For the first time since the announcement that the line from Wigan to Bolton in Greater Manchester would be electrified, an electric train has operated over the whole route.
As part of overnight testing of the route to Bolton, at 01.15 on Tuesday, 3rd June, two Class 323s departed from Wigan and arrived at Bolton at 01.40. Between then and 03.30, the six-car train completed two runs at full line speed. Further testing took place along the line in the early hours of Wednesday, 4th June.
Electrification of the line between Wigan and Lostock was announced by the Department for Transport in September 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
The line’s electrification is part of the wider Manchester and North West Transformation Programme, which includes a third platform at Salford Crescent to improve network resilience and performance. Plans are being developed to construct two extra turnback sidings in northern Manchester and make improvements at Manchester Airport and Manchester Oxford Road stations.
Construction work started in 2022 and has included:
- Installing 21 kilometres of power lines.
- Erecting 414 overhead line equipment stanchions.
- Rebuilding six road bridges and one footbridge.
- Modifying 17 bridges and two-level crossings.
- Upgrading the signalling and track.
- Extending platform extensions at Hindley, Westhoughton, and Ince stations, to provide more space for passengers and enable the use of longer trains with more seats on the route.
People living near the line have been issued safety warnings advising them that the new overhead electric power lines are permanently live and carry 25,000-volts.
“Seeing the first train operate in electric mode between Wigan and Bolton is a huge milestone as part of our significant investment into the railways in the North West. This moment wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership working across our supply chain, local partners and train operating companies, as well as our lineside neighbours, who we’d like to thank for their patience during construction. When fully operational in late summer, it will allow trains to operate in electric mode providing quieter and more reliable journeys, whilst improving air quality for communities along the 6.5-mile route. By extending the platforms at Hindley, Westhoughton and Ince stations, we have also future-proofed the railway to allow longer trains to run in the years to come.”
Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Capital Delivery director for the North West and Central region
Responses
The main stumbling block is that electrification costs money and and as the article says bridges and other track side bits needed upgrading or rebuilding.
It’s not all doom and gloom as around 81% of track is now capable of running electric trains, leaving only 19% which has to be diesel powered.
Would be nice if more railway lines in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria and West Yorkshire to see electrification and Northern to run new and existing electric trains. As well as Transpennine Express to use Class 802 Bi-mode.