North West England electrification schemes

Last updated

North West England electrification schemes are a series of individual railway lines in North West England that have been, and continue to be electrified and upgraded. It is planned that these schemes will result in a modernised, cleaner, lower carbon and faster railway with improved capacity.

Contents

Earlier twentieth century schemes

The 1955 Modernisation plan for the railways of the United Kingdom called for the phase out of steam traction. [1] Under this plan, parts of the railways in the northwest of England were electrified. [2] [3] Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly and the Styal Line were completed very early on in this plan. [4] It also included the line from Crewe to Liverpool with Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan and Preston following in the early 1970s. [5] There was a pause in electrification projects in the late 1960s when money ran out but then the West Coast Main Line north of Weaver Junction through the northwest of England to just south of Glasgow was electrified progressively between 1970 and 1974. [6] The line from Preston to Blackpool was also proposed as a logical extension for electrification in conjunction with the Weaver Junction to Glasgow scheme in a document published by the British Railways Board in April 1968. [7] No further 25 kV AC activity occurred in the northwest until after 2009. There were some 3rd rail infill schemes though. In 1956, British Rail adopted 25 kV AC OHLE as standard for most electrification projects. [8] Some exceptions for 3rd rail extensions were allowed and confirmed by the ORR decades later. [9] Parts of the northwest had already been electrified with the 3rd rail system.

In 2007 Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and selected Andrew Adonis as Secretary of State for Transport. In 2009, Adonis in a government paper, put electrification back on the agenda and proposed infill electrification schemes in the North West of England as well as other railway electrification projects elsewhere. [10] [11] As of 2022, electrification in Northwest England is ongoing with civil engineering works such as bridge rebuilding taking place between Bolton and Wigan (17 total) [12] and various other work is also in progress between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. [13] [14]

Merseyrail Development.jpg

21st century developments

The 2009 Adonis/DfT paper specifically stated that the work would commence immediately on the line between Liverpool and Manchester and a four-year time frame was given. [15] The first phase of the northwest project was to be between Manchester and Newton-le-Willows. This would allow diesel trains running between Glasgow and Edinburgh to Manchester Airport to be replaced by electric trains throughout via the West Coast Main Line. [16] [17] Also reported in the paper was that the lines between Manchester and Preston and Liverpool and Preston were to be electrified. [18] Work was announced as having started in the Manchester area in March 2011. [19]

2012 Department for Transport plans for UK rail electrification by 2019 including Northern Hub (red in the north) UK rail electrification by 2019.pdf
2012 Department for Transport plans for UK rail electrification by 2019 including Northern Hub (red in the north)

In July 2012 the coalition government announced new electrification schemes, all at 25 kV AC and reconfirmed schemes previously announced by Adonis. [20] These were: Electrification of the 'North West Triangle' (Manchester – Liverpool via Chat Moss, Huyton - Wigan, Manchester - Euxton Junction and Blackpool North – Preston); and part of the Northern Hub (New Ordsall Chord). [21] [22] The North West triangle project called for a major civil engineering project to rebore the Farnworth tunnel on the Manchester–Preston line in advance of electrification.

In August 2013, the Department for Transport announced that the Windermere branch line between Oxenholme and Windermere was to be electrified by 2016. [23] However, the Hendy review [24] moved the completion of GRIP 3 to March 2017 with a yet to be determined date for completion of electrification. [25] In December 2013 it was announced that the line from Bolton to Wigan North Western would also be electrified by 2017. [26] However, the enhancements delivery plan update of September 2016 moved the completion date with only GRIP Stage 3 (Option selection) being completed by then. [27] On 1 September 2021, the Department for Transport formally announced this would now go ahead. [28]

Newly installed overhead electrification into Manchester Victoria station, in October 2015 Manchester Victoria western approach.JPG
Newly installed overhead electrification into Manchester Victoria station, in October 2015

In July 2017, Chris Grayling, the secretary of state for transport announced a number of electrification schemes were to be cancelled including the Lakes Line from Oxenholme to Windermere. [29]

