Hindley blockade this weekend - Unusual track for a passenger service?

[evotista]

Looking at the block through Hindley this weekend, am I correct in thinking that the hourly Southport to Manchester Oxford Rd service that will go through Wigan Wallgate but then pick up the WCML down to Golborne Junc is an unusual move that rarely (if ever ) gets a passenger service over it. Has this ever been regularly timetabled in the past for a passenger service?

 

[bengley]

It's certainly not been a timetabled move for many years

 

[Pinus contorta]

I read somewhere, long long ago, about a sleeper service going through Wallgate towards Liverpool. Well before the Kirkby dead end was put in. Whether it was a one off or it was timetabled for a while due to engineering works elsewhere on the main line I know not.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I remember in the 1970s Southport-London passengers were conveyed by a connecting DMU via Bootle Jn/Edge Lane Jn to Lime Street, rather than having to cross from Wallgate to North-Western. Also 50 years ago I once travelled on the weekly SO Blackpool-Manchester via Standish Jn, the Whelley Line, De Trafford Jn and Atherton as there was direct no connection from North-Western to Hindley.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I remember in the 1970s Southport-London passengers were conveyed by a connecting DMU via Bootle Jn/Edge Lane Jn to Lime Street, rather than having to cross from Wallgate to North-Western.

I'd have thought plenty still go via Liverpool or even Chester, it'll depend what's cheaper. If using LNR, particularly. Wallgate to NW, to be fair, is less of a walk than the main concourse to 13/14 at Manchester Picc.

I wonder were those well loaded? They do strike me as a bit like the fairly pointless "Eurostar Link" services to Waterloo, which were known for fresh air conveyance.

 

[The exile]

I'd have thought plenty still go via Liverpool or even Chester, it'll depend what's cheaper. If using LNR, particularly. Wallgate to NW, to be fair, is less of a walk than the main concourse to 13/14 at Manchester Picc.

I wonder were those well loaded? They do strike me as a bit like the fairly pointless "Eurostar Link" services to Waterloo, which were known for fresh air conveyance.

We’re they a sop to the good burghers of Southport for losing through carriages to London? Any route would have involved not only a change of train but of station (at Wigan, Liverpool or Manchester)

 

[cjbirkett]

Realtimetrains indicates 3 diagrams for Southport-Oxford Road on Saturday.

2 are 2x158 (158 792/4 and 158 906/845), the other is 2×150 (150 224/114)

Hourly Kirkby is 150 146.

Apologies if already posted

 

[30907]

We’re they a sop to the good burghers of Southport for losing through carriages to London? Any route would have involved not only a change of train but of station (at Wigan, Liverpool or Manchester)

They were, and in the pre-Merseyrail period crossing Liverpool was less easy (and Wigan-London would have come a poor second choice)

 

[AndrewE]

Looking at the block through Hindley this weekend, am I correct in thinking that the hourly Southport to Manchester Oxford Rd service that will go through Wigan Wallgate but then pick up the WCML down to Golborne Junc is an unusual move that rarely (if ever ) gets a passenger service over it. Has this ever been regularly timetabled in the past for a passenger service?

Thanks for the heads-up. It made an interesting run out this morning.

It would have been nice to have gone through Bamfurlong sidings northbound to avoid the conflict with the up WCML too, but that would be too much route learning! (If it's even passed for passenger trains.)

 

[Pinus contorta]

Thanks for the heads-up. It made an interesting run out this morning.

It would have been nice to have gone through Bamfurlong sidings northbound to avoid the conflict with the up WCML too, but that would be too much route learning! (If it's even passed for passenger trains.)

I was travelling on a Liverpool to Wigan service, I think it was June 1997, that did that move described ( abeit the other way round) with a reversal through Bamfurlong Sidings, due to a points failure or a broken down train ( can't recall which). And carried onto p3 at WGN . Don't know if it's still allowed nowadays though.

 

[zwk500]

It would have been nice to have gone through Bamfurlong sidings northbound to avoid the conflict with the up WCML too, but that would be too much route learning! (If it's even passed for passenger trains.)

If you mean the goods lines that dive under the WCML, I'm fairly sure they are not (although they could in theory have been authorised for temporary use).

 

[AMD]

The loop from the WCML to Wallgate as a route has 'frequently' been used, when engineering works around the Crow Nest routes mean the last services from Victoria to Wigan get diverted by Golborne, this last happened a few weeks ago.
As for the goods lines that dive under at Bamfurlong, no they're not passed for passenger use, but I have been over them on ECS.

 

[cjbirkett]

Same 158 sets involved as Saturday on the Southports according to realtimetrains

The third is 150 224/146 this time

The Kirkby hourly is 150 108

 

[Halwynd]

I didn't realise these engineering works were continuing today.

