 The station was opened on 20 November 1848, and was known as "Preston Road" until 14 May 1984.It is located just to the north of Walton Junction, where the Kirkby and Ormskirk branches of the Northern line diverge; station on the Ormskirk line is close by (5 minutes away on foot along Hornby Road).Rice Lane is staffed throughout day, as is the norm for Merseyrail stations (15 minutes before start of service until 00