Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 9th February, 2015)

Network rail spend millions of pounds on the rail systems, but do little for it's passengers...just looks at the waiting rooms, a bus shelter without seats!

Dougie have they got the new trains running on it yet

Not yet Mick it's a big job as it's going all the way to Liverpool,the station and the bridge on Bryn Road that you can just see in the background took over a year to complete

This is the first photo I've submitted in eight and half years LOL it's so easy give it a try, just e-mail one from the area you live to brian@wiganworld.co.uk

Mick - overhead line trains are running from Manchester on the original 1830 Liverpool-Manchester line across Chat Moss as far as the Newton triangle, when they head north up on the WCML. We've caught it a couple of times - it only takes 25 minutes to North Western - and you can use your bus pass on it because the journey starts and ends in Greater Manchester. It's surprisingly smooth, even over the moss, which the old DMUs used to clatter, sway and bounce across, so they must have upgraded the trackbed and ballasting at the same time as putting the overheads in.

You've got that one right Garry, Hindley doesn't have facilities for coping with wheelchairs, bikes or prams. Same at Garswood, something like 44 steps from one platform to the other, similar situation at Swinton and Littleborough and a number of others I could mention but space doesn't allow.

OK, so the line is electrified now, but when do we get electric trains to do the Wigan Wallgate to Liverpool Lime St. route.
Which class of train will we have?

Garry, it has been said before on P a D, that seats in shelters encourage overnight 'dossers'.

Good point Garry. The same shelter is on Orrell station, without seats.
There was a comment made that this is deter tramps and vagrants sleeping there!

OK, so the line is electrified now, but when do we get electric trains to do the Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime St. route.
Which class of train will we have?

When did you last go to Littleborough the disabled access is second to none. They have spent thousands/millions of pounds on it and there is a bus just as you get down the ramp.

The line at Lea Green St Helens to Lime St has been electrified recently but not seen any new trains yet.

Does this mean over crowded trains are a thing of the past??

On WCML they're still running the crappy diesel pacers under the wires on some services.According to the Govt these will be around for at least two more years. Ever tried Manchester Vic to Wigan on a Saturday night? Don't!

That will be Bryn rd bridge, Dougie.

The electrification of the line from Wigan to Liverpol is not finished,hence no electric trains running.
A few of these new trains(built in 1990)are at Allerton for staff training or are in works for refurbishment.
The one good thing about them is that they are four coach trains.so should ease the overcrowding a little.

The latest plan (according to RAIL magazine)is to energise the line from Springs' Branch to Huyton Junction on February 14th (this coming Friday)
A number of refurbished class 319 trains are ready for testing and route learning. It is probably the intention to run these trains on the Liverpool to Preston journeys from the start of the Summer timetable in May.

I think you may find that Network Rail are responsible for the track and the stations are the responsibility of the train companies. That is certainly the case here in Norfolk so I can't see why it would be different anywhere else.

Philbee, a question for you on yesterdays P a D.

Network Rail owns the infrastructure that includes, track, signals, overhead wires, tunnels, bridges,level crossings and most stations. But not passenger and commercial freight rolling stock.

The Torys said they would do up the northwest railways and you have to give them credit because that are doing.

Come May my vote will be going to the Torys

shame on you Mick, but i expected nothing less

Roy,
Re.question from yesterdays P & D
I think the name you are looking for could be Jack Roberts.

Mick's right, there's only one party with common sense. They'll get my vote as well.

Right at the far background of the photo as Dougie says is Bryn road bridge over the railway track. This bridge was dismantled because there was not enough clearance under it for the electrification work. They installed a new sectional bridge which came complete with built in brickwork.

As for improving the railway's what planet you on, I guessing you don't do the rush hour commute

The railways HAVE improved with Network rail, it's rail track who failed to deliver. As for commute, that, up to the train operators.

You can quite clearly see a vast improvment at this station alone, truewigana...

the nodding donkey strikes again, larry you must be the first pensioner from ince to ever vote blue

Sorry Mick and Garry, as you both know a Tory vote in Wigan in a General Election is a wasted vote. Labour, UKIP, Conservative in that order this time in Wigan methinks.

I'm catching no harm!

Looks like Mick and Gary will be performing with Billy Shym as the Blues Brothers!! LOL

You should know me by now, I do the complete opposite to most people around.

So, what's the latest on the electrification/trials/driver training on the Wigan to Liverpool line this weekend.

Remember Clegg at the last election saying there would be no tuition fees, that was till they won the election with the Tories , then it all changed ,talk about Billy Liar, Tories never did owt for northern folk, ask the pitmen and dockers etc ,

Reading recently a Northern lass might be a potential PM soon.....the Tory MP Esther McVEY!!