Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Wigan

Wigan

Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...

 in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The station is on 2 lines, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is (16 miles) north west of Manchester Victoria (distance via Atherton

Atherton railway station

Atherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...

). It is also the starting point of the Wigan-Manchester Line.

Wigan's other main station is Wigan North Western

Wigan North Western railway station

Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Virgin Trains, and is also served by Northern Rail...

, which is about 100 metres/yards away, on the opposite side of the street named Wallgate. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/maps/station_maps.htm#19

The apparent sharp increase in usage 2006/7 (right) is in fact due to a change in the way passengers to and from "Wigan Stations" were allocated between Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North Western. The 2007/8 blip is again due to the Strategic Rail Authority's constant attempts to allocate grouped stations' passengers accurately.

Description

There are three platforms, two through platforms and one bay platform for trains departing towards Southport

Southport railway station

Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...

 or Kirkby

Kirkby railway station

Kirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate....

. Platforms are below street level and reached via a flight of stairs from the street level concourse which contains a ticket office and a newsagent. However, a goods lift has been modified for passenger use.

History

• 1848   The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR)
  Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
  The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
  
   opened the line between Liverpool
  Liverpool
  Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
  
   and Lostock Junction
  Lostock railway station
  Lostock railway station serves the suburb of Lostock in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. According to large scale Ordnance Survey maps and local usage, the area is named Lostock Junction and the station is referred to as such by many local people...
  
   (west of Bolton
  Bolton
  Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
  
   on the Manchester to Preston line
  Manchester to Preston Line
  The Manchester to Preston Line runs from the city of Manchester to Preston, Lancashire. It is largely used by commuters entering Manchester from surrounding suburbs and cities, but is also one of the main railway lines in the North West and is utilised by intercity services for Scotland and the...
  
  ) on 20 November 1848. The original L&YR
  Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
  The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
  
   station at Wigan was located east of the current station, closer to the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR)
  Wigan North Western railway station
  Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Virgin Trains, and is also served by Northern Rail...
  
   station. The early train services on the line ran to Liverpool
  Liverpool
  Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
  
  , Bolton
  Bolton
  Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
  
  , Bury
  Bury
  Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
  
   and Manchester
  Manchester
  Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
  
  .

• 1855   The railway opened between Wigan and Southport
  Southport railway station
  Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...
  
   on 9 April 1855. Wigan's L&YR station was then relocated to a position west of where Wallgate station is today.

• 1868   The L&YR introduced a passenger service on 14 September 1868 between Wallgate station and Chorley
  Chorley
  Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
  
  , using a newly-opened route from Hindley
  Hindley railway station
  Hindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...
  
   to Blackrod
  Blackrod railway station
  Blackrod railway station serves the village of Blackrod, 6.5 miles north west of Bolton railway station, 1.5 miles from the town centre of Horwich - closer indeed than station....
  
  , near Horwich
  Horwich
  Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
  
  .
  On 1 November 1869, the Chorley trains were extended to Blackburn. The L&NWR
  London and North Western Railway
  The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
  
   ran a competing service from Wigan North Western
  Wigan North Western railway station
  Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Virgin Trains, and is also served by Northern Rail...
  
   via Boar's Head, which shared the same route from Adlington
  Adlington (Lancashire) railway station
  Adlington railway station serves the village of Adlington, near Chorley in Lancashire, England. It is a two-platform station on the Chorley-Bolton line...
  
   onwards to Blackburn.

• 1888   On 1 October 1888, the L&YR opened a new line from Pendleton
  Pendleton, Greater Manchester
  Pendleton is an inner city area of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is about from Manchester city centre. The A6 dual carriageway skirts the east of the district....
  
   in Salford
  City of Salford
  The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
  
   via Atherton
  Atherton railway station
  Atherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...
  
   to Hindley
  Hindley railway station
  Hindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...
  
  . This provided a faster, more direct route for trains from Manchester and avoided the busy bottleneck around Bolton station
  Bolton railway station
  Bolton Interchange is a transport interchange combining the railway station and a four stand bus station in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. The station is located on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line and is managed by Northern Rail...
  
  . The L&YR then introduced fast, regular trains between Manchester Victoria
  Manchester Victoria station
  Manchester Victoria station in Manchester, England is the city's second largest mainline railway station. It is also a Metrolink station, one of eight within the City Zone...
  
   and Liverpool Exchange
  Liverpool Exchange railway station
  Liverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the town centre of Liverpool, England.- Station construction and opening :...
  