In February 2019 the final electric test train ran on the Preston to Manchester line in readiness for squadron electric service. [30] In March 2019 the Railway Industry Association published a paper on Electrification cost challenge suggesting ways forward and a rolling program of electrification. [31] In April 2019 the power was switched on from Manchester Victoria to Miles Platting. [32] This section of line is now part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade though. Most of the schemes first planned in the 2010 timeframe are now complete. [33]

From December 2021 onwards, Wigan to Bolton electrification and associated works is in progress. [34] This will include Crow Nest Junction. This electrification scheme is claimed to also improve logistics and not have diesel trains running under the wires. [35] The National Electrification Efficiency Panel (NEEP) is involved in this scheme. This panel was commissioned by the Department for Transport at the end of 2021. and chaired by Professor Andrew McNaughton. It is claimed the civil engineering costs have already been halved. [36] As part of this schemes various bridges need to be completely demolished and rebuilt. [37] [38] [39] In August 2023 the principal contractor started liquidation proceedings and work on the scheme was halted. [40] The scheme is due for completion in 2025. [41]

Future proposals

In September 2020 the TDNS Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy Interim Business case was published but dated July 31, 2020. The principal recommendation was further electrification of 13,000 km (single track kilometres) of UK railways. This document proposed a number of lines in the northwest for further electrification. [42] Page 213 had a list of suggestions including Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington and Chester to Warrington - often called the Cheshire Lines Committee railway lines. No attempt was made to prioritise the schemes in this publication.

As part of the Transport for Greater Manchester's Delivery Plan, proposals have been put forward to electrify the line between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale via Mills Hill. This is part of the 2040 Strategy, and they aim to complete business cases for the early delivery of it with potential delivery in 2026, subject to funding. [43]

Integration with other schemes

The Northern Hub and the Great North Rail Project are railway schemes across Northern England that include electrifying lines in the northwest. [44] [45] The original aim was to have series of upgrades that would reduce bottlenecks in the Manchester area. [46] [47] The scheme also involved building and electrifying the Ordsall Chord to connect Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly stations.

Schematic map showing rail improvements around Manchester city centre for the Northern Hub project Northern Hub - Manchester schematic improvements.jpg
Schematic map showing rail improvements around Manchester city centre for the Northern Hub project
Northern Powerhouse Rail map HS3-2017-map.png
Northern Powerhouse Rail map

The Manchester to Stalybridge scheme was originally part of Northwest England Electrification schemes but became part of Transpennine Route Upgrade. [48] [49] [50]

On 18 November 2021 the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP) was published. [51] This government document states HS2 will be built from Crewe to Manchester. [52] and reduces HS2 to a high speed link from London via Birmingham to the north west of England just south of Wigan North Western railway station. [53] It is planned for Warrington to have a high speed link to a reopened Warrington Bank Quay low-level station. The HS2 track from the east will merge onto regular but upgraded track leaving the west side towards Liverpool. [54]

Northern Powerhouse Rail is also included in the plan. [55] It involves building less high-speed rail than previously proposed. [56] A link is introduced from HS2 to Liverpool via a section of new high speed line from reinstated low-level platforms at Warrington Bank Quay and onwards via upgraded sections to join the existing line to Liverpool Lime Street. [57] [58]

Summary of individual schemes

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyrail</span> Commuter rail system in England

Merseyrail is a commuter rail network which serves Merseyside and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail serves 69 stations, 67 of which it manages, across two lines – the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. The network uses 750 V DC third rail electrified lines having 75.0 miles (120.7 km) of routes, of which 6.5 miles (10.5 km) are underground. Since January 2023, Merseyrail commenced replacing its train fleet, withdrawing the Class 507 and 508 trains and introducing 53 new Class 777 trains. The network carried 25.5 million passengers in the 2022/2023 statistical period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool and Bury Railway</span> Railway line in England

The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed in 1845 and opened on 28 November 1848. The line ran from Liverpool Exchange first using a joint line with Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway before branching off to proceed via Kirkby then Wigan and Bolton to Bury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorley railway station</span> Railway station in Lancashire, England

