A range of rail improvements taking place this month in North West England has prompted Network Rail to request that passengers check their services before setting off.
Scheduled improvements are due to take place in the Southport and Wigan areas.
Electrification work on the Bolton to Wigan North Western line will mean a continuous closure until Sunday 18 February, as well as over the following weekend, when services will not run on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 February.
Services will not run, additionally, on Sundays in March. This means that there will be changes to train services between Wigan North Western, Ince, Hindley, Westhoughton, Lostock and Bolton.
The enabling works for the electrification scheme, part of a £78m project, will lead to cleaner, greener, longer and quieter trains running between the two towns.
The scheduled work includes the rebuilding of a bridge, an upgrade to railway drainage systems and preparation work for the installation of a new signalling system between Wigan North Western station and Lostock Junction in Bolton.
Elsewhere, three level crossings – at Pool Hey, Wake Cop and Chapel Lane – will be renewed. Burscough signal box will be enhanced and a number of signals will be upgraded in the Parbold area.
Phil James, North West route director for Network Rail, said: “We understand there is no ideal time to close the railway and want to thank passengers for bearing with us while we compete these major upgrades. The work is a vital part of our rail improvement plan across the North West which will not only help to improve the reliability of train services, but also take us one step closer to a greener, faster railway.
“I'd encourage anyone travelling to plan their journey ahead of time via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.”
It is important to reconnect the links to Preston and the North by re-enstating the burscough curves. The cost is minimal compared to what is spent elsewhere in the country and would give the rail companies the opportunity to provide through services via Preston to Scotland and the North.
When are they going to reinstate the Burscough curves to allow trains to run direct from Southport to Preston and ormskirk..merseyrail have battery powered trains that could run on none electrified sections giving a direct service to Preston and. Liverpool via Ormskirk.
No so sure regarding electrification to Southport, the biggest obstacle is Wigan Wallgate, the road and buildings above it have beebmn sinking, supports in place but little clearance for the overhead wires.
Not sure how much lower the trackbed could go, right next to the platforms and also that sharp climb after Wallgate towards Ince.
Trains around Wigan even to Manchester are rubbish
Completely understandable with the work, things need to get done to be more efficient, I hope the line between Southport and Wigan also gets Electrified at some point as it’s been needed for quite sometime or newer trains.