Grid reference SD581055 Managed by Northern Number of platforms 3 2 June 1924 Renamed Wigan Wallgate | Local authority Station code WGW DfT category D Opened 1896 2 February 1896 Opened as Wigan Architect Henry Shelmerdine | |
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Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway Similar Wigan North Western r, Gathurst railway station, Manchester Victoria station, Southport railway station, Salford Crescent railway st | ||
Wigan wallgate railway station
Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station serves 2 routes, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is (16 miles) north west of Manchester Victoria (distance via Atherton). The station is managed by Northern, who operate all trains serving it.
Contents
Wigan's other main station is Wigan North Western, which is about 110 yards (100 m) away, on the opposite side of the street named Wallgate.
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 or Kirkby. 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 to ensure step-free access to the platform.
The ticket office is manned all week, from 06:00 to 21:00 Mondays through Saturdays and from 08:00 to 20:00 on Sundays. Train running information is provided via digital display screens, timetable posters and automated announcements. Toilets and a waiting room are available at platform level.
History
On 1 November 1869, the Chorley trains were extended to Blackburn. The L&NWR ran a competing service from Wigan L&NWR via Boar's Head, which shared the same route from Adlington onwards to Blackburn.
The by-pass line was also used by freight trains to and from Liverpool Docks, which benefited by avoiding the Wigan L&YR station area.
In May 1977, the train service was significantly improved under the financial sponsorship of Greater Manchester PTE. GMPTE subsidised BR to operate a regular interval timetable throughout the day, including stopping trains via the Atherton line. The improved frequency resulted in an increase in off-peak passenger numbers.
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, 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 or Chester, via Stockport. Currently, the Southport trains run to Manchester Airport (via Bolton) or Stalybridge (via Walkden).
During Summer 2012, the ticket office was rebuilt and refurbished.
Passenger
All passenger train services are provided by Northern and operated by Class 142, Class 150 and Class 156 DMUs. Class 153 DMUs are unable to use this station because the body-side steps under the doors foul the platform coping stones here. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, this is the regular service pattern, however due to the Preston to Manchester electrification works during the 2015 summer timetable, there was an amended timetable throughout this period. There were no train services between Bolton and any Manchester station on Saturdays and Sundays between 2 May to 13 December, trains were routed via Walkden.
Monday to Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
There is no Kirkby service on Sundays.
From 14 December 2015, the weekday & Saturday timetable has reverted to that used prior to the Farnworth Tunnel blockade. There are 3tph via Bolton toward Manchester (2 to Victoria and 1 to Manchester Airport via Piccadilly) and 2tph via Walkden (both to Victoria). One of the former continues to Stalybridge & Huddersfield and one of the latter to Todmorden and Blackburn. Two per hour run westwards to Southport and one to Kirkby, whilst two others terminate here. In the evenings there are hourly services to the Airport via Bolton, to Southport and to Victoria via Atherton. The Sunday service pattern is broadly similar, but trains to Piccadilly run onward to Stockport, then either to Hazel Grove or Chester via Altrincham (alternate hours).
Previously there was no Sunday service on the Atherton line, this 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 April 2016.
Freight
There was a limited freight service through Wigan Wallgate during the early 2000s, operated by EWS running to Knowsley Freight Terminal on the Kirkby line - these were suspended from 2006 onwards. Most freight services through Wigan run through nearby Wigan North Western on the WCML. As of June 2016, a freight service to Knowsley Freight Terminal has been reinstated which uses Wallgate instead of Wigan North Western, where most freight operates. The new service runs to/from Teesside 6 days per week.