Wigan Album

You gents have a very dangerous job indeed and a head for hights. Dave is there any plans for the Southport to Manchester line to be electrified?

Hi Colin, As far as I know there are no plans for the L & Y route to Southport via Wigan to be electrified, however work is starting at least with enabling works, on the Chat Moss route ie Liverpool to Manchester via St. Helens Jct. and Newton-Le-Willows. For as long as I have worked on the railway they have been talking about wiring (electrifying) this route (which is already wired at the Liverpool, Edge Hill end and also the Castlefield Jct. end at Manchester and hence only needs the bit in the middle completing to create a through route for electric services. They have also talked about for years electrifying the line from Ordsall Lane to Euxton Jct. via Bolton and downtown Chorley, and the Fylde lines from Preston Fylde Jct. to Blackpool North/South thus giving an electric route from Manchester/Bolton etc to Blackpool! Guide Bridge to Leeds via Standedge was also talked about. Thus far nowt has come to pass, but you hardly need the ubiquitous "business case" to see the obvious benefits of such schemes.

Great info Dave, thanks.