I have just seen a picture of a station poster uploaded to another thread, but information about it for intending passengers on either National Rail Enquiries, Journeycheck or Northern's website seems to be either difficult to find or non-existent!

 

[AndrewE]

I didn't realise these engineering works were continuing today.

I have just seen a picture of a station poster uploaded to another thread, but information about it for intending passengers on either National Rail Enquiries, Journeycheck or Northern's website seems to be either difficult to find or non-existent!

NRE has this exceptionally unhelpful piece about Northern services:

Monday


The 05:00 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport service will start from Preston. A bus will be provided from Blackpool North to Preston, departing Blackpool North at 04:05 to connect with the train at Preston.


Monday to Thursday


The 21:20 Blackburn to Southport service will be diverted to terminate at Bolton. An additional train service will run between Wigan Wallgate and Southport.


The 22:01 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport service will terminate at Manchester Piccadilly. A bus will be provided from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport.


The 22:06 Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe service will terminate at Wilmslow. A bus will be provided from Wilmslow to Crewe.


The 22:22 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport service will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road. A replacement bus will be provided between Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly / Airport.


The 22:26 Southport to Manchester Victoria service will terminate at Wigan Wallgate. An additional train will run between Bolton and Manchester Victoria. A bus will be provided from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria.


The 22:27 Manchester Oxford Road to Wigan Wallgate service will be diverted via an alternative route and will run non-stop from Deansgate to Wigan. Intermediate stations to Bolton will be served by the diverted 21:20 Blackburn to Bolton (vice Southport) service.


The 22:36 Manchester Piccadilly to Wilmslow service will be bus replaced throughout.


The 22:43 Wilmslow to Liverpool Lime Street service will start from Manchester Piccadilly. A bus will be provided from Wilmslow to Manchester Piccadilly.


The 22:49 Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria service will be bus replaced throughout.


The 22:59 Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly will be bus replaced throughout.


The 23:00 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport service will terminate at Manchester Piccadilly. A bus will be provided from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport.


The 23:01 Manchester Piccadilly to Alderley Edge service will terminate at Stockport. A bus will be provided from Stockport to Alderley Edge.


The 23:10 Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton service will be bus replaced throughout.


The 23:12 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly service will start from Stockport. A bus will be provided from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly, departing Crewe at 23:12.


The 23:17 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service will start from Manchester Oxford Road. A replacement bus will be provided between Manchester Airport / Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road.


The 23:22 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport service will terminate at Manchester Piccadilly. A replacement bus will be provided between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.


The 23:23 Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove service will terminate at Stockport. A bus will be provided from Stockport to Hazel Grove.


The 23:28 Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly service will not call at Stockport. A bus will be provided from Chinley to Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Stockport.
The 23:36 Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe service will terminate at Stockport. A bus will be provided from Stockport to Crewe.


The 23:37 Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport service will be bus replaced throughout.


The 23:46 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service will be bus replaced throughout.


Monday to Friday


The 05:29 Blackpool South to Preston service will start from Blackpool North. A bus will be provided from Blackpool South to Preston, departing Blackpool South at 04:59 to connect with the train at Kirkham & Wesham.


Tuesday to Friday


The 00:44 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly service will start from Manchester Airport. A bus will be provided from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly.


The 04:48 Manchester Airport Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service will start from Manchester Piccadilly. A replacement bus will be provided between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.


Tuesday to Thursday


The 23:28 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street will terminate at Warrington Central. A bus will be provided from Warrington Central to Liverpool Lime Street.

5 "day" categories to check, a few items which could be related, but nothing about any sort of Oxford Rd to Wallgate services.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Feb 2023 ==

... and the grief continues...

Overrunning engineering works between Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria means some lines are closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed or diverted.
Disruption is expected until 09:30.
Additional Information:
Services from Wigan Wallgate / Wigan North Western towards Manchester Victoria will be diverted.
As a result, the following stations will not be served: Ince, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hag Fold, Atherton, Walkden, Moorside, Swinton and Westhoughton.

Train services between Wigan Wallgate and Kirkby / Southport may also be affected as these would normally use the affected portion of the line earlier in their journeys.
The following replacement road transport has been confirmed to run:

• 08:20: 1x bus from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria (operated by Bestway), calling at Ince, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hagfold, Atherton, Walkden, Moorside, Swinton then as required to Manchester Victoria
• 08:30: 1x bus from Wigan Wallgate to Southport (operated by Bestway), calling at Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Hoscar, Burscough Bridge, New Lane, Bescar lane, Meols Cop and Southport