is to avoid disappointment as there may be queues particularly on the nights of:- 7 May and 13 May 2023, to get home.

Consider multi modal tickets: Tickets that can be used over different modes of transport, such as:- Saveaways, will give you more options.

Be patient: There will be lots of people travelling for the events.

Please be kind and respectful to transport staff:- "Remember that they are working really hard to get you to where you need to be. Let's make this event fun and be proud of our Region!"

A summary of transport information can be found below and is available on the Merseytravel website.

However, for the most detailed and up to date guidance, you should regularly check operator websites and social media channels as these services are subject to last minute changes.

In planning for the relevant events, particularly over:- 7 May to 13 May 2023, some additional services have been added to the rail and bus network to ensure people can travel to and home from the event safely.

If you live nearby or are staying local, walking and cycling will be some of the quickest and easiest ways to get around, especially in Liverpool City Centre.

You'll avoid very busy bus and rail services and help keep our air clean doing it.

The Merseyrail network links Liverpool City Centre with many areas of the wider Region, including:- Wirral, Knowsley, South Liverpool and Sefton - including Southport.

Merseyrail will be operating a special timetable during the most popular events throughout the week and some Stations in the City Centre may be closed at certain times to assist with the management of the large number of passengers that are expected.

Additional services and capacity are planned for key dates throughout the festival, particularly focussed over:- 7 May to 13 May 2023.

For more information, please visit:- MerseyRail.Org.

Please also note that Lime Street Station's mainline and City Line services will also be affected...

Located in the heart of the City, Liverpool Lime Street Station is Liverpool's mainline Rail Station. All services from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other North West and national locations will terminate here.

Lime Street will be very busy for the duration of the Eurovision festival with queues extremely likely during peak times and additional safety measures will be in place to help prevent overcrowding.

Check directly with operators for the most up to date information.

Additional services and capacity are planned for key dates throughout the festival, particularly focussed on:- 7 May and 13 May 2023.

Updated information can be found online at:-

• Northern = Twitter, or visit:- NorthernRailway.Co.UK.
   

• TransPennine Express = Twitter, or visit:- TPExpress.Co.UK.
   

• Avanti West = Twitter, or visit:- AvantiWestCoast.Co.UK.
   

• London Northwestern (LNR) = Twitter, or visit:- LondonNorthwesternRailway.Co.UK.
   

• Transport for Wales = Twitter, or visit:- FTWRail.Wales.
   

• East Midlands = Twitter, or visit:- EastMidlandsRailway.Co.UK.
   

• Networkrail = Twitter, or visit:- NetworkRail.Co.UK.
   

• National Rail (Rail Delivery Group) = Twitter, or visit:- NationalRail.Co.UK.

Bus...

Buses are 1 of the best ways to get around Liverpool and the wider City Region and some services will be strengthened during the event.

Additional services and capacity are planned for key dates throughout the festival, particularly focussed on:- 7 May and 13 May 2023.

The Arriva 500 service which runs between:- Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Liverpool South Parkway Rail Station will be stepped up between:- 8 May and 15 May 2023, running every 15 mins, between approx:- 04:00 and 01:00.

A free shuttle bus will be running between the Eurovision Fan Zones at the Pier head and Camp and Furnace between:- 5 May and 13 May 2023, between approx:- 21:00 and midnight.

National Express and other coach service arrive into and depart from Liverpool 1 Bus Station.

There will be diversions to some routes due to road closures and services may be subject to delays; especially in and around Liverpool City Centre.

Sunday, 7 May 2023, The event at George's Hall will result in the closure of Lime Street. This means that some bus services will end at London Road and not Queen Square Bus Station.

A free shuttle service will run between London Road, Queen Square and Liverpool 1 bus Stations.

A park and ride will be set up at Stanley Park with buses operating to Queen Square Bus Station, between:- midday and midnight.

•  Arriva North West = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- ArrivaBus.Co.UK.
   

•  Stagecoach = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- StagecoachBus.Com.
   

•  National Express = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- NationalExpress.Com.
   

•  Mega Bus = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- MegaBus.Com.

Mersey Ferries...

The iconic Mersey Ferries offer a great option for cross river travel; with regular commuter services each weekday morning and evening, alongside River Explorer Cruises during the day. A number of special services will also be operating in the build up to and during Eurovision week, including on the final day itself. You can find out more details on the Mersey Ferries website or follow on:- Twitter.

Mersey Tunnels...

The Wallasey (Kingsway) Tunnel and Birkenhead (Queensway) tunnel will be open as normal, but check Merseytravel social media channels for most up to date information and also visit:- MerseyTunnels.Co.UK.

E-scooters...

E-scooters and E-bikes operated by Voi are available for hire throughout Liverpool City Centre and surrounding suburbs, with parking zones at key transport hubs like bus and Rail Stations. Vehicles can be located and unlocked by downloading the Voi app. Follow on:-Twitter and on the official website.

Airports...

Liverpool is connected to the world via John Lennon International Airport, which is less than 20 mins from the City Centre.

Several regular bus services to Liverpool City Centre operate from outside the terminal building, including the regular 500 service operated by Arriva.

Manchester Airport is less than 1 hour from Liverpool City Centre and is served by its own Rail Station, with services operating from here to Manchester Piccadilly and some Liverpool Stations, including the main Liverpool Lime Street.

up to date information about flights and how to travel to the City from either airport can be found on their websites.

• Liverpool Airport = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- LiverpoolAirport.Com.
   

• Manchester Airport = Follow on:- Twitter, or visit:- ManchesterAirport.Co.UK.

Mayor unveils Eurovision trains and buses - as eyes of the world turn to Liverpool City Region

LIVERPOOL City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has unveiled the show stopping trains and buses that will be hitting the Liverpool City Region's roads and rails during the Eurovision Song Contest.

The contest coming to Liverpool has been made possible with the help of £2m of funding from Mayor Rotheram and the Combined Authority. As the eyes of the world turn their attention to the City Region, the Mayor has commissioned a new look for the Region's public transport to mark the occasion.

1 of the Region's new publicly owned £500m trains has also been wrapped in Eurovision livery, and will appear on the Merseyrail network.

New zero emission hydrogen buses have started appearing, draped in Eurovision's colours. They will initially be used for driver training before entering passenger service in the coming days on the 10A route, between:- St Helens and Liverpool.

Eurovision artwork will also appear at:- Train and Bus Stations, bus stops, Ferry Terminals and tunnel entrances, with the region set to welcome an estimated:- 100,000 extra visitors, while the contest itself is expected to attract around 160 million TV viewers.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "The chance to host a global spectacle like the Eurovision Song Contest is an opportunity that doesn't come around very often; especially for a City in the UK; that's why so many cities bid for the accolade. As an international event that attracts guests, media and attention from around the world, we're expecting thousands upon thousands of visitors to descend on the Liverpool City Region next month for a week long celebration of music, dance, fun and frivolity. We want to use the contest as a chance to showcase what makes our Region fantastic, so that visitors and investors alike return time and time again. I'm enormously proud of the investments we've made to deliver a publicly owned, public transport network run in the interests of the public. We've commissioned these new liveries to celebrate this global spectacular coming to our Region, it really is once in a lifetime!"

Eurovision is predicted to be directly worth around £25m to the City Region's economy when it takes over Liverpool next May, and looking at the impact on previous host Cities, it could also increase tourism to the City by up to 5% a year; which equates to over £250m extra revenue by 2026.

People are being advised to plan their journeys during Eurovision. Transport information and advice is now available online at:- Merseytravel.Gov.UK.