Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 16th March, 2023)

What a nuisance that is for so many. I waited 50 minutes for a bus home last Friday because two buses were missing. A Polish lady was waiting for the same bus to get to work in Westhoughton and it was her first day! The transport system is abysmal. They can’t get bus drivers was the reason !

It’s a bloody long detour for some people

Ladies Lane /Hall Lane is always busy so the drivers that use it regularly will have to detour. This will have a knock-on effect on all districts around Hindley, especially at peak times like school times and tea-times when people are going to and from work.

A long detour indeed Roylew plus much busier traffic using that detour so it will take much longer to get to wherever you are heading. I can remember when just beyond this point the road was unpaved all the way up to St Elizabeth's church at Aspull. Back in the 1950s when I was a small boy it was just a cinder track.

What I can't understand with this electrication from Bolton to Wigan, is when this line is complete at the end of July 2023. Once the new electric trains get up and running to Wigan or Bolton, do you have to change trains to diesel to continue your journey, ie Southport. And how on earth do Network rail put cables under the low Wallgate station bridge, it's got building built on top of the bridge?.
And while I'm at it, Ince station bridge is weak and the walkway from the road to the platform would be very close to the 25,000 volt cables. So modifications needed there I would imagine.
I'm not picky, but interested.

Stop mourning it will be very nice and clean when it's done.
You can't please some folk they are probably the ones that keep complaining about diesel smoke emissions and the environment.

Network rail supplie the transportation, in circumstances like this.

It looks like the station is falling down, props installed to support the side wall to the walkway.

Does anyone know will the footpath also close to will i not be able walk across to go to Asda!

I like the entrance to the station Joanne, it reminds me a litte of a ceremonial Chinese Gateway. As for electricfication.....everything has to be electric now, it might be cleaner....but it still has to be made & some of the ways to produce it are not green, nor clean.

I bet there were plenty of complaints when Wiganers first saw the art deco porch being built.

Malc. Many of the current trains from Southport are bio-modal - the Class 769. They work on both diesel and electric. They currently (pun intended) switch from one to the other at Bolton.

Julie there will be a temp foot bridge except May 6th-8th

As work to demolish, the bridge started yet. I believe Network rail are extending the platforms too.

Julie, a temporary walkway will be provided during the construction work to allow pedestrian access over the railway line. This will need to close when cranes are being used to lift heavy components of the bridge structure from 6 - 8 May & will reopen again on 9 May.

More info: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/hindley-station-next-up-for-wigan-to-bolton-electrification-upgrade

Malc, I’m intrigued by what else will need to be done as well.

Helen of Troy, I can see what you mean about the ceremonial Chinese gateway!

When a boy living at bottom of Ladies Lane a toll gate was across the road maybe 100 yards beyond the station. Enclave for such as Dr Bullough Mr Feiiding one of our teachers at H A G S Harry Whittle from the gents shop etc .

Thankyou everyone letting me know about the footbridge.

The footpath, porch entrance and the bridge are in a very poor condition, the installation of the new bridge will hopefully also include a new station porch entrance that doesn't smell like a urinal and safer wide footpaths along the bridge.

Jim, passengers from Wigan wouldn’t see the porch being built, why would they use Hindley station when they’ve got one of their own?

The new bridge will have to be quite a bit higher, the old Iron Bridge is being raised a metre as well.

If you cannot get a train or a bus then either walk it or bike it, come and join us tonight and find out how to.
https://www.wiganeventsguide.com/event/wigan-borough-walking-cycling-forum/

The old iron foot bridge will have to be replaced and not raised, it's not suitable for overhead live wires carrying 25,000 volts.

That’s correct Helen and if the power stations go down with the likes of Putin we are well and truly snookered.

Malc

The electric trains to Manchester will actually be running from the Wigan Northwest Station, the currently disused Platform Two, is to be returned to service, and lengthened as the platform for the Manchester Trains.
I don't know of any direct services between Southport and Manchester, but if there are, the present arrangements through Wallgate Station, need not to be altered.

The bridge should be ok Garry if raised.The engineers will have done their calculations and assessments.

There are trains going through Hindley Station, but not stopping like they would normally.

Sir bob of course there are direct services from Southport to Manchester, it is the Southport to Mancheser line after all

Except at weekend Edna. No trains at all and not been for weeks.

Yes Pw, I understand that about raising it. But many modifications will have to be made to the design of the old bridge. The old foot bridge as it is now, even when it's raised, will Need both sides of the walkway enclosed so ie kiddies can't use a stick or touch the 25,000 volts cables....you what kids are like. So my point is as it stands, not just raising the footbridge, but making many Health and safety modifications to adapt the 1800s walkway design to this present day use.

Sorry, should have read "You know what kids are like".

That’s from Daisy Hill Edna. There probably is from Westhoughton Station but that’s too far for me to walk to. Anyway they’re on strike tomorrow. (Saturday) I was very pleased to get a train today (Friday) to Daisy Hill via Hindley which was closed as advertised. ( not very clearly either! )

Veronica, I was going off what I was told at Wigan Wallgate last week, when I was enquiring about trains stopping at Walkden, for me to get to Worsley.The man said I could get the train I've always got, but it doesn't stop at Hindley because of the bridge work.I went that way a week last Wed.