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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.
Contents
After the Beeching Report (1963), which led 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 led to more and more pit owners creating private railways leading from the canals and main railway lines, right up to their pits.
Closed stations
Railways today
Today's railways in Wigan can be divided into two. Wigan NorthWestern (run by Virgin Trains) is on the West Coast Main Line, served by trains from London, Manchester Airport and Birmingham to the North. South of the station there is a connecting line through Bryn to St Helens and Liverpool; this was electrified by May 2015. Wigan Wallgate station, run by Northern, is served by trains from Manchester via either Bolton or Atherton; the routes diverge east of Hindley. These continue west of Wigan Wallgate to Southport or, via Pemberton, to Kirkby, where there are connections to Liverpool.