  , in direct competition with the L&NWR which used the more direct route between Manchester Exchange
  Manchester Exchange Station
  Manchester Exchange Station was a railway station located immediately to the north of Manchester city centre. It served the city between 1884 and 1969. The main approach road ran from the end of Deansgate near Manchester Cathedral, passing above the River Irwell and Chapel Street; a second approach...
  
   and Liverpool Lime Street
  Liverpool Lime Street railway station
  Liverpool Lime Street is a railway station serving the city centre of Liverpool, England. The station lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, and on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network...
  
  .

• 1889   A bypass line opened on 1 June 1889 between Hindley
  Hindley railway station
  Hindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...
  
   and Pemberton
  Pemberton railway station
  Pemberton railway station serves the Pemberton area of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. It is on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line.The station is situated on the A571 Billinge Road...
  
  , passing to the south of Wigan. This allowed a faster journey for the L&YR's Manchester – Liverpool expresses by avoiding Wigan station. Express trains from Liverpool continued to serve Wigan on the route to Bury
  Bury
  Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
  
  , Rochdale
  Rochdale
  Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
  
   and West Yorkshire
  West Yorkshire
  West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
  
  .
  The by-pass line was also used by freight trains to and from Liverpool Docks, which benefited by avoiding the Wallgate station area.

• 1896   The L&YR opened Wallgate station on its current site on 2 February 1896. The railway company had received extensive criticism regarding the standard of its station and facilities since it opened the line through the town in 1848. In 1896 Wigan finally received a railway station in line with the town's size and importance.

• 1960   Passenger trains between Wigan Wallgate, Chorley and Blackburn via Hindley were withdrawn on 4 January 1960.

• 1968   The last steam trains ran on British Rail
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
  ways and by this time most services through Wigan Wallgate had been converted to diesel multiple unit (DMU)
  British diesel and electric multiple units
  'Multiple Unit' is a term used to describe a train which does not have a separate locomotive. Typically these are passenger trains with accommodation in every vehicle and motors or engines distributed under the floor along the length of the train...
  
   operation. The steam loco depot just west of Wallgate was closed and the sidings converted for stabling of DMU's. The 1965 British Rail (London Midland) timetable still shows express trains (Liverpool Exchange to Yorkshire and beyond) using or bypassing Wigan Wallgate.

• 1969   The direct line from Hindley to Pemberton was closed on 14 July 1969 and all Manchester to Liverpool Exchange trains were routed through Wallgate.

• 1970   The line from Bolton to Rochdale via Bury was closed on 5 October 1970. Trains from Liverpool now generally terminated at Bolton. Southport trains provided the main service to and from Manchester Victoria.

• 1977   On 30 April 1977, the former L&YR terminus at Liverpool Exchange was closed. Trains were re-routed onto a new underground line beneath Liverpool city centre to Moorfields
  Moorfields railway station
  Moorfields station is an underground railway station in Liverpool, England. It is situated on both the Northern and Wirral Lines of the Merseyrail network and is the only station on the network which has services to all other Merseyrail stations....
  
   and Liverpool Central
  Liverpool Central railway station
  Liverpool Central railway station is a railway station in Liverpool, England, and forms the central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. In the years 2008/09, Liverpool Central station was shown to be the busiest station in Liverpool, despite being...
  
  . Since diesel multiple unit
  Multiple unit
  The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
  
  s could not operate in the tunnels, trains from the Wigan line initially terminated at Sandhills
  Sandhills railway station
  Sandhills railway station is a railway station in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, located to the north of the city centre on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network.It was built by the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway Company and now stands at the junction between the branch to Southport...
  
   (the last surface station), with passengers transferring to or from electric trains on the Southport or Ormskirk lines
  Northern Line (Merseyrail)
  The Northern Line is one of the two commuter rail lines operated by Merseyrail in Merseyside, England. The other line is the Wirral Line. A third line of the Merseyrail Network, the City Line, is not owned or operated by Merseyrail, although funded by Merseytravel.The Northern Line passes...
  
   for the short trip into Liverpool city centre.

