Demolition of the old station was completed by the 17th November 1972 and work started immediately on construction of the new station. The platforms were built first. Significantly longer than the old ones and able to take a twelve coach train.
Progress by the 16th February 1973
Erection of the foot bridge
The morning of the 7th May 1973 dawned bright and clear. The first timetabled train to call at the new station was the 08:16 hrs for Leicester and London. Two schools specials, one for London and one for Chester had left earlier. The station was decked with bunting and a band played in a marquee as Sir Richard Marsh, Chairman of British Rail arrived on the 10:37 hrs train for Glasgow. After a tour of the station he declared it open and then flagged off the all 1st class for £1 excursion to London.
The station then settled down with its initial timetable of seven trains to London and eight return on weekdays and three in each direction on Sundays. Many excursions were also run.
photographs by Richard Howdle