Chorley railway station serves the town of Chorley in Lancashire, England. Since 2004 it has been linked with Chorley Interchange bus and coach station. It is on the Manchester–Preston line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wigan North Western railway station</span> One of two railway stations in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England

Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wigan Wallgate railway station</span> Railway station in Greater Manchester, England

Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station serves two routes, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is 16 miles north-west of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by Northern Trains, who operate all trains serving it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolton Interchange</span> Railway and bus station in Greater Manchester, England

Bolton Interchange is a transport interchange combining Bolton railway station and Bolton Bus Station in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. The station is located on the Manchester to Preston line and the Ribble Valley line, and is managed by Northern Trains. The station is 11+1⁄4 miles (18.1 km) north west of Manchester Piccadilly. Ticket gates have been in operation at the station since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kearsley railway station</span> Railway station in Greater Manchester, England

Kearsley railway station serves the town of Kearsley and the outlying villages of Stoneclough, Prestolee and Ringley in Greater Manchester, England. It was originally named Stoneclough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester–Preston line</span>

The Manchester–Preston line runs from the city of Manchester to Preston, Lancashire, England. 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 TransPennine Express regional services and to Scotland. It was announced in December 2009 that the line would be electrified, following an announcement in July 2009 that the Chat Moss line between Manchester and Liverpool was to be electrified first. The electrification work for this line commenced in May 2015 and was due for completion in May 2018, but was delayed until December 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First TransPennine Express</span>

First TransPennine Express was a British train operating company jointly owned by FirstGroup and Keolis which operated the TransPennine Express franchise. First TransPennine Express ran regular Express regional railway services between the major cities of Northern England as well as Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool–Wigan line</span> Railway line in the north-west of England

The Liverpool–Wigan line is a railway line in the north-west of England, running between Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North Western via St Helens Central station. The line is a part of the electrified Merseyrail Liverpool to Wigan City Line. The stations, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Trains, however the stations are branded Merseyrail using Merseyrail ticketing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burscough Bridge railway station</span> Railway station in Burscough, Lancashire, England

Burscough Bridge railway station is one of two railway stations which serves the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is on the Manchester-Southport Line. It is operated and managed by Northern Trains. A bus interchange has recently been constructed next to the station, including a shop and cafe. The station has been identified by Merseytravel as a possible interchange between the Liverpool to Ormskirk line and the Southport to Wigan line in its Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westhoughton railway station</span> Railway station in Greater Manchester, England

Westhoughton railway station is one of the two stations which serve the town of Westhoughton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, north-western England. The station is 15+1⁄2 miles (24.9 km) north west of Manchester Piccadilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railway electrification in Great Britain</span> Electrification of railway lines

Railway electrification in Great Britain began in the late 19th century. A range of voltages has been used, employing both overhead lines and conductor rails. The two most common systems are 25 kV AC using overhead lines, and the 750 V DC third rail system used in Southeast England and on Merseyrail. As of October 2023, 6,065 kilometres (3,769 mi) (38%) of the British rail network was electrified.

Weaver Junction is a railway junction connecting the West Coast Main Line (WCML) with the Weaver Junction–Liverpool line, opening on 1 April 1869. Trains bound for Liverpool from London diverge from the WCML at this junction. Weaver Junction is the oldest flying junction in Britain, and also the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Line (Merseytravel)</span> Railway network brand in the UK

The City Line is the brand name used by Merseytravel on suburban rail services in the Liverpool City Region starting eastwards from the mainline platforms of Liverpool Lime Street railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkby branch line</span> Railway line in the North West of England

The Kirkby Branch Line is a branch railway line from Wigan to Headbolt Lane. The line's original route was from Liverpool to Bury and later the most northern of the Liverpool to Manchester lines. The line was split at Kirkby in 1977 with the western section forming a high frequency branch of the electrified Merseyrail Northern Line, also referred to as the Kirkby branch line. The Kirkby branch to Wigan remained a low frequency diesel operated service by Northern Trains from Headbolt Lane to Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of rail transport in Great Britain 1995 to date</span> History of British rail transport since 1995

