A station with wartime roots and industrial heritage, currently closed for safety reasons
Stanlow & Thornton Station sits within the Stanlow Refinery complex in Cheshire, positioned along the Hooton to Helsby line. Opened in 1940 by the Great Western Railway and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, it originally served Shell’s Thornton Aero Engine Laboratory during World War II. Located inside the refinery site, the station primarily catered for workers and, in more recent years, became one of the least-used stations in the country.
The station was temporarily closed on 3 February 2022 due to safety concerns surrounding the footbridge, which provides the only access to the platforms. There is currently no confirmed date for reopening. Historically, Stanlow & Thornton narrowly escaped closure during the Beeching cuts, and while it continued to operate into the 21st century, low passenger numbers and limited accessibility have contributed to its present status.
