Temporary closure of Stanlow and Thornton

[Lloyds siding]

There was a hope for this station when Chester University bought the old Shell Thornton research laboratory to become a teaching and research lab (for £1 I believe), however HSE objected that this was an unacceptable risk, and Chester and Cheshire West Council agreed and refused change of use planning permission. (I was interested because I went for a job interview to work there.)

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Capenhurst 380...

Quite apart from which, it has a significant employment site (Urenco plus Technology Park) adjacent. It doesn't employ the numbers it used to (about 3000 at it's peak I believe) and quite a lot have found they can work from home, but Merseyrail still drops off far more on their way in to work in the morning than the other way.
The other thing is that Capenhurst is this nearest station for a good chunk of outer Ellesmere Port estate on the other side of the A41, from which people do walk / drive / lift / cycle / taxi to Capenhurst. Weekday daytime the car park is usually full ...
Odd that Ince and Elton are restricted for an oil refinery, but the new estates at Capenhurst are not restricted by URENCO's nuclear enrichment plant - both are tier 1 COMAH sites.

 

[frodshamfella]

I wouldn't agree with Merseyrail being extended to Helsby but would like to see Northern trial peak hour services from Ellesmere Port direct to Manchester.

As I say Ellesmere Port Station is very well situated to pick up commuters to Manchester from the M53 motorway and appears able to provide substantial parking. Chester and Liverpool can't fulfil this role because of the time involved in getting through the traffic to the station.

Helsby does currently fulfil a similar parkway role for Manchester commuters from the M56 but Railtrack (I think) flogged off almost all its car parking for "executive dwellings".

There is not a lot of parking at Helsby, actually I think there is more potential for parking at Ince.

 

[8A Rail]

There is not a lot of parking at Helsby, actually I think there is more potential for parking at Ince.

I wouldn't agree with Merseyrail being extended to Helsby but would like to see Northern trial peak hour services from Ellesmere Port direct to Manchester.

As I say Ellesmere Port Station is very well situated to pick up commuters to Manchester from the M53 motorway and appears able to provide substantial parking. Chester and Liverpool can't fulfil this role because of the time involved in getting through the traffic to the station.

Helsby does currently fulfil a similar parkway role for Manchester commuters from the M56 but Railtrack (I think) flogged off almost all its car parking for "executive dwellings".

Parking for Helsby Station is available outside the station (approx 15 spaces) and also at the Car Park at the top of the road too (approx 15 spaces again). Potenial parking at Ince And Elton is about 20/30 spaces but besides having more frequent trains, will need security at the car park, probably CCTV as can be 'quiet' which leaves it open to mischief. As for the large car park at Ellesmere Port Station, it is under used for sure but it is not the safest of car parks to leave your car unfortunately.

It would make more sense for Merseyrail to extend to Helsby than Northern increasing trains to Ellesmere Port to be honest, that is were increase patronage would occur at Ince and Elton and Helsby to the Wirral and Liverpool City Centre. However, I don't see it happening in the current climate especially when Merseytravel / Merseyrail have other priorities in the area.

 

[nedchester]

Just been for a lunchtime cycle ride and I can confirm it is shut and there is no access to the station:

Stanlow and Thornton (closed)

Due to an unsafe footbridge (owned by Essar?) Stanlow and Thornton station is now closed. The last services to call there were on (or about 1st February 2022)

www.flickr.com

Stanlow and Thornton (closed)

Due to an unsafe footbridge (owned by Essar?) Stanlow and Thornton station is now closed. The last services to call there were on (or about 1st February 2022)

www.flickr.com

Stanlow and Thornton (closed)

Due to an unsafe footbridge (owned by Essar?) Stanlow and Thornton station is now closed. The last services to call there were on (or about 1st February 2022)

www.flickr.com

Stanlow and Thornton (closed)

Due to an unsafe footbridge (owned by Essar?) Stanlow and Thornton station is now closed. The last services to call there were on (or about 1st February 2022)

www.flickr.com

Got out before the security spotted me!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks. Answers the question about the bus being allowed access - it isn't, it is stopping at the nearest point on the public road.

