Old Railway Lines in Wigan

The railway system in Wigan took off around the 19th century during the industrial revolution. Wigan was once a proud town with railway stations widely available across the borough, used by both freight and passengers. Many lines were originally built for freight then as the owners saw the profitability of allowing passengers to travel on their lines they soon became open to passenger trains.

After the Beeching Report (1963), which lead to a lot of rural railway lines and stations closing, the railways and stations around Wigan began to become unused. one of the last lines to close was called the Whelley loop line which was closed to both freight and passengers in 1972.

History

Railways were used as a more efficient way of transporting goods and resources more quickly around the country than the canals could. This benefit lead to more and more pit owners creating private railways leading from the canals and main railway lines, right up to their pits.

Closed Railway Stations

A Railway Clearing House map showing railway lines around Wigan in 1907

• Bamfurlong Station (1/4/1878 - 27/11/1950)
• Bickershaw and Abram Station (1/4/1884 - 2/11/1964)
• Boars Head Station (1/12/1969 - 31/1/1949)
• Bryn Station
• Golborne Station North - Great Central Line (3/1/1900 - 3/3/1952)
• Golborne Station South - London and North Western Line (19/10/1839 - 2/5/1967) Closed to passengers 6/1/1961
• Hindley & Amberswood Goods Station. Changed to Hindley South in 1950 (1/4/1884 - 2/11/1964)
• Lower Ince Station (1/4/1884 - 2/11/1964)
• Lowton St Mary's Station (1/4/1884 - 22/4/1968) Closed to passengers 2/11/1964
• Plank Lane Station
• Platt Bridge Station
• Red Rock Station (1/12/1869 - 2/9/1957) Closed to passengers 26/9/1949
• Standish Station
• West Leigh and Bedford Station (1/4/1884 - 2/11/1964)
• Whelly Station (1/1/1872 - Unknown Closed to passengers 1/3/1872
• Wigan Central (3/10/1892 - 5/4/1965) Closed to passengers 2/11/1964.

Railways Today

There are now only 2 train lines that serve Wigan. Each line has its own railway station in the middle of Wigan aptly names Wigan NorthWestern and Wigan Wallgate. Wigan NorthWestern (run by Virgin Trains) is Wigan's link to the West Coast Mainline running North/ South coming up from London through Birmingham and Warrington to Wigan, then heading north to Carlisle passing through Lancaster and Penrith.

Wigan Wallgate (run by Northern Rail) is Wigan's link to the Manchester-Southport Line and is 29 km (18¼ miles) north west of Manchester Victoria (distance via Atherton). The station, along with all trains serving it, is operated by Northern Rail.