Place Ince-in-Makerfield Station code INC DfT category F2 | Grid reference SD595048 Managed by Northern | |
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Number of platforms 2 faces (Central island) Address Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN3 4RG, United Kingdom Pte Transport for Greater Manchester Similar Orrell railway station, Hindley railway station, Swinton (Manchester) railway st, Wigan Wallgate railway st, Pemberton railway station | ||
Ince railway station serves the Ince area of Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. The station is on the Manchester-Southport Line 17ΒΌ miles (28 km) north west of Manchester Victoria.
Until November 1964, Ince was also served by a station at Lower Ince on the line from Wigan Central to Glazebrook (to the now closed Manchester Central).
Ince suffered in the 1960s and 1970s from much house clearance and landscaping. This has resulted in low passenger usage for the station which served an area which was (until the 1960s) a bustling independent town. Ince (unlike Daisy Hill and Hindley, and other stations on the line) is not a commuter dormitory suburb and now the station is deserted even at peak times. Usage figures increased by around 10% in 2006/07 and recently by greater amounts (around 25% in 2007/08, and 29% in 2010-11) albeit from a relatively low base.
There are three seats, with a new shelter that contains benches. There is also a newly installed LED next train indicator sign (which the station did not previously have) and a payphone. There are no other facilities (such as a ticket machine or waiting room) at the station, as can be seen from its National Rail Enquiries entry. Passengers must buy their tickets in advance or from the conductor on the train as there is no staffed ticket office here.
Services
The station is served by an hourly service in each direction to Manchester Victoria via Atherton and to Southport (Wigan Wallgate during the evenings) respectively. Peak hour variations see a few Kirkby trains call during the evening peak and through trains beyond Manchester to Huddersfield, Blackburn and Leeds.
There is an hourly daytime Sunday service (via Atherton) in the current (2015-6) timetable.