The Railway in Widnes

Widnes got it's first railway station in 1852 on the west side of Waterloo Road but it was closed by 1870 and replaced by Widnes South Station which remained open to passengers until 1962. A further station Widnes Central was constructed in 1879 and remained open until 1964. Widnes was also served by Ditton Station on the west side of Hale Road which opened in 1871 and survived until 1994.

The only surviving station opened in 1872 and was originally known as Farnworth, which was at the time a village north of Widnes, but is now a northern suburb of the town. The station was later renamed to Widnes North and finally to Widnes.

Paul Simon is supposed to have been inspired to write the song "Homeward Bound" while waiting at this station on a tour of the United Kingdom. A plaque commemorating this claim to fame was once situated on the Liverpool bound platform of the station. The song, however, was actually written at the now disused Ditton station.

See widnes train timetables