kenada_blue
Welcome to Barcelonaton FC
This is your journey to and from Kirkby by train...
You arrive at Lime Street and walk through the city centre of Liverpool to Central Station
Assuming you want to get to Kirkby early, you'll probably be on a moderately busy train to Kirkby station - you might even get a seat - which is a 15 minute walk from the proposed ground.
After the match, assuming you want to leave straight away, you walk 15 minutes to the station, and wait for the next train to Liverpool. Trains are every 15 minutes, which, if everything runs smoothly, can be increased to every 10, and hold 900 people if you stand VERY close together.
The club estimate that 4,000 fans will want to go this route.
If you are fan number 1 to 900 then you're onthe first train. You might get a seat, or you might be forced to stand chest to chest with an away fan.
Anywhere after that and you've got a wait. With up to 3,000 other Blues, and if we've played Man Utd or City, up to 2,000 of them too.
Your wait may be 10 minutes for the next train, or 30 for the 4th train.
If you are on the fourth train, you will be waiting in the carpark, which doesn't have a roof (and there are no plans to build one according to Merseytravel who operate it)
So, 30 minutes in May - that's nice, get a decent tan.
30 minutes in December, in the rain. Not so nice. That's after a 15 minute walk, in the rain.
You are then crammed onto a packed train standing as near as possible without getting naked to hoardes of other fans who will be as soaked as you. Your ride to Liverpool Central is roughly 12 minutes.
In August or May, after a win, that's bearable - just about.
In December or January after a defeat?
Of course, there are pubs in Kirkby you could go to after the game. Or the club could enforce one of it's ideas and keep fans (home fans included) locked in the stadium for an hour after the final whistle.
Either option is fine if you've not got to get anywhere, or you like a drink, or if you're even in the mood for a drink. Although this is more likely after a win, and probably more likely when the sun is shining as even the best pubs around Goodison end up packed with people ending up stood outside...
Kirkby is a £25 taxi ride from Liverpool City Centre though, if you would prefer that....
How long does it take you to get home from a match?
Here was mine from Kirkby last time.
Everton vs Boro 1pm KO.
12:00pm - Kirkby - cab to the Bakery in Rice Lane - (£10).
12:20pm - Beers
12:40pm - 15-20 min walk to GP.
(Alternatively a 20minutes bus ride to GP from Kirkby (I've done it plenty of times).
Match finshes 2:45pm -
2:50pm - Exit GP
3:30pm - Finally found a bus (cramped, standing up for 60% of the journey, wet) to get on to Kikrby.
5:00-5:30pm - Get back to Kirkby.
ALTERNATIVE TO CITY CENTRE ON BUS (Everton Vs Newcastle end of last season) - Same times but
4:30pm - get into city centre on bus (with away fans too) from GP.
Doesnt sound any different to me.
What you can do from Kirkby - Go the pub. Get a cab (cost of £10-£20, drops you off near GP). Get the bus (keep your savaways handy). How do you get to the ground? Park up directly outside Goodison, dodgy the rain and get in? Thousands talk 15-20 minutes walk to and from GP every match day.
As for the trains - Like they'll put the fans home and away fans all on one train? Behave. EG There's express trains to Old Trafford on match days from Picadilly every 10 minutes. They cope.
As for keeping fans back an hour. You're gonna be waiting in traffic for an hour anyway, wont it be slightly more easier? Motorway next door, dual carriageways?
Just a few things really. I know the transport thing is a shitty, it sounds shitty. But the transport to GP for me is shitty too.