The period from 1995 covers the history of rail transport in Great Britain following the privatisation of British Rail. During this period, passenger volumes have grown rapidly, safety has improved, and subsidies per journey have fallen. However, there is debate as to whether this is due to privatisation or to better government regulation. During this period, High Speed 1, the West Coast Main Line upgrade and Crossrail were completed and more construction projects are currently under way. The period also saw the demise of privately-owned Railtrack and its replacement with government-owned Network Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Hub</span> UK rail upgrade programme between 2009 and 2020

The Northern Hub was a rail upgrade programme between 2009 and 2020 in Northern England to improve and increase train services and reduce journey times between its major cities and towns, by electrifying lines and removing a major rail bottleneck in Manchester. It was predicted to stimulate economic growth in the region. The project had several elements but the prime objective was to eradicate the bottleneck in Manchester and allow trains to travel through the city at speed without stopping. The project was announced as the Manchester Hub in 2009. The project's steering partnership involved Network Rail, Deutsche Bahn, First TransPennine Express, Northern Rail, East Midlands Trains, CrossCountry, Freightliner, the Department for Transport, Transport for Greater Manchester and Merseytravel.

Network Rail Control Periods are the 5-year timespans into which Network Rail, the owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain, works for financial and other planning purposes. Each Control Period begins on 1 April and ends on 31 March to coincide with the financial year. These periods were inherited from Railtrack, so that the earlier ones are retrospective, and not necessarily of 5 years duration.

