Newton-le-Willows Interchange

[po8crg]

Merseyrail have announced plans for a major expansion of Newton-le-Willows station

Newton-le-Willows Interchange will see significant investment at the existing station to provide passengers with improved facilities, easier access and better links between local, regional and national transport. It will further build on the improvements to services following the electrification of the line between Liverpool and Manchester and the introduction of new rolling stock by Northern Rail.

The scheme is funded by the Local Growth Fund and Merseytravel. It is a key project in the Long Term Rail Strategy and Growth Deal for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as well as the St Helens Local Development Framework....

Major highlights include:

Entirely new station buildings on the South side with access from the existing North-side entrance through an underpass, including toilets and a proper waiting area.
New 400+ space car park.
Rail-Bus Interchange (ie bus-stops right outside the station)
Step-free access to the platforms (ie lifts)

There are a couple of massive PDFs with details on the website (131-page business case and 344-page appendices)

Plan of site (PNG format)

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Well, I thought it was interesting.

 

[TheGrew]

Looking forward to this as this is my local station. Though Alas it won't be finished until I have long moved house. My current house is on one of the neighboring streets that is effectively used as a car park extension by commuters...

 

[terryc]

It's long overdue.. The current 'new' car park is only a couple of years old, and is already full before 7-00 am on weekdays, and the overspill is just as bad, if not more extensive, than it was before.
It's also good that access to the platforms from the North (Southworth road) will be retained.
It's also good to learn that my weak bladder will now be catered for within the improvements!

 

[kelv]

Is it set to create any new jobs ?

 

[montyburns56]

Looking on Google Maps it seems as if the area currently has two businesses and a car storage area for local dealer on the site. Are they going to be forced to move out?

 

[urbophile]

All this is quite useless unless they improve the train service. Two trains an hour between Liverpool and Manchester, and within ten minutes of each other. I visit N-le-W regularly, using a 'connecting' bus which this week arrived at the station in time for me to catch the slow train back and just miss a heart attack running up the ramp. Last time I missed it altogether and had a 50 minute wait. If this is going to become a 'parkway' type station it needs Merseyrail to run a metro-type service (forget Northern) which could join the Northern line via the Wapping tunnel.

 

[Bevan Price]

Newton Le Willows should get extra trains under the new franchises - the Chester - Manchester Vic/Leeds, and at least one TPE service per hour.
Unfortunately, Earlestown seems to lose out on fast services, despite being more convenient than Newton for many residents, and closer to the main shopping areas.

 

[yorksrob]

In the occasions when I've used it, Newton's never seemed to have that many bus services.

 

[Bevan Price]

In the occasions when I've used it, Newton's never seemed to have that many bus services.

Weekday Daytime:
22, Warrington - Earlestown / Vulcan, hourly.
34 St. Helens - Leigh, every 20 mins.
141 St. Helens - Burtonwood - Newton, hourly
360 Warrington - Wigan, every 30 mins.
603 Newton - Haydock - Garswood - Ashton in Makerfield, hourly.


Evenings / Sunday:
22 & 141 hourly
34 St. Helens - Newton, hourly.
360 Newton - Wigan, hourly.

 

[yorksrob]

Weekday Daytime:
22, Warrington - Earlestown / Vulcan, hourly.
34 St. Helens - Leigh, every 20 mins.
141 St. Helens - Burtonwood - Newton, hourly
360 Warrington - Wigan, every 30 mins.
603 Newton - Haydock - Garswood - Ashton in Makerfield, hourly.


Evenings / Sunday:
22 & 141 hourly
34 St. Helens - Newton, hourly.
360 Newton - Wigan, hourly.

I suppose that's enough for a small bus station

I tend to use it with the bus myself, as it happens.

 

[urbophile]

Newton Le Willows should get extra trains under the new franchises - the Chester - Manchester Vic/Leeds, and at least one TPE service per hour.

They will have to be mostly diesels. Not a lot of point in electrification then!

 

[mike57]

I use N-l-W on occasions. These improvements are well overdue. I usually travel from Manchester Pic and service looks good on paper (2 trains per hour) but the reality is almost 1 train per hour as Man Air -Liverpool service leaves less than 10 minutes after the Chester - North Wales service. So if you just miss the Northern service you have roughly 45 min to wait. Not well thought out but hopefully services will be better spaced,

I also wonder if the cobbles towards the Leigh Arms Hotel will be replaced, when its be raining or its icy they certainly make the walk down exciting.

 

[quantinghome]

They will have to be mostly diesels. Not a lot of point in electrification then!

More is planned. Can't do it all at once...

 

[Bevan Price]

I use N-l-W on occasions. These improvements are well overdue. I usually travel from Manchester Pic and service looks good on paper (2 trains per hour) but the reality is almost 1 train per hour as Man Air -Liverpool service leaves less than 10 minutes after the Chester - North Wales service. So if you just miss the Northern service you have roughly 45 min to wait. Not well thought out but hopefully services will be better spaced,

.

It is even worse than that. In most hours, we have
From Man. Piccadilly:
xx:50 (Man Picc - Chester / N. Wales)
xx:55 (Airport - Liverpool)

and from Man. Victoria
xx:02 all stations to Liverpool.

So 3 trains from Manchester to Newton in 12 minutes, then nothing for 48 minutes.

And only slightly better going from Newton towards Manchester.

 

[Statto]

It is even worse than that. In most hours, we have
From Man. Piccadilly:
xx:50 (Man Picc - Chester / N. Wales)
xx:55 (Airport - Liverpool)

and from Man. Victoria
xx:02 all stations to Liverpool.

So 3 trains from Manchester to Newton in 12 minutes, then nothing for 48 minutes.

And only slightly better going from Newton towards Manchester.

To Manchester it's xx30, xx37 xx56, with the xx30 & xx37 to Piccadilly.