Wigan Bolton Electrification: Buses replace trains between Wigan Wallgate and Bolton / Salford Crescent from Saturday 31 August to Sunday 8 September 

Route(s) affected

Northern between Leeds / Stalybridge / Manchester Oxford Road / Manchester Victoria / Blackburn and Wigan Wallgate / Headbolt Lane / Southport

Description

Engineering work is taking place at various locations in the Bolton / Wigan area, closing many lines.

Throughout the 9-day closure, buses will replace trains between:

• Wigan Wallgate and Salford Crescent via Atherton.

• Wigan Wallgate and Bolton.

Saturday 31 August, and from Monday 2 September to Saturday 7 September:

Trains between Manchester Oxford Road and Southport will be diverted, not calling at Salford Crescent, Bolton, Westhoughton and Hindley.

Sunday 1 September:

Services between Blackburn and Southport (via Manchester Victoria) will be diverted via an alternative route and will not call at Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Moorside, Walkden, Atherton, Hag Fold, Daisy Hill or Hindley.

Services between Manchester Airport / Manchester Oxford Road and Blackpool North will be diverted via an alternative route and will not call at Salford Crescent, Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway, Blackrod, Adlington, Chorley and Buckshaw Parkway.

Sunday 8 September:

Full details of the changes being made for this date can be found on our dedicated 8 September page.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use this page.

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.

Background Information:

Network Rail