The Manchester, Bury and Rossendale Railway was formally opened from Clifton Junction to Rawtenstall on 25 September 1846, by which time it had amalgamated with other railways (also under construction) to form the East Lancashire Railway. Among the original stations was that at Radcliffe Bridge, 3+1⁄2miles (5.6 km) from Clifton Junction; it opened on 28 September, when public train services began.[2][3] The station was located between the Sion Street bridge and Green Street bridge, immediately southeast of Grundy Street. There were two platforms and a siding on the west side of the tracks. The station building was on the east platform.
The station officially closed in 1959, although there had been no regular passenger service since 7 July 1958.[2] Trains continued to pass through the station until 3 December 1966 when the railway was closed.[1] No trace of the station now remains due to the construction of the A665 Pilkington Way, which cuts through the line of the railway.