At a cost of £50,000 the Nantwich to Market Drayton line opened in 1863. At the time, there was high expectation that the town would become another Crewe. Agricultural produce was transported out to industrial areas using the railway; the Smithfield or livestock market, was opened next to the station in 1872. Passenger facilities were only introduced in 1882. Lines to Wellington and Stoke-on-Trent were added later. The station was closed in 1963 following the report by Beeching. The town had never become another Crewe. Numerous other stations along the lines were also closed as the lines were literally ripped up leaving cuttings still visible in the landscape today.