There are many train stations dotted around Merseyside that transport passengers between Liverpool, Wirral and beyond.
Despite this, you may have found yourself often thinking “why doesn’t this area have a train station?”, especially if you aren’t within walking distance of one. The fact is, the majority of Liverpool and Wirral areas have had a station at some point, but unfortunately, they haven’t survived.
The ECHO has looked back at some of the lost and forgotten train stations that once served Merseyside. Below are 12 train stations that once stood in and around Liverpool that are sadly no more, while across the water in Wirral, we look at 14 lost stations.
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Some of them were used to transport goods rather than people, but were essential in keeping our region going. As well as those listed below, there are many more lost stations that were part of the Liverpool Overhead Railway which closed in 1956.
Liverpool
Liverpool Exchange - Located in the city centre on Tithebarn Street, the Liverpool Exchange station opened in 1850. The building was badly damaged during World War II, but continued to serve the city until 1977 when it closed as a result of the government’s Beeching Axe - a plan to increase efficiency across the railways in Great Britain. Moorfields opened a week later as a replacement station.
Breck Road - This station was situated on the Canada Dock Branch to the north of Townsend Lane between Anfield and Clubmoor. Breck Road opened in 1870 and closed as a station in 1948, although freight trains still pass through the bridge that’s located at the site.
St James - This station located near Cains Brewery below the Baltic Triangle served Liverpool and the surrounding area for over 40 years. Situated on the Cheshire line from Liverpool Central to Brunswick, St James opened in 1874 and closed in 1917. A tragic accident at the station in October 1913 resulted in seven deaths and more than 60 injuries. Despite lying abandoned and unused for a century, there are plans in place to reopen the train station with work beginning in 2024.
Liverpool Central High Level - One of the city’s largest stations opened in 1874, offering passengers various services to areas around the country from its six platforms. The grand three-storey building was on Ranelagh Street, with underground services beginning to operate from the station in 1892. The station closed in 1972 as a result of route closures due to the government’s Beeching Axe in the 1960s.
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Sefton Park - Opening in 1892, Sefton Park station on Smithdown Road had four platforms connected by a subway. Ahead of the line being electrified, the station sadly closed in 1960 due to low passenger numbers. The station building is now better known as the paint shop, C&G Finishes.
Childwall - Opening in 1879, Childwall was a station on the North Liverpool Extension Line at Well Lane. It closed to passengers in 1931 and was used to transport goods until 1943. The trackbed that ran through the station is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail.
Gateacre - Situated on the North Liverpool Extension Line, Gateacre station was located on the north side of Belle Vale Road next to The Black Bull pub which still stands today. The station closed in 1972, but the plan was to reopen it as part of the Northern Line. This sadly never happened due to Hunts Cross becoming the main terminus instead.
Otterspool - This train station opened in 1864 and was located between St Michaels and Aigburth down a quiet lane that runs alongside Otterspool Park from Jericho Lane. Despite closing in 1951 due to low passenger numbers, the station building still exists as a private residence. The former tracks have since been covered up by overgrown vegetation.
Knotty Ash & Stanley - Known locally as Knotty Ash, this train station opened in 1879 and was located to the north of East Prescot Road, serving the North Liverpool Extension Line. It closed to passengers in 1960 and closed completely in 1972, with the trackbed that ran through the station now forming part of the Trans Pennine Trail.
Spellow - Opening in 1882, this train station in Walton was on the Canada Dock Branch and ran between the north of Liverpool and Edge Hill. While the station building was at street level, there were steps at the back that took passengers down to the platforms. Spellow station closed to passengers in 1948, but trains continued to pass through until 1977. The station building still stands and freight trains continue to use the tracks.
West Derby - Located to the south of Mill Lane around two miles from Croxteth Hall, West Derby station opened in 1879 and served the local area until 1960. The platforms still exist, with the station building converted into a shop and private residence. The trackbed that runs through the station is part of the Trans Pennine Trail.
Wirral
Birkenhead Grange Lane - Opening in 1840, this station was on the Birkenhead and Chester lines. It was situated after Bebington station and was open to passengers for just four years, closing in 1844. After this, it was only used for goods trains until the 1970s when it closed for good. Part of the original wall of the station remains hidden behind advertisement billboards.
