To cater for the increased freight traffic from the docks, Liverpool & Manchester Railway succeeded in gaining an Act of Parliament in 1845 to build the Waterloo branch.

During the Second World War, Liverpool and its docks were extensively targeted by German bombers and the station was hit.

Despite being badly damaged, the station remained open though parts of its roofed sheds had to be demolished.

The station was demolished in the early 1970s and is now the site of one of the ventilation shafts for the Kingsway Tunnel.

In August 2016, the Great Howard Street bridge that spanned the lines was demolished to be replaced with a new one.