ST HELENS Junction Station has been awarded Grade II listed building status.

The station, in Sutton, which dates from 1851, was added to the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest on Friday, October 14.

Lines through the station have recently been electrified as part of billion-pound rail improvements across the North West.

And, according to Historic England, Network Rail had drawn up plans to demolish the building and replace it with a modern structure, but was awaiting the outcome of the listing assessment before making the bid.

Chris Tigwell, vice-chairman of Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society, said he is delighted the station secured listed status.

Speaking on behalf of the society, he told the Star: “This is a step towards getting the Liverpool and Manchester Railway route – a prototype for the world’s rail networks – listed as a world heritage site.

“That’s what we in Rainhill are working towards and we hope to make an application within the next six to 12 months.”

The listing team at Historic England, in their report, describe the building as “a good quality 1850s railway building in a classical style which retains many of its original features”.

It adds: “St Helens Junction Station should be added to the list at Grade II not only for its intrinsic qualities but also given its group value claims with other stations on this early railway line.”

Already listed at Grade II are Rainhill, Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows stations.

The four reasons given for granting listed status were historic interest, architectural interest, degree of survival and group value.

Of the group value, the report goes on that the series of stations on the Liverpool to Manchester line “together form a significant group of 19th century railway structures on the earliest inner-city passenger railway and earliest fully steam-powered railway line in the world”.

The building’s retained features include sash windows, fireplace, seating benches and moulded cornices.

The reports says: “St Helens Junction Station remains in active use, although Network Rail has indicated that they wish to demolish the building and replace it with a modern shelter station.”

“At he time of writing, plans have been drawn up, but a planning application has not yet been submitted and they are awaiting the outcome of the listing assessment.”

For more information go to historicengland.org.uk.