Northern are certainly to be congratulated for the quality and clarity of that information.

 

[Llandudno]

I wonder if passenger trains will ever call at Stanlow & Thornton again, somehow I doubt it…

 

[Eccles1983]

The "run Merseyrail to Helsby" lot are out again.

One small issue - it's a station that is not accessible for disabled passengers. The platforms are not standard either.

Basically it's a bad place for a terminus.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder if passenger trains will ever call at Stanlow & Thornton again, somehow I doubt it…

I too suspect not. Overall it is an inconvenience for the site now Oil Sites Road is not public, and a shuttle bus from Ellesmere Port would probably serve workers better than a bitty train service, not least because the site is the size of a small town, so the bus could serve multiple locations and the train only one.

 

[richard1976]

I wonder if passenger trains will ever call at Stanlow & Thornton again, somehow I doubt it…

I don't think it will open again either, suspect most of the passengers for the last few years have been rail bloggers/youtuber's visiting it because it is a least used station

 

[markymark2000]

Parking for Helsby Station is available outside the station (approx 15 spaces) and also at the Car Park at the top of the road too (approx 15 spaces again). Potenial parking at Ince And Elton is about 20/30 spaces but besides having more frequent trains, will need security at the car park, probably CCTV as can be 'quiet' which leaves it open to mischief. As for the large car park at Ellesmere Port Station, it is under used for sure but it is not the safest of car parks to leave your car unfortunately.

It is well known amongst people in Ellesmere Port, 'Do not use the EPort station car park, drive to Hooton and pay instead'. It's very, very well known locally.

 

[nedchester]

It is well known amongst people in Ellesmere Port, 'Do not use the EPort station car park, drive to Hooton and pay instead'. It's very, very well known locally.

I’ll back that up. Ellesmere Port station is in a very dodgy area.

 

[markymark2000]

I’ll back that up. Ellesmere Port station is in a very dodgy area.

What I think is needed is just a security guard/staff presence like Hooton has/had. That'd make a difference if someone was there and would change the perception of the place hopefully (most of the feral kids run off when they see an adult running walking towards them).

 

[mrd269697]

I can confirm Ellesmere Port is a rather quiet station in Merseyrail terms, despite being within walking distance of the town centre. The car park is fairly decent sized, however as other posters have pointed out it’s not in the nicest of places and there have been many issues of youths/little w*****s vandalising station facilities and threatening the public and rail staff.

Hooton is near to a motorway junction, has an enormous car park, which is I believe only £1 or £2 for a day. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, it is a very busy ststion, especially on Saturday, when from personal experience I can say it gets so busy that one member of staff can struggle with the volume. As well as Ellesmere Port, it also serves as a park and ride for Flintshire.

As for Stanlow and Thornton, I can see it being mothballed, similar to IBM or Redcar British Steel. Northern did do a return journey to Leeds which lent itself to commuting to Warrington and Manchester, and that did attract some passengers from the port. The two shuttles a day now to Helsby are a little useless. The first does stsrt from Lime Street I believe at about 10 past 5 in the morning and calls at a random arrangement of stops via Earlestown and Warrington BQ.

If you’re going to run an infrequent service, at least run them at a time that people could make use of.

One that gets in Manchester between 7.30 and 8.30 and one that leaves Manchester between 1700 and 1800.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ll back that up. Ellesmere Port station is in a very dodgy area.

And Hooton has 6tph rather than 2.

 

[splashoutradio]

If you’re going to run an infrequent service, at least run them at a time that people could make use of.

I think that the limited service, despite not having bad connections, is also poorly used due to its reliability. There are very few days that go by where the line doesn't have at least 50% of its trains cancelled.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What was the original rationale/pretext for the suspension of services at the infrequently served Newhaven Marine. Wasn't that also supposed "safety concerns"?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What was the original rationale/pretext for the suspension of services at the infrequently served Newhaven Marine. Wasn't that also supposed "safety concerns"?

Yes, because the roof was falling down. However it also served no purpose as the ferry terminal had moved to be nearer Harbour.

