Wigan Wallgate railway station

{{Short description|Railway station in Greater Manchester, England}} {{about|the station for local services towards Kirkby, Manchester Victoria and Southport|the West Coast Main Line station|Wigan North Western railway station}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox station | name = Wigan Wallgate | symbol_location = gb | symbol = rail | image = File:Wigan Wallgate Station (geograph 3285606).jpg | caption = The station frontage in 2013 | borough = Wigan, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, | country = England | coordinates = {{coord|53.5449|-2.6339|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=it|format=dms}} | grid_name = Grid reference | grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SD581055|25|SD581055}} | manager = Northern Trains | platforms = 3 | code = WGW | classification = DfT category D | transit_authority = Transport for Greater Manchester | original = Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway | pregroup = Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway | postgroup = London, Midland & Scottish Railway | years = 20 November 1848 | events = First station opened | years1 = 26 May 1860 | events1 = Second station opened | years2 = {{start date|1896|02|02|df=y}} | events2 = Final station opened as ''Wigan'' | years3 = 2 June 1924 | events3 = Renamed ''Wigan Wallgate'' | mpassengers = {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.356 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 57,777}} {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 1.077 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.152 million}} {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 1.090 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.271 million}} {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 1.161 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.267 million}} {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2024/25 |passengers={{increase}} 1.253 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.287 million}} | footnotes = Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 }} '''Wigan Wallgate''' is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England; the other is {{rws|Wigan North Western}}, which is {{convert|100|m|yd}} away across the street named ''Wallgate''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ukcitymap.com/wigan-wallgate-rail-station-north-entrance-info-1800WIGANWL0.html | title=Wigan Wallgate Rail Station (North Entrance) Location on a map of Wigan | website=UK City Map |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> The station serves two routes: the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is sited {{convert|16|mi|km|0}} down the line from {{rws|Manchester Victoria}}, via {{rws|Atherton}}. The station is managed by Northern Trains, which also operates all trains serving it.

== History == thumb|upright|Lines around Wigan in 1907

There have been three Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) stations on their lines through Wigan over the years.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=487}}

The original L&YR station at Wigan was opened on 20 November 1848, when the L&YR opened the line between {{rws|Liverpool Great Howard Street||Liverpool}} and {{rws|Lostock Junction}} (to the west of Bolton on the Manchester to Preston Line).{{sfn|Marshall|1970|p=270}} The station was located east of the current station, closer to the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) station. Its possible location can be seen, although unmarked, on the 1849 O.S. six-inch map immediately to the south-west of the line and east of Wallgate (the road).{{efn|The site that will become the station in 1860 is marked as ''Engine Shed'', this site is approximately ¼ mile west of the first station as reported by Quick(2023).{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=487}}<ref name="OS1849"/>}}{{sfn|Pixton|2008|p=49}}<ref name="OS1849">{{cite map |title=Lancashire Sheet XCIII |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102344045 |year=1849 |scale=Six-inch |publisher=Ordnance Survey }}</ref> This station was described by the press at the time as a 'hovel'.{{sfn|Holt|Biddle|1986|p=101}}{{sfn|Pixton|2008|p=49}}

On 9 April 1855, the L&YR opened a line between Wigan and {{rws|Southport London Street||Southport}}.{{sfn|Holt|Biddle|1986|p=101}} Following this on 26 May 1860 Wigan's L&YR station was relocated to a larger station positioned slightly west of where Wallgate station is today. The station main access was from Dorning Street to the north, with another access along a lane from Wallgate. The station consisted of two platforms joined by a wide curved passageway forming a bridge over the running lines.{{sfn|Pixton|2008|p=49}}<ref name="OS1848">{{cite map |title=Wigan Sheet 5 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/231286017 |year=1848 |scale=1:1056 Town Plan |publisher=Ordnance Survey |postscript=. Railways on map updated to 1864.}}</ref><ref name="OS1894">{{cite map |title=Lancashire XCIII.8 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/126521276 |year=1894 |scale=25 inch |publisher=Ordnance Survey }}</ref>