• 1977   During the early and mid-1970s, the frequency of British Rail's
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
   trains from Wigan Wallgate was reduced. Services operated at irregular intervals, those from the Liverpool line ran only as far as Wigan or Bolton and there were no off-peak trains on the Atherton line.
  In May 1977, the train service was significantly improved under the financial sponsorship of Greater Manchester PTE. GMPTE subsidised BR
  British Rail
  British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
  
   to operate a regular interval timetable throughout the day, including stopping trains via the Atherton
  Atherton railway station
  Atherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...
  
   line. The improved frequency resulted in an increase in off-peak passenger numbers.

• 1978   The trains to Liverpool (which had terminated at Sandhills
  Sandhills railway station
  Sandhills railway station is a railway station in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, located to the north of the city centre on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network.It was built by the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway Company and now stands at the junction between the branch to Southport...
  
   following the opening of the Merseyrail
  Merseyrail
  Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
  
   link to Liverpool Central
  Liverpool Central railway station
  Liverpool Central railway station is a railway station in Liverpool, England, and forms the central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. In the years 2008/09, Liverpool Central station was shown to be the busiest station in Liverpool, despite being...
  
  ) were cut back to Kirkby
  Kirkby railway station
  Kirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate....
  
  . This happened when Merseyrail completed electrification
  Railway electrification system
  A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
  
   of the western section of line between Liverpool and Kirkby
  Kirkby
  Kirkby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The town was developed from the 1950s through 1970s as a means to house the overspill of Liverpool. It is situated roughly north of Huyton, the administrative HQ of the borough and about...
  
  . The diesel train from Wigan was scheduled to meet an electric train from Liverpool at Kirkby and passengers transfer trains to complete their journeys. This arrangement continues at Kirkby today.

• 1978   The Victorian-era buildings on the station platform at Wallgate were demolished and new structures erected. The street level building remained largely unscathed.

• 1988   Prior to 1988, passengers travelling to Manchester were limited to arriving or departing at one station – the ex-L&YR terminus at Manchester Victoria. In May 1988 a new rail link
  Windsor Link
  The Windsor Link is a short but key railway line in central Manchester that connects Salford Crescent and Deansgate stations, opened in 1988. The new link allows services from north west of Manchester to be diverted from Manchester Victoria to Manchester Piccadilly, emphasising the latter's status...
  
   was opened in Salford, which allowed trains from Wigan and Bolton to use the lines into either Salford Central
  Salford Central railway station
  Salford Central railway station is a railway station in Salford, Greater Manchester in the North West of England just over the River Irwell from Manchester city centre. It is very close to Manchester's Spinningfields district and the area behind the House of Fraser department store, Deansgate...
  
   and Victoria, or Deansgate
  Deansgate railway station
  Deansgate is a railway station in Manchester city centre, England. It is situated approximately west of Manchester Piccadilly in the Castlefield area, at the junction of Deansgate and Whitworth Street West....
  
  , Oxford Road
  Manchester Oxford Road railway station
  Manchester Oxford Road Railway Station is a railway station in the city of Manchester, England. The station is located at the junction of Whitworth Street West and Oxford Street, on an elevated line between Deansgate and Piccadilly stations....
  
   and Piccadilly stations.
  In addition to an improved choice of central Manchester termini, most local trains from Wigan were extended to suburban destinations on the far side of Greater Manchester
  Greater Manchester
  Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
  
  , or beyond.
  In particular, the trains to or from Southport tend to be directed onto longer suburban routes south of Manchester. The exact destination varies with each timetable revision, but in recent years, Southport trains have run through to Buxton
  Buxton
  Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
  
   or Chester
  Chester
  Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
  
  , via Stockport
  Stockport
  Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
  
  . Currently, many of the Southport trains run to Manchester Airport
  Manchester Airport railway station
  Manchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:...
  
  .

• 2003–2004   A major refurbishment of infrastructure was completed in October 2004. The £12 million project involved a complete renewal of the track and signalling at Wallgate station and the adjacent carriage sidings. The LMS
  London, Midland and Scottish Railway
  The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
  
  -era colour light signalling was replaced with a modern electronic control system.

Services

All passenger train services are provided by Northern Rail

Northern Rail

Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...

 and operated by diesel multiple units

Multiple unit

The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...

. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, the following services operate from this station:

• 3 trains per hour (tph) to Manchester Victoria calling:

Hindley

Hindley railway station

Hindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...

, Westhoughton

Westhoughton railway station

Westhoughton railway station serves the town of Westhoughton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, north-western England. The station is 15½ miles north west of Manchester Piccadilly.- Overview :...

