The opening of a station in the area had been an objective since the Transport Plan for Merseyside, published by the
Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority in March 1972, with detailed plans first developed in 2013. — were devised by Merseytravel and
Lancashire County Council to enable Merseyrail services to serve . However, in July 2022 the
Department for Transport rejected the Strategic Outline Business Case for the extension, suggesting that better bus links with the Kirkby–Wigan rail line would be a cheaper way of improving connectivity. In August 2019,
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced that part of an agreed £172m funding package for the region would be used to fund the construction of the new station. The Combined Authority approved that the first £3.3 million of funding for the project in July 2020, before signing off a further £66 million in March 2021. Platforms 1 and 2 are for Merseyrail, terminating platforms with buffer stops. Platform 3 is beyond the end of those platforms and is for Northern Rail. A 270 space car park and a bus interchange were also part of the design. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in July 2021 that, after a trial of a
battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) version of the new
Class 777, it would serve the new station on opening, eliminating the need for the line from Kirkby to be electrified. Construction began on the station in March 2022. Services along the Northern rail line from Wigan were cut back to from 7 April 2023 (with bus replacement services provided between Rainford and Kirkby) to allow for the line to be double-tracked and a road bridge replaced. Originally intended to open in summer 2023, delays caused by the contractor responsible for the construction of the station, the Buckingham group, going into administration meant that services did not commence until October. == Facilities ==