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I wouldn't say that :)

Yes, I live in Leigh, and a lot of local people visit the Trafford Centre. But because it's in the location it is, and Leigh is poorly served transport wise to the Centre, it's usually car owners who benefit most. There is a bus service from Leigh but it's not very frequent and finishes early in...

Hey nice pic mate...is that a Class 150 you're on?

How long would it take to travel by tram from Leigh to Manchester via Eccles? Longer than by train from Atherton, I'm guessing....Remember the Eccles branch shares some road space from Eccles town centre out to Weaste. I have been on the tram when it gets stuck in traffic...

And then there's just the little problem of waterproofing the tunnel at Upholland, which is looking like the biggest barrier to through services to Liverpool from Wigan. Looking more likely is the electrification of the Wigan North Western-St Helens Central-Huyton-Liverpool service, although...

lol I meant Glazebury :P

In that case, the Merseyrail Northern Line should in theory be electrified to reach Wigan Wallgate in order to allow an alternative route to Liverpool. Wallgate seems like a natural terminus/boundary point for this line, however the spanner in the works could be GMPTE not being keen on...

There's a huge gap between stations on the Chat Moss Line though, from Patricroft/Eccles and then Newton le Willows...the line is quite far from Astley Village so there would have to be a connecting bus service, and I'm guessing Leigh wouldn't benefit much...it would have to built near Siddow...

And let's not forget the old disused sidings/trackbed at Spring View, near the cemetery :) --- old post above --- --- new post below --- Oh, and IF it were to ever be built, it would need to be electrified, along with the rest of the Atherton branch. Don't fancy having those awful Pacer units...

There is part of the railway bridge still intact near Spinning Jenny Way, at the end of Bradshawgate, so depending on paths, it could be possible to build on viaducts, but not entirely sure exactly where the route could go...the area has been built on significantly!

Yes I agree, a terminal Leigh-Atherton-Manc Vic service could work :) And it would kick start the regeneration of Leigh town centre, which it badly needs. Wondering if it would just be single track though?

A spur could be built off the existing Atherton line and could join up with the WCML/Chat Moss line junction at Golborne/Newton. Only problem is that there's nowhere really for the railway to pass through in Leigh, because a lot of the former route has been developed on, so would involve a lot...

Some were, yes

Yes, but it's not convenient for Liverpool. You can get to Kirkby and then on to Liverpool from Atherton, but the service isn't great (40 mins to Kirkby, plus 15 mins or so onwards to Liverpool, not including the change waiting time) and involves a change at Kirkby. Whereas the train from Newton...

It's not going down well locally. The heavy rail link will be far more beneficial and act as more a of a regeneration catalyst, plus there is no train station nearby, I usually either have to go to Wigan North Western or Newton-le-Willows to get to Liverpool.

The line from Leigh, Lancashire, allowing a direct link between the town and Liverpool/Manchester, lost since 1969

Having been brought up in the South East, where over 90% of the network is electrified, it was a bit of a shock to come to the North West, where it seems they have been neglected massively in terms of infrastructure and rolling stock....Class 142 Pacers, anyone? :) You wouldn't get one of those...

Yep, there were! I do like the fact they removed all the intermediate stops between Warrington-London, an annoyance for those left without a direct London service, such as Tamworth, but ghreat for me, when I want to go back to London from Wigan every now and again :D

There used to be a Pendolino service to Manchester Piccadilly from Euston that called at Birmingham New Street at 1843 and Wolverhampton, before continuing to Stoke, and also on weekends Pendolinos served Wolverhampton en route to Manchester --- old post above --- --- new post below --- I would...

It's not a waste, they need to be used on the North Wales line as it isn't electrified. And I really hope the Merseyrail City Line does get wired, will be so much nicer getting an electric train to Liverpool from Wigan and being there in under 30 mins, as opposed to the two car diesel Sprinter...