Kirkby Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Kirkby Branch Line is a railway line in England
, running from Wigan
in Greater Manchester
to Kirkby
in Merseyside
. Now a partly single-track route with an hourly diesel service operated by Northern Rail
, the line was once part of a mainline route from Manchester
to Liverpool
operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
, and had several branch lines of its own until the 1960s.
built the first line into Liverpool from the north. It ran from Bury in Lancashire
(now Greater Manchester) via the towns of Bolton
and Wigan
, and reached the city of Liverpool in 1848. Soon afterwards, the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway
's route to Preston was built and shared the L&BR line as far as Walton
. Mergers meant that the Bury route was built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
, which had taken over the Liverpool and Bury Railway
company. The opening ceremony took place on 20 November 1848.
WIth the creation of Merseyrail in 1977 through trains to Liverpool from the Wigan direction ceased. It had originally been intended that the line be electrified
all the way from Liverpool to Wigan. The section between Liverpool and Kirkby was electrified in that year, and Kirkby station was reconstructed in a way which severed the line. Services between Wigan and Kirkby are provided by diesel-powered stock; passengers continuing beyond Kirkby change there and join a Merseyrail
-operated electric train. It is a long term aspiration of Merseyrail to complete the electrification of the line.
Proposals to extend Merseyrail's electric network to a new station at Headbolt Lane
, between Kirkby and Rainford, were announced in 2007.
, trains pass under the West Coast Main Line
almost immediately, after which the Southport
-bound Manchester to Southport Line diverges to the west. Bridges take the branch line over the River Douglas
and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
before Pemberton station
, where a now removed loop line came in on the east side. This rejoined the line to Bolton east of Wigan, avoiding the latter town. The line then passes under the M6 motorway
and the 959 yards (876.9 m) Upholland Tunnel, between which is Orrell station
. The tunnel is situated at the highest point of the line, and is the only major structural work on the route. Upholland station is next, followed by Rainford
—until the 1950s, a junction for two passenger lines. One, the Skelmersdale Branch
, ran northwestwards towards Skelmersdale
and Ormskirk
; the other ran to St Helens via Crank
. The lines were both opened in 1858, although not at the same time, and were usually operated as a through route. The Ormskirk line was built by the East Lancashire Railway
, while the St Helens Railway
was responsible for the line to that town. Both survived until the 1960s for freight traffic. The line becomes single-track after Rainford, and continues for 5.25 miles (8.4 km) to the single platform terminus at Kirkby.
and Hindley
, and change direction at Kirkby. Services are scheduled to take between 69 and 75 minutes end-to-end. There is no Sunday service.
As of , the standard service on the Kirkby branch is hourly. These service frequencies have been unchanged since the 1980s. Services are operated by Northern Rail
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, running from Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
to Kirkby
Kirkby
Kirkby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The town was developed from the 1950s through 1970s as a means to house the overspill of Liverpool. It is situated roughly north of Huyton, the administrative HQ of the borough and about...
in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. Now a partly single-track route with an hourly diesel service operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, the line was once part of a mainline route from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
, and had several branch lines of its own until the 1960s.
History
The Liverpool and Bury RailwayLiverpool and Bury Railway
The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed in 1845 and opened on 28 November 1848. The line ran from Liverpool Exchange first using a joint line with Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway before branching of to proceed via Kirkby then Wigan and Bolton to Bury.In 1846 the line merged with the...
built the first line into Liverpool from the north. It ran from Bury in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
(now Greater Manchester) via the towns of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
and Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, and reached the city of Liverpool in 1848. Soon afterwards, the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway
Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway
The Liverpool, Ormskirk & Preston Railway was formed in 1846. It was purchased by the East Lancashire Railway. Today the line still operates, with the section between Liverpool and Ormskirk forming part of Merseyrail's Northern Line and the section between Ormskirk and Preston forming Northern...
's route to Preston was built and shared the L&BR line as far as Walton
Walton, Merseyside
Walton, originally known as Walton-on-the-Hill, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, is an area situated to the north of Anfield and the east of Bootle and Orrell Park. It is largely residential, with a diverse population.-History:...