References

  1. ↑ "Electrification 1955" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Correspondent, our Industrial (8 May 2014). "A mile a day towards rail electrification: from the archive, 8 May 1957". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  3. ↑ Godward, E.; Edwards, P. (2001). "Rail developments in the North West". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Transport. 147 (3): 191–199. doi:10.1680/tran.2001.147.3.191. ISSN   0965-092X.
  4. ↑ Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC   59003738.
  5. ↑ Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allan. ISBN   978-0711005303.
  6. ↑ "Electric all the way" (PDF). Railways archive. May 1974. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  7. ↑ British Railways Board (April 1968). "Route Improvements Electrification : Weaver Junction to Glasgow" (PDF). Railways Archive.
  8. ↑ "Modernisation of British Railways: The System of Electrification for British Railways" (PDF). London: British Transport Commission. 1956. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2021.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ "ORR's Policy on Third Rail DC Electrification Systems | Office of Rail and Road". www.orr.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Adonis, Andrew (July 2009). "Britain's Transport Infrastructure Rail Electrification" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Railway lines to be electrified". 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Powering ahead: bridge upgrade for Wigan to Bolton electrification". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "first steelwork Victoria -Stalybridge on W1 Electrification". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "North West route". Network Rail. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  15. ↑ Adonis 2009 , p. 4
  16. ↑ Adonis 2009 , p. 23
  17. ↑ "Northwest Sparks - Projects". www.nw-sparks.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Adonis 2009 , p. 5
  19. ↑ Abbott, James, ed. (March 2011). "Lancashire electrification work begins". Modern Railways. 68 (751): 16. ISSN   0026-8356 – via Ian Allan Publishing.
  20. ↑ "High Level Output Specification (HLOS) CP5" (PDF). UK Government. July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Rail Electrification briefing paper" (PDF). UK Government. 27 July 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Electrification in the North - Network Rail". 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "DfT Unveils Lakes Electrification Plans" Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine Railnews news article 09-08-2013; Retrieved 2014-03-13
  24. ↑ Hendy, Peter (November 2015). "Report from Sir Peter Hendy to the Secretary of State for Transport on the replanning of Network Rail's Investment Programme" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  25. 1 2 Miles, Tony (September 2013). Abbott (ed.). "North West Wiring". Modern Railways. Vol. 70, no. 780. Key Publishing. pp. 52–59.
  26. ↑ "New boost for railway electrification schemes". RailNews. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  27. ↑ "Archived copy Enhancements Delivery Plan September 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  28. ↑ "Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  29. 1 2 "Rail electrification plans scrapped". BBC News. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Final 100mph speed checks on newly electrified Manchester to Preston railway". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Electrification Cost Challenge Report". www.riagb.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "'Stay off the railway' warning as electrified lines switched on in Manchester". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Northwest Sparks". www.nw-sparks.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  34. ↑ ""Absolutely horrendous" rail works keep residents up all night". The Bolton News. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Rail Technology Magazine February / March 2022 Page 26". mag.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  36. ↑ Ford, Roger (April 2022). "Informed Sources: WIGAN-BOLTON NEEP goes in hard". Modern Railways. Vol. 79, no. 883. Key Publishing. pp. 26–27.
  37. ↑ "Golf club access bridge set to be demolished and replaced as part of £78m rail electrification". The Bolton News. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  38. ↑ Gee, Chris (29 September 2022). "Golf club access bridge set to be replaced as part of £78m rail electrification". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  39. ↑ Lythgoe, George (18 November 2022). "Historic bridge to be demolished and replaced in £78 million scheme". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  40. ↑ "Bolton to Wigan railway electrification work on pause after contractor stops trading". The Bolton News. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  41. ↑ Sherratt, ed. (October 2023). "Manchester service uplift targeted for 2026". Modern Railways. Vol. 80, no. 901. Key Publishing. p. 11.
  42. ↑ "Network Rail TDNS Interim Business Case" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  43. ↑ "Greater Manchester Our 5 year Delivery Plan 2021-2026" (PDF). January 2021.
  44. ↑ "Highlights of the Great North Rail Project". Network Rail. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  45. ↑ "Northern Hub". Northern Hub. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  46. ↑ "Northern Hub Technical Study" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "The Northern Way - Manchester Hub Phase 1" (PDF). Northern Way. April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  48. ↑ "Network Rail – Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge Railway Improvements". manchestertostalybridge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  49. ↑ "Manchester to Stalybridge". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  50. ↑ "Rebuilt bridge reopens as electrification of the railway in the north west progresses". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  51. ↑ Department for Transport (18 November 2021). Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (PDF). ISBN   978-1-5286-2947-8 – via UK Government.
  52. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, pp. 12, 13.
  53. ↑ Harris, Nigel (December 2021). "IRP snuffs out 'levelling up'". RAIL Magazine. 945: 3 – via Bauer Media.
  54. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, p. 13.
  55. ↑ "Northern Powerhouse Rail" (PDF). Parliament UK. 25 August 2022.
  56. ↑ Topham, Gwyn (18 November 2021). "Boris Johnson's rail plan: what's in it and what was promised". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  57. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, p. 10.
  58. ↑ "UK unveils new Integrated Rail Plan for Midlands and the North". www.railway-technology.com. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  59. ↑ "Rail Electrification briefing paper" (PDF). UK Government. 27 July 2017. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  60. ↑ Lomas, Hannah (7 June 2016). "Electrification. North of England programme" (PDF). Travelwatch-northwest. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  61. ↑ "Northern to sever Liverpool-Blackpool link". www.railmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  62. ↑ "QXX 975091 - OHLM Test coach (formerly Test Car 3 "Mentor")". Departmentals.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  63. ↑ "3528l St Helens Central". Flickr. 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  64. ↑ "3532g Eccleston Park". Flickr. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  65. ↑ "VIDEO: Watch first successful electric train tests through Bolton". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  66. ↑ "Next three Saturdays: buses replace trains between Wigan and Manchester as engineers upgrade the railway". Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  67. ↑ "Blackpool rail route reopens but electrification work hits problems". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  68. ↑ "First pendolino train due to set off from Blackpool today". Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  69. ↑ "Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification | Mirage News". www.miragenews.com. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  70. ↑ "Our Five Year Transport Delivery Plan | Transport for Greater Manchester".

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.