Birkenhead Town - Opening in 1889, this station served the town centre until its closure in 1945. Although the line had trains from Woodside to London, only local trains stopped at Birkenhead Town. The station's closure was caused by the redevelopment of Birkenhead as a result of the opening of the Queensway Tunnel, with the land now forming part of the approach to the tunnel.
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Tranmere - Sadly, this Wirral station only lasted 11 years from 1846 to 1857. It had numerous names before being called Tranmere, including Lime Klin Lane and St Paul's Road. The station was paved over following its closure to allow more room for railway tracks. Sadly, the site is now completely overgrown, hiding all evidence of the lost Tranmere station.
Thurstaston - Thurstaston station opened in 1886 and was situated on the Hooton to West Kirby line. It served a small section of the local community and, despite an influx of passengers during tourist seasons, the station closed to the public in 1954. The track continued to be used for freight until 1962. Today, the track bed is now part of the footpath at the Wirral Country Park and the platforms can still be seen.
Birkenhead Dock - Opening in 1866, this station was considered the first tram and train interchange. Birkenhead Dock closed to passengers in 1888 due to Birkenhead North becoming the go-to station, and was henceforth known as Birkenhead Dock Goods station until its closure in 1938. Nothing remains of the station which is located near Bidston Recycling Centre.
Morpeth Dock Goods - This goods station opened in 1868 and served for over 100 years. Morpeth Dock Goods was the final station stop after travelling through Rock Ferry station. It closed in 1972 and is now wasteland near the Birkenhead ferry terminal.
Birkenhead Monks Ferry - When it opened in 1838, Birkenhead Monks Ferry station faced a few problems and was forced to close after objections were made. It reopened in 1844 and was used to transport passengers and goods. However, following the opening of Birkenhead Woodside station in 1878, Monks Ferry was closed to passengers and was used solely by goods trains until 1961. Housing was later built on the former station site, and while some of the old tunnels remain, they’re now overgrown with vegetation.
Caldy - The creation of this train station was a result of the Hooton to Parkgate line being extended to include West Kirby in 1886. However, following initial objections from local landowners, Caldy station didn't open until 1909. It closed to passengers in 1954 and to freight in 1962, with all evidence of the station and tracks now lost forever.
Rock Lane - Before Rock Ferry station arrived on the scene, Rock Lane served the local community for 18 years. It opened in 1846 and closed in 1862 before being replaced by Rock Ferry. There’s no evidence of the station’s platform which would have been located by the bridge on Rock Lane.
Birkenhead Woodside - After opening in 1878 and causing the closure of Monks Ferry station, Woodside became an extremely busy station. Located where the bus terminal and Woodside Business Park are now, the station had trains travelling across Wirral and to Chester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and London. The station closed in 1967 after recommendations as a consequence of the government’s Beeching Report.
Storeton - First named Barnston, this station opened in 1896 and was on the North Wales and Liverpool lines. It was renamed Storeton in 1933 and closed to passengers in 1951 and goods in 1964. All that is left of the station is the approach down to the platform that no longer exists which is used as a pathway into the woods.
Kirby Park - Located on the Hooton line that joins West Kirby, this station opened to passengers in 1894. Kirby Park was mainly used by school children travelling to and from Caldy Grange Grammar School. When the station closed to passengers in 1954, it carried on serving just the pupils until 1956. The station was used for freight purposes until its complete closure in 1962. No evidence of the former station remains, but the line is now part of the Wirral Way footpath.
Heswall - The original Heswall train station opened in 1886 as part of the expansion of the Hooton to Parkgate line to West Kirby. Like with many of the other Wirral stations on that line, it closed to passengers in 1956, with the track remaining operational for freight until 1962. The station site has since been redeveloped, with houses now standing there.
Seacombe - This station played an important part in World War II, as it was the place where children were evacuated to the countryside. Sadly, Seacombe station closed in 1963 as a result of a drop in passengers following the electrification of the lines. It had become more popular to get the ferry from Seacombe into Liverpool. The site has since been developed into housing.
What are your thoughts on Merseyside’s lost and forgotten train stations? Let us know in the comments section below.
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