, Bolton

Bolton railway station

Bolton Interchange is a transport interchange combining the railway station and a four stand bus station in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. The station is located on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line and is managed by Northern Rail...

, Moses Gate

Moses Gate railway station

Moses Gate railway station serves the Moses Gate suburb of Farnworth, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England.It lies on the Manchester-Preston Line, though only local services run by Northern Rail call here....

, Farnworth

Farnworth railway station

Farnworth Railway Station serves the Greater Manchester town of Farnworth, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, England. The station has had several names, the present name being adopted on 6 May 1974....

, Kearsley

Kearsley railway station

Kearsley railway station serves the Greater Manchester town of Kearsley and the villages of Stoneclough, Prestolee and Ringley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in North West England...

, Salford Crescent

Salford Crescent railway station

Salford Crescent is one of two railway stations in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The other station is Salford Central.The station is west of Manchester Victoria and west of Manchester Piccadilly...

, Salford Central

Salford Central railway station

Salford Central railway station is a railway station in Salford, Greater Manchester in the North West of England just over the River Irwell from Manchester city centre. It is very close to Manchester's Spinningfields district and the area behind the House of Fraser department store, Deansgate...

 and Manchester Victoria

Ince, Hindley, Daisy Hill

Daisy Hill railway station

Daisy Hill railway station serves the Daisy Hill area of Westhoughton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England.Daisy Hill is one of the principal stations that lie on the Atherton line, between Wigan and Manchester...

, Hag Fold

Hag Fold railway station

Hag Fold railway station is one of the local stations that lie on the Atherton line, between Wigan and Manchester. The station is located 13 miles west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton, Walkden and Hindley.The station was built...

, Atherton

Atherton railway station

Atherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...

, Walkden

Walkden railway station

Walkden railway station is one of the principal stations that lie on the Atherton line, between Wigan and Manchester. The station is located 8¼ miles west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton and Hindley...

, Moorside

Moorside railway station

Moorside railway station is located in the Moorside and Wardley areas of Swinton, near Manchester, England. The station stands on Moorside Road close to the junction with Chorley Road , Swinton....

, Swinton

Swinton (Manchester) railway station

Swinton railway station serves the town of Swinton and Pendlebury in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England.Swinton is one of the local stations that lie on the Manchester to Southport Line between Wigan and Manchester...

, Salford Crescent, Salford Central and Manchester Victoria

Hindley, Daisy Hill, Atherton, Walkden, Swinton , Salford Crescent, Salford Central and Manchester Victoria

• 1 train per hour (tph) to Manchester Airport
  Manchester Airport railway station
  Manchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:...
  
   (via Piccadilly) calling:

Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Manchester Deansgate

Deansgate railway station

Deansgate is a railway station in Manchester city centre, England. It is situated approximately west of Manchester Piccadilly in the Castlefield area, at the junction of Deansgate and Whitworth Street West....

, Manchester Oxford Road

Manchester Oxford Road railway station

Manchester Oxford Road Railway Station is a railway station in the city of Manchester, England. The station is located at the junction of Whitworth Street West and Oxford Street, on an elevated line between Deansgate and Piccadilly stations....

, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport

• 1 train per hour (tph) to Rochdale
  Rochdale railway station
  Rochdale railway station serves the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station serving the town in the 19th century...
  
   (via Victoria) calling:

Bolton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Moston

Moston railway station

Moston railway station serves Moston in Greater Manchester, England. It is 4 miles north of Manchester Victoria on the Caldervale Line managed by Northern Rail....

, Mills Hill

Mills Hill railway station

Mills Hill railway station is in the Mills Hill area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. The station is 9 km north of Manchester Victoria on the Caldervale Line...

, Castleton

Castleton railway station

Castleton railway station serves Castleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is 14 km north of Manchester Victoria on the Caldervale Line operated and managed by Northern Rail.-Services:...

 and Rochdale

• 2 trains per hour (tph) to Southport
  Southport railway station
  Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...
  
   calling:

Gathurst

Gathurst railway station

On the outskirts of the town of Wigan, Greater Manchester, the semi-rural Gathurst is a recently refurbished two-platform station on the Southport line 2¾ miles north west of Wigan Wallgate station...

