Newton le Willows - Wigan

[terryc]

Someone mentioned in the pub the other night of a new proposed passenger service which would link NLW with WNW.
I can't find anything about this, (pie in the sky?) but I'm aware of the proposed WNW to Manchester via Golborne / Lowton junctions service that will replace the current Scotland - Man Airport once the wires via Chorley are complete. Of course this won't (can't!) go via NLW.
Can anyone shed any light?
Thanks

 

[WatcherZero]

Proposed three per day Liverpool-Glasgow? Though I thought they were going to be via St Helens.

 

[kieron]

Of course this won't (can't!) go via NLW.

It could do - Manchester-NLW as normal, then reverse at the first opportunity and go the other way through Lowton junction. No idea what they're actually planning to do, though.

 

[Ianigsy]

Every few years somebody suggests a Crewe-Preston stopping service running something like Crewe-Winsford-Hartford-Warrington BQ-Earlestown-NLW-Wigan NW-Leyland-Preston.

And every time they do, somebody seems to come up with a "better idea" for what to do with that capacity on the WCML!

 

[kieron]

There's more space on the bit of WCML between Golborne and Wigan, hence why TPE can send their Scotland trains that way. Lowton is probably the trickiest place to timetable, as you have to negotiate a flat junction between the Manchester-Newton-le-Willows trains. There will be 6tph each way eventually based on this page, even if ATW withdraw their peak-time extra.

As that page calls it a "fast Northern Connect service", I doubt a detour to Newton-le-Willows is part of the plan.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its true Preston station is more of a pinch point but I do have concerns about the increase in traffic terminating at North Western rather than Wallgate in the next franchise.