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Location notes
On the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria line.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger services between Liverpool and Manchester and Warrington Bank Quay. Trains are now all operated by DMUs, mostly with Classes 142, 150, 156 from First North Western Also sometimes used for diversions from other routes - check the National Rail timetable for dates - when Central Trains, Trans Pennine and Virgin services may appear.
Freight services include coal and other traffic from Seaforth and Bootle docks, but can be considerable day to day variation. DB Schenker 60 and 66, plus an occasional Freightliner Class 66 are most likely to be seen.
Freight services include coal and other traffic from Seaforth and Bootle docks, but can be considerable day to day variation. DB Schenker 60 and 66, plus an occasional Freightliner Class 66 are most likely to be seen.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Rainhill
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Urban, mostly residential.
Road directions
The station lies adjacent to the A57 road, about 1 mile west of the Rainhill Stoops junction with the M62. To reach the footbridge east of the station, turn north at the traffic lights next to the rail over bridge (A57 junction with B5413), then as the B5413 bends sharply left, branch right into Ritherup Lane, then follow directions as for public transport (below).
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Rainhill map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Rainhill map co-ordinates
Parking
None at station. Very limited in nearby roads. There is a small public car park adjacent to a small shopping area located just west of the station. From the A57 at Rainhill station, head towards Prescot, turn south into Old Lane, then turn second left into Weaver Avenue. The car park is near the end of this road. Walk through the shopping area to reach the station. There is also a private car park for users of a public house near the station. Some on-street parking is possible in Ritherup Lane for those visiting the footbridge.
Public transport
By rail to the station.
By bus from St. Helens town centre (about 3 miles). From the station, head for the public footbridge at the east end of the platforms. Head north along Tasker Terrace, then turn right into Ritherup Lane. Follow this road to the end, from where a path runs along the north side of the railway to the footbridge. Walking time about 7-10 minutes.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
By bus from St. Helens town centre (about 3 miles). From the station, head for the public footbridge at the east end of the platforms. Head north along Tasker Terrace, then turn right into Ritherup Lane. Follow this road to the end, from where a path runs along the north side of the railway to the footbridge. Walking time about 7-10 minutes.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Some shops in nearby shopping area.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Rainhill
Streetmap links
Rainhill general view map
Rainhill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Rainhill
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Rainhill
Googly map
Rainhill general view map
Rainhill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Rainhill
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Whilst photographs are possible at the station, especially from the public footbridge at the east end of the platforms, a better location is the footbridge located about 1/4 mile east of the station, provided you stand in a position where you can keep nearby pylons out of your photographs. East of footbridge is mainly farmland.
Standing on the south side of the footbridge, the sun is best in the morning for eastbound trains, and best in afternoon for westbound trains. Standing on the north side of the footbridge, the sun is OK for westbound trains in summer evenings, but a large pylon behind the trains spoils the view at this location.
One member of the station staff is reported to be hostile towards photographers, although I have had no problems myself.
Standing on the south side of the footbridge, the sun is best in the morning for eastbound trains, and best in afternoon for westbound trains. Standing on the north side of the footbridge, the sun is OK for westbound trains in summer evenings, but a large pylon behind the trains spoils the view at this location.
One member of the station staff is reported to be hostile towards photographers, although I have had no problems myself.
General views - All photographs © Bevan Price unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
From the footbridge to the east, looking back towards the station.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
Eccleston Park
