Google maps be your friend.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...2749,-2.717357&spn=0.019529,0.038581&t=h&z=15
As far as I can see, no, I can see how it could be useful for when HS2 gets joined in or that section of line is closed, other than that, any loop services would be either Wigan based (for junction layouts) reverse twice, or just be a tad silly. What you getting at for re-opening it?
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Network Rail should be Electrifying Wigan North Western-Huyton, Wigan North Western-Bolton & Wigan North Western-Salford Crescent
Also, rebuild & electrify Chord connecting Bamfurlong to Wigan-Liverpool line as a diversion route if Earlestown is shut?
Platt Bridge - Huyton is being done...
Lostock Jcn - Wigan Stn Jcns. isn't being done, but it should be
And if the current service patterns remain, electrifying Salford Crescent - Hindley in addition to the above would be a tad pointless unless the Kirby and Southport services where curtailed to Wigan Wallgate, or the wires extended to Southport.
They should be electrifying the routes best suited, and at the moment, under current service patterns, Lostock - Wigan Stn. Jcns. is a much better option than Salford Crescent - Hindley - Wigan Stn Jcns.
However, if the current services via Atherton are all curtailed to Wigan NW or Wallgate, then electrification of this section would close a diesel island, but Lostock - Hindley - Wigan Stns should be done first.
The whole idea of electrification is to change as many diesel diagrams as possible to electric for the last amount of track miles to be electrified (and also where capacity needs improving, eg: Bolton - Farnworth - Windsor Bridge.
Currently, as previously stated, only 3tph through Bolton (if scottish services remain to be diverted via the Chat Moss) can be re-diagramed as electric.
If Lostock - Wigan where also wired (a distance of about 8 miles, I do stand to be corrected on this!) that would improve to be 5tph, removing 4 diesel diagrams from the schedule. But also opening a major diversionary route for Electric Rolling Stock.
An alternative could be to divert the Victoria - Kirby and Victoria - Southport services to run via Bolton and then electify the route via Atherton (and the branch to Leigh).
This would mean that everything that runs past Wigan would run via Bolton and Westhaughton, a time increase that could be compensated by only stopping services at Bolton, Lostock, Westhaughton and 1 or 2tph (out of 3) at Hindley.
Idealy, both of these would be done and the 3rd rail to Southport extended as far as Wigan Wallgate (We're receving dual voltage stock anyway more than likely), same goes for Omskirk - Preston.
Another alternative would be to electrify via Lostock, cut the Manchester - Kirby service at Wallgate, and run the MCV & MIA - Southport services both via Atherton. Then all but two of the services through Bolton would be electric.
There are a great deal of options available, idealy both routes would be electrified. But as a starter I would say that Lostock - Wigan would be a good starter, and allow the current service pattern to remain broadly similar, and have addtional services inserted in there without too much hassle, as pathing on the Atherton route is much easyer than on the Bolton route, the more electrics run that way the better as it would reduce delays, and improve capacity in the peaks.