, Appley Bridge

Appley Bridge railway station

Appley Bridge railway station serves the villages of Appley Bridge and Shevington in England.The station is 4½ miles north west of Wigan Wallgate on the Manchester-Southport Line....

, Parbold

Parbold railway station

Parbold railway station serves the village of Parbold and the nearby village of Newburgh in West Lancashire, England.The station is north west of Wigan Wallgate on the Manchester to Southport Line.-History:...

, Hoscar

Hoscar railway station

Hoscar railway station serves the rural village of Lathom, near the town of Burscough, Lancashire. The station stands between two level crossings: in Hoscar Moss Road and Frog Lane. 2,070 passengers used the station in 2004-5...

, Burscough Bridge

Burscough Bridge railway station

Burscough Bridge railway station serves the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is a main stop on the Manchester-Southport Line. A bus interchange has recently been constructed next to the station, including a shop and cafe....

, New Lane

New Lane railway station

New Lane railway station serves the rural communities and farming villages around New Lane in West Lancashire, in the north-west of England. It is served and managed by Northern Rail and is situated near the Martin Mere bird sanctuary, which can be reached by a 1 mile walk.Trains run to Southport...

, Bescar Lane

Bescar Lane railway station

Bescar Lane railway station is on the Manchester to Southport Line, east of Southport in the village of Scarisbrick. Bescar Lane is an old cottage-style station, operated by the Northern Rail franchise...

, Meols Cop

Meols Cop railway station

Meols Cop railway station serves the Blowick suburb of the coastal town of Southport, Merseyside, England. The station has an island platform and is served by Northern Rail's - via branch services, on which it is the last stop before the terminus...

 and Southport

Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Burscough Bridge, Meols Cop and Southport

• 1 train per hour (tph) to Kirkby
  Kirkby railway station
  Kirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate....
  
   calling:

Pemberton

Pemberton railway station

Pemberton railway station serves the Pemberton area of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. It is on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line.The station is situated on the A571 Billinge Road...

, Orrell

Orrell railway station

Orrell railway station serves the Orrell area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. It is a small two-platform commuter hub on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line....

, Upholland, Rainford

Rainford railway station

Rainford railway station is situated in the village of Rainford, Merseyside, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail.- History :...

 and Kirkby

Connections are available at Kirkby and Southport for Merseyrail

Merseyrail

Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...

's Northern Line

Northern Line (Merseyrail)

The Northern Line is one of the two commuter rail lines operated by Merseyrail in Merseyside, England. The other line is the Wirral Line. A third line of the Merseyrail Network, the City Line, is not owned or operated by Merseyrail, although funded by Merseytravel.The Northern Line passes...

 trains to Liverpool Central

Liverpool Central railway station

Liverpool Central railway station is a railway station in Liverpool, England, and forms the central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. In the years 2008/09, Liverpool Central station was shown to be the busiest station in Liverpool, despite being...

 involving a changeover at these stations.

On Sundays there is an hourly service to Southport and Stockport

Stockport railway station

Stockport railway station is in Greater Manchester, England, 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly station on the West Coast Main Line from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. It was opened on 15 February 1843 by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, following completion of the large...

 via Bolton & Manchester Piccadilly (with two-hourly extensions to Chester

Chester railway station

Chester railway station is a railway station in Newtown in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services from the station. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...

 via Altrincham

Altrincham railway station

Altrincham Interchange serves the town of Altrincham in Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It was originally named Altrincham and Bowdon railway station and is located on Stamford New Road, adjacent to the Altrincham Ice Dome—home to the Manchester Phoenix ice hockey team...

) but no trains to Kirkby. Passengers for Manchester Victoria formerly had to change trains at Bolton or Salford Crescent as there was no service on the Atherton line.

This situation changed in May 2010 when a 12 month trial of an hourly Sunday service began between Wallgate and Manchester Victoria via Atherton (after Greater Manchester PTA agreed a funding package with train operator Northern Rail in December 2009). Transport for Greater Manchester hope to have the Sunday service become a requirement of the Northern refranchising from September 2013.

There was a limited freight service through Wigan Wallgate until recently, operated by EWS

EWS

DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...

 and running to Knowsley Freight Terminal on the Kirkby line - these are however currently (May 2010) suspended. Most freight services through Wigan run through Wigan North Western railway station

Wigan North Western railway station

Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Virgin Trains, and is also served by Northern Rail...

 on the WCML.

External links

• The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Society