Welcome to Stanlow & Thornton Station

A station with wartime roots and industrial heritage — currently closed for safety reasons

Stanlow & Thornton Station lies within the Stanlow Refinery complex in Cheshire and sits on the Hooton–Helsby line. Opened in 1940 by the Great Western and London, Midland and Scottish Railways, the station originally served Shell’s Thornton Aero Engine Laboratory during World War II. Its location within the refinery site meant it primarily served workers, and it has remained one of the least-used stations in the country in recent years.

Due to safety concerns around the footbridge — which is the only way to access the platforms — the station was temporarily closed on 3 February 2022. As of now, there is no confirmed date for its reopening. Historically, the station was nearly closed under the Beeching cuts, and while it continued to operate into the 21st century, very low usage figures and limited accessibility have contributed to its current status.