 

[Ianigsy]

I suppose the slight difference in this case is that the rickety bridge is over an operational railway, so it either needs repairing or removing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suppose the slight difference in this case is that the rickety bridge is over an operational railway, so it either needs repairing or removing.

Eventually yes, though it depends how rickety it is - it may well be unsafe to walk on (e.g. due to a hole or corroded decking) but not likely to fall over if left undisturbed for now.

 

[Trackman]

I don't think it will open again either, suspect most of the passengers for the last few years have been rail bloggers/youtuber's visiting it because it is a least used station

Geoff Marshall went.
Oddly enough the bridge was blocked off to the other side of the refinery so wouldn't have been much use to employees if they worked on that side.

 

[KT550]

I visited there in December. I remember thinking the bridge was an unusual design but don't recall any noticeable defects.

The main problem was the complete lack of any lighting on the platforms; the only light was from the footbridge.

 

[Requeststop]

Oil Refineries are continuous operational facilities 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks a year . Old shift patterns were 8 hours shifts Day, Afternoon, Night shifts and more modern shift patterns are 12 hour shifts Days and nights. I was wondering if there was ever a service at Stanlow and Thornton that would have covered these shift work patterns? Seems to me that modern Oil Refinery operatives would have their own vehicles to get to and from work. Refineries elsewhere in the UK were not next to a rail service. The Old refineries in Essex (now defunct) Shellhaven and Coryton were miles from a station. Fawley is the same. and I think the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain wasn't served by a rail service. Seems to me that as some correspondents have stated Stanlow and Thornton is due to be left to deteriorate.

 

[L401CJF]

Oil Refineries are continuous operational facilities 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks a year . Old shift patterns were 8 hours shifts Day, Afternoon, Night shifts and more modern shift patterns are 12 hour shifts Days and nights. I was wondering if there was ever a service at Stanlow and Thornton that would have covered these shift work patterns? Seems to me that modern Oil Refinery operatives would have their own vehicles to get to and from work. Refineries elsewhere in the UK were not next to a rail service. The Old refineries in Essex (now defunct) Shellhaven and Coryton were miles from a station. Fawley is the same. and I think the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain wasn't served by a rail service. Seems to me that as some correspondents have stated Stanlow and Thornton is due to be left to deteriorate.

My dad used to use it when he worked at the refinery in the 80s, he would commute from Bebington. He said others used it too. Of course back then Merseyrails Electric services didn't reach Hooton until 1985, and all Ellesmere Port diesel services continued through to Helsby via Stanlow.

The fact there's only now 2 or 3 trains a day at pretty obscure hours probably doesn't help the commute situation

 

[30907]

Fawley is the same. and I think the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain wasn't served by a rail service.

Nevertheless, the one daily train to and from Grain, and the marginally busier Fawley branch, were timed for ("middle turn") working hours at destination - possibly clerical staff or even management? Fawley even had a Sunday train as late as 1958, to my amazement.

 

[Djgr]

It is well known amongst people in Ellesmere Port, 'Do not use the EPort station car park, drive to Hooton and pay instead'. It's very, very well known locally.

Well indeed. But Birkenhead North is not the most salubrious of areas and the car park there has grown from around 5 spaces to 630 and full everyday as far as I can tell.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well indeed. But Birkenhead North is not the most salubrious of areas and the car park there has grown from around 5 spaces to 630 and full everyday as far as I can tell.

I can see why that would be popular given the whole western swathe of the Wirral that has either no or a very poor train service.

 

[Djgr]

I can see why that would be popular given the whole western swathe of the Wirral that has either no or a very poor train service.

But the point I am making is that I don't think that the use of Ellesmere Port as a gateway from the Wirral eastwards (especially to Manchester) can be ruled out solely because of urban tales of friends of friends regarding the car parking there.

 

[Trackman]

The main problem was the complete lack of any lighting on the platforms; the only light was from the footbridge.

It does have lights, must have been a fault.

 

[urbophile]

It is well known amongst people in Ellesmere Port, 'Do not use the EPort station car park, drive to Hooton and pay instead'. It's very, very well known locally.

I don't use station carparks often but I thought that parking at Merseyrail stations was free. Is Hooton an exception owing to being on the boundary of Merseyside?