Culcheth railway station

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Culcheth railway station served the village of Culcheth in Lancashire, England, and was located just west of the Wigshaw Lane bridge. It opened on 1 April 1884 as part of the Wigan Junction Railways, backed by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR). The MS&LR later became the Great Central Railway (GCR), which absorbed the WJR on 1 January 1906. The line ran from Glazebrook West Junction to Wigan Central, with trains originally operated by the MS&LR.

In April 1884, there were seven trains a day in each direction between Manchester Central and Wigan Central, six of which stopped at Culcheth. Two trains each way ran on Sundays, calling at all stations.

From 1900 to 1952, Culcheth was served by passenger trains to St Helens Central. In 1922, six Down trains called at Culcheth on weekdays to Wigan Central and St Helens via Glazebrook. The Up services were similar, and there were no Sunday trains.

During World War II the line saw more use, but after 1945 it declined. Passenger services to St Helens ended on 3 March 1952.

Culcheth station closed to passengers on 2 November 1964 and closed completely on 4 January 1965. The line remained open for freight until 1968 and was sometimes used as a diversion route or for summer holiday specials to bypass busy sections like Wigan.

The station was demolished in 1977 and replaced by Culcheth Linear Park. A portion of a platform wall still remains opposite the park’s car park. The station had two platforms and is now disused.