. Mergers meant that the Bury route was built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
, which had taken over the Liverpool and Bury Railway
Liverpool and Bury Railway
The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed in 1845 and opened on 28 November 1848. The line ran from Liverpool Exchange first using a joint line with Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway before branching of to proceed via Kirkby then Wigan and Bolton to Bury.In 1846 the line merged with the...
company. The opening ceremony took place on 20 November 1848.
WIth the creation of Merseyrail in 1977 through trains to Liverpool from the Wigan direction ceased. It had originally been intended that the line be electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
all the way from Liverpool to Wigan. The section between Liverpool and Kirkby was electrified in that year, and Kirkby station was reconstructed in a way which severed the line. Services between Wigan and Kirkby are provided by diesel-powered stock; passengers continuing beyond Kirkby change there and join a Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
-operated electric train. It is a long term aspiration of Merseyrail to complete the electrification of the line.
Proposals to extend Merseyrail's electric network to a new station at Headbolt Lane
Headbolt Lane railway station
Headbolt Lane is a proposed new railway station in the Northwood area of Kirkby, Merseyside, England. As part of the planned extension of Merseyrail's Northern Line along the Kirkby Branch Line, the station is expected to provide "turn-back" platforms for interchange between Merseyrail electric...
, between Kirkby and Rainford, were announced in 2007.
Route description
The former main line is now "something of a backwater", with the appearance of a rural branch line in places. After leaving Wigan Wallgate stationWigan Wallgate railway station
Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station is on 2 lines, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is north west of Manchester Victoria...
, trains pass under the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
almost immediately, after which the Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
-bound Manchester to Southport Line diverges to the west. Bridges take the branch line over the River Douglas
River Douglas
The River Douglas, also known as the River Asland or Astland, is a river that flows through Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north-west of England...
and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
before Pemberton station
Pemberton railway station
Pemberton railway station serves the Pemberton area of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. It is on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line.The station is situated on the A571 Billinge Road...
, where a now removed loop line came in on the east side. This rejoined the line to Bolton east of Wigan, avoiding the latter town. The line then passes under the M6 motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
and the 959 yards (876.9 m) Upholland Tunnel, between which is Orrell station
Orrell railway station
Orrell railway station serves the Orrell area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. It is a small two-platform commuter hub on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line....
. The tunnel is situated at the highest point of the line, and is the only major structural work on the route. Upholland station is next, followed by Rainford
Rainford railway station
Rainford railway station is situated in the village of Rainford, Merseyside, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail.- History :...
—until the 1950s, a junction for two passenger lines. One, the Skelmersdale Branch
Skelmersdale Branch
The Skelmersdale Branch railway connected the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway at Ormskirk with Rainford Junction . At Rainford it connected with the Liverpool and Bury Railway and the St. Helens Railway. It was built by the East Lancashire Railway, which was taken over by the Lancashire...
, ran northwestwards towards Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The...
and Ormskirk
Ormskirk
Ormskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool city centre, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
; the other ran to St Helens via Crank
Crank, Merseyside
Crank is a village near Rainford, Merseyside, England in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens. It is known locally for its ghost stories 'The White Rabbit of Crank' and 'Crank Caverns'.-See also:*Crank Caverns...
. The lines were both opened in 1858, although not at the same time, and were usually operated as a through route. The Ormskirk line was built by the East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
, while the St Helens Railway
St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway
St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway, later known as St Helens Railway, was an early railway company in Lancashire, England, which opened in 1833. It ran originally from the town of St Helens to the area which would later develop into the town of Widnes. Branches were opened to Garston, Warrington...
was responsible for the line to that town. Both survived until the 1960s for freight traffic. The line becomes single-track after Rainford, and continues for 5.25 miles (8.4 km) to the single platform terminus at Kirkby.
Services
Trains start from and terminate at Manchester Victoria and join the Kirkby branch at Wigan Wallgate, having travelled via AthertonAtherton railway station
Atherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...
and Hindley
Hindley railway station
Hindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...
, and change direction at Kirkby. Services are scheduled to take between 69 and 75 minutes end-to-end. There is no Sunday service.
As of , the standard service on the Kirkby branch is hourly. These service frequencies have been unchanged since the 1980s. Services are operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
.