The L&YR introduced a passenger service on 14 September 1868 between Wigan L&YR station and {{rws|Chorley}}, utilising the route from {{rws|Hindley}} to {{rws|Blackrod}} which had opened for freight traffic on 15 July 1868.{{sfn|Marshall|1970|p=29}} On 1 December 1869, the Chorley trains were extended to {{rws|Blackburn}}. The London & North Western Railway (LNWR) ran a competing service from Wigan LNWR, via Boar's Head, which shared the same route from {{rws|Adlington|Lancashire|Adlington}} onwards to Blackburn.{{sfn|Marshall|1970|p=30}}

On 1 October 1888, the L&YR line from Atherton to {{rws|Hindley}} opened, this was the last section of a direct route between Wigan and {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} that avoided the bottleneck of traffic around Bolton.{{sfn|Marshall|1970|p=93}}{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=159}} The L&YR then introduced fast, regular trains between Manchester Victoria and {{rws|Liverpool Exchange}}, in direct competition with the LNWR which used a more direct route between {{rws|Manchester Exchange}} and {{rws|Liverpool Lime Street}}.{{sfn|Marshall|1970|pp=96–97}}

Journey times between Manchester and Liverpool were further improved when a bypass line opened on 1 June 1889 between Hindley and {{rws|Pemberton}}, passing to the south of Wigan.{{efn|The by-pass line was sometimes known as the Pemberton loop line, the Wigan avoiding line{{sfn|Pixton|2008|p=46}} and the Westwood Park line.{{sfn|Holt|Biddle|1986|p=101}} }} This allowed a faster journey for the L&YR's Manchester–Liverpool expresses by avoiding Wigan station. Express trains from Liverpool continued to serve Wigan L&YR on the route to Bolton Trinity Street, {{rws|Rochdale}} and West Yorkshire.{{sfn|Bradshaw|2011|loc=tables 496–497}}

From around 1890, the L&YR was criticised by Wigan Corporation regarding the standard of its station and poor facilities; this led to it being replaced by the current station, which opened on 2 February 1896. The new station partially overlapped its predecessor, but had new buildings facing directly onto Wallgate.{{sfn|Holt|Biddle|1986|p=101}}<ref name="OS1908">{{cite map |title=Lancashire XCIII.8 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/126521279 |year=1908 |scale=25 inch |publisher=Ordnance Survey }}</ref>

After the grouping of railways following World War I, both the L&YR and the LNWR came under the auspices of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway. This meant there were now two stations called ''Wigan'', so they were both renamed on 2 June 1924: this station became ''Wigan Wallgate'' and the LNWR station ''Wigan North Western''.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=487}}

Passenger trains between Wigan Wallgate, {{rws|Chorley}} and Blackburn, via Hindley, were withdrawn on 4 January 1960.{{sfn|Hurst|1992|p=15 (refs 0725 & 0726)}}

Following implementation of British Railways' 1955 Modernisation Plan, steam traction was being phased out; by 1968, most services through Wigan Wallgate had been converted to diesel multiple unit (DMU) operation. The steam locomotive depot, just west of Wallgate, had closed in April 1964 and the sidings converted for stabling of DMUs.{{sfn|Hawkins|Reeve|1982|p=124}} The 1965 British Rail London Midland timetable still shows express trains (Liverpool Exchange to Yorkshire and beyond) using or bypassing Wigan Wallgate.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The direct line from Hindley to Pemberton was closed on 14 July 1969 and all Manchester to Liverpool Exchange trains were routed through Wallgate.{{sfn|Hurst|1992|p=60 (ref 2655)}}

The line from Bolton to Rochdale, via {{rws|Bury}}, was closed on 5 October 1970. Trains from Liverpool now generally terminated at Bolton. Southport trains provided the main service to and from Manchester Victoria.{{sfn|Hurst|1992|p=62 (ref 2791)}}

{{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 240 | image1 = Wigan Wallgate 6 76468 1.jpg | caption1 = The Victorian platform buildings in 1976 before their demolition | image2 = Wigan Wallgate station platforms 1979 - geograph.org.uk - 814543.jpg | caption2 = The newly constructed platform buildings in 1979 }}

On 30 April 1977, the former L&YR terminus at Liverpool Exchange was closed.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=286}} Trains were rerouted onto a new underground line beneath Liverpool city centre to {{rws|Moorfields}} and {{rws|Liverpool Central}}.{{sfn|Gleaves|2015|p=108}} Since DMUs could not operate in the tunnels, trains from the Wigan line initially terminated at {{rws|Sandhills}} (the last surface station), with passengers transferring to or from electric trains on the Southport or Ormskirk lines for the short trip into Liverpool city centre.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

During the early and mid-1970s, the frequency of British Rail's trains from Wigan Wallgate was reduced. Services operated at irregular intervals; those from the Liverpool line ran only as far as Wigan or Bolton and there were no off-peak trains on the Atherton line. In May 1977, the train service was significantly improved under the financial sponsorship of Greater Manchester PTE; it subsidised British Rail to operate a regular interval timetable throughout the day, including stopping trains via the Atherton line. The improved frequency resulted in an increase in off-peak passenger numbers.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The trains to Liverpool (which had terminated at Sandhills following the opening of the Merseyrail link to Liverpool Central) were cut back to Kirkby on 12 May 1977. This happened when Merseyrail completed electrification of the western section of line between Liverpool and Kirkby.{{sfn|Gleaves|2015|p=118}} The diesel trains from Wigan were scheduled to meet an electric train from Liverpool at Kirkby and passengers would transfer along the same platform to complete their journeys.{{sfn|Brown|2021|p=Index entry for Kirkby}} This arrangement continued at Kirkby until October 2023, when the electrification scheme was extended to a new {{rws|Headbolt Lane}} station where the arrangement was repeated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/news/next-stop-headbolt-lane-%E2%80%93-%C2%A380m-station-served-by-uk%E2%80%99s-first-battery-powered-trains-to-open-this-week/ |title=Next Stop: Headbolt Lane – £80m station served by UK's first battery powered trains to open this week |website=Merseytravel |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004103716/https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/news/next-stop-headbolt-lane-%E2%80%93-%C2%A380m-station-served-by-uk%E2%80%99s-first-battery-powered-trains-to-open-this-week/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Victorian-era buildings on the station platform at Wallgate were demolished in 1978 and new structures erected. The street-level building remained largely unscathed.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

In 1988, the availability of destinations from the station was improved by the opening of the Windsor Link Line in Salford; this enabled trains from Wigan to access {{rws|Manchester Oxford Road}} and {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}} stations.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Bridge completes Windsor Link |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1046 |date=June 1988 |page=350}}</ref>

A major refurbishment of infrastructure was completed in 2003. The £12 million project improved signalling,{{efn|The LMS-era colour light signalling was replaced with a modern electronic control system.}} replaced tracks and provided a new ticket office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/wigan-wallgate |title=What improvements have been made at Wigan Wallgate? |website=Northernrailway.co.uk |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

== Facilities == {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 220 | image1 = Looking towards Wigan Wallgate railway station from King Street West (3).JPG | caption1 = Platforms 1 and 2 in the Manchester direction | image2 = Wigan Wallgate Station (geograph 1963127).jpg | caption2 = All three platforms in the Southport direction }}

There are three platforms: two through platforms and one bay platform for trains departing towards {{rws|Southport}} or {{rws|Kirkby}}. They are below street level and are reached by a flight of stairs from the concourse, which contains a ticket office and a newsagent. A goods lift has been modified for passenger use to ensure step-free access to the platform.

The ticket office is staffed from 06:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday, and from 08:00 to 20:00 on Sunday. Automated ticket barriers are in operation. Train running information is provided via digital display screens, timetable posters and automated announcements. Toilets and a waiting room are available at platform level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/WGW/details.html |title=Wigan Wallgate (WGW) |website=National Rail Enquiries |access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>

== Services == === Passenger === [[File:30.07.93 Wigan Wallgate 37422 (12568287763).jpg|thumb|A {{brc|37}} and coaches form a Regional Railways service in 1993]]

All passenger train services are provided by Northern Trains; the general off-peak service pattern in trains per hour is:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables |title=Train Timetables |website=Northernrailway.co.uk |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

Monday to Saturday: * 1 tph to {{rws|Manchester Oxford Road}}, via {{rws|Bolton}} * 1 tph to {{rws|Stalybridge}}, via Bolton and {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} * 1 tph to {{rws|Blackburn}} via {{rws|Atherton}} and Manchester Victoria * 1 tph to {{rws|Leeds}}, via Atherton, Manchester Victoria and {{rws|Brighouse}} * 2 tph to {{rws|Southport}} * 1 tph to {{rws|Headbolt Lane}}.

Sunday: * 1 tph to Blackburn, via Atherton and Manchester Victoria * 1 tph to Southport.

{{s-rail-start|noclear=yes}} {{s-rail|title=National Rail}} {{s-rail-national|previous=Gathurst|next=Hindley|toc=Northern Trains|route={{rws|Southport}} - {{rws|Manchester Oxford Road}}<br> (Monday - Saturday)|rows1=3|rowsmid=2}} {{s-rail-national|next=Ince|hide1=yes|hidemid=yes}} {{s-rail-national|next=Hindley|toc=Northern Trains|route={{rws|Southport}} - {{rws|Stalybridge}}<br> (Monday - Saturday)|hide1=yes}} {{s-rail-national|previous=Pemberton|next=Ince|toc=Northern Trains|route={{rws|Headbolt Lane}} - {{rws|Blackburn}}<br> (Monday - Saturday)|rows2=2}} {{s-rail-national|previous=Gathurst|toc=Northern Trains|route={{rws|Southport}} - {{rws|Blackburn}} <br> (Sundays)|hide2=yes}} {{s-end}}

=== Freight === Most freight services run on the West Coast Main Line. There was a limited freight service through Wigan Wallgate during the early 2000s, operated by EWS running to Knowsley Freight Terminal on the Kirkby line; these were suspended in 2006. As of June 2016, the service was reinstated via Wallgate. The new service runs to/from Teesside six days per week.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.potterlogistics.co.uk/news-media/knowsley-rail-freight-terminal-reopens/| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820223300/http://www.potterlogistics.co.uk/news-media/knowsley-rail-freight-terminal-reopens/| archive-date=20 August 2016| title=Knowsley Rail Freight Terminal Reopens| website=Potter Logistics| date=5 July 2016| access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== * {{Bradshaw-1895December}} * {{cite book |last=Brown |first=Joe |title=Liverpool & Manchester Railway Atlas |year=2021 |publisher=Crécy Publishing |location=Manchester |isbn=9780860936879 |oclc=1112373294}} * {{cite book |last=Gleaves |first=Graeme |title=Electric Railways of Liverpool and Manchester |date=2015 |publisher=Amberley |isbn=978-1-4456-3989-5}} * {{cite book |last1=Hawkins |first1=Chris |last2=Reeve | first2=George |title=London, Midland and Scottish Railway Engine Sheds: their history and development. Vol.3, The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway |date=1982 |volume=3 |publisher=Wild Swan Publications Limited. |url=https://archive.org/details/lmsengineshedsth0000hawk |url-access=registration |isbn=978-0-906867-07-5}} * {{Holt-NorthWest}} * {{cite book |last=Hurst |first=Geoffrey |date=1992 |title=Register of Closed Railways: 1948-1991 |url=https://archive.org/details/registerofclosed0000hurs |location=Worksop, Nottinghamshire |publisher=Milepost Publications |isbn=0-9477-9618-5 }} * {{Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 1}} * {{Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 2}} * {{Quick-stations-5.05}} * {{cite book |last=Pixton |first=Bob |title=Liverpool and Manchester 3:Lancashire & Yorkshire Lines |publisher=Kestrel Railway Books |date=2008 |isbn=978-1-905505-07-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/liverpoolmanches0000pixt |url-access=registration }}

== External links == {{commons category}} {{stn art lnk|WGW}}

{{Greater Manchester railway stations}}

Category:Railway stations in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan Category:DfT Category D stations Category:Former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway stations Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1848 Category:Railway stations served by Northern Category:Buildings and structures in Wigan