Irlam is the busiest unmanned station in Greater Manchester and its station house was reopened in 2015 after a £2m makeover, restoring it to its former glory after being left derelict for nearly 25 years. The renovation recreated how it looked when it was first built, including paintwork in the original London, Midland and Scottish Railways colour scheme.

Inside, there are artefacts and displays from the station’s 124-year history, and seating areas in the style of a train carriage from the 1920s.

The platform features a life-sized metal sculpture of a flat-capped commuter sitting on a bench, ripe for a selfie, and artwork including a painting of a train full of local people who’ve become famous. They include singer Russell Watson and the brilliantly-named Max Shacklady, a boxer known as the “Eccles steamroller”, who competed in the 1948 Olympics.

 

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While most railway stations in England are places to scurry through on the way to get somewhere else, there are some which are worth lingering a little longer at. Here are some everyday stops that offer commuters a little more than hurrying hordes and characterless coffee shops.