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Written by Bevan Price - 29 Apr 2004
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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.
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.
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).

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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.

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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

Googly map
Streetmap links
Rainhill general view map
Rainhill close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Rainhill



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Railway Gen Group
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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.


General views - All photographs © Bevan Price unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west


Fig 1 - Looking west

From the footbridge to the east, looking back towards the station.

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