James Street is an underground station, with access to the platforms via lifts from the booking hall.

At certain times, the platforms are accessed via a pedestrian tunnel from the India Buildings on Water Street.

The station opened as the original Liverpool terminus of the Mersey Railway Tunnel in 1886.

[2] Through trains to West Kirby and New Brighton commenced in 1938, when the former Wirral Railway routes were electrified.

In 1941, during the Liverpool Blitz, the Luftwaffe bombed the surface building of the station, damaging the then famous James Street hydraulic accumulator tower so badly it required demolition.

A new single-track tunnel known as the Loop was constructed being a part of the Wirral Line under Liverpool's city centre.

The eastern section of the original tunnel between Liverpool Central and James Street is used by the Northern Line.

[6][7] Work to improve the little-used Platform 2 and the Water Street entrance were completed during 2015.

The Water Street entrance uses a combination of staircases and a ramp over 150 yards long which goes from ground level to just above the platforms.

[1] There are toilets, a payphone, an ATM, booking office and live departure and arrival screens, for passenger information.