The station is situated on the world's first inter-city passenger railway, between Liverpool and Manchester, and is also located close to the world's first commercial canal. The station used to have an adjacent engine shed, Patricroft MPD, which was located to the rear of the Manchester-bound platform on the northern side of the station. The engine shed opened in 1884 and closed in 1968.[1] The majority of the station buildings were demolished in the 1980s, with only a waiting shelter remaining on each platform.[2]
Facilities
The station is unstaffed and has no permanent buildings; it does now though have ticket machines in place to allow passengers to buy tickets (or a permit to travel) prior to boarding. Train running information is provided by telephone, digital PIS screens and timetable posters. The platforms are linked by subway, but neither have step-free access as the subway has stairs from the station entrance to platform level.[3]