No train journeys between two Greater Manchester towns for 10 days as line improvement planned

This is due to improvement works being made to the railway line. Services between Wigan and Bolton will be disrupted due to work to electrify the railway lines. 

Network Rail is undertaking the work that will see overhead line equipment installed and improvements made to signalling between Wigan North Western station and Lostock junction in Bolton. In order for engineers to carry out work safely, no trains will run between Wigan and Bolton from Saturday August 31 to Monday September 9. 

In order to keep passengers moving, replacement buses will be in place. These will run between Wigan North Western, Westhoughton, Daisy Hill, Ince and Lostock. 

Sarah Bull, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “This ten-day rail closure is a major milestone in our work to electrify the line between Wigan and Bolton. We’ll be installing overhead equipment and improving signalling, readying the route for electric trains when they are introduced. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience during this project.”

Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “I’d like to thank customers for their patience whilst this infrastructure improvement work takes place. We will have a fleet of rail replacement buses to get people where they want to be between Wigan North Western, Westhoughton, Daisy Hill, Ince and Lostock – but journey times are likely to be longer and so customers should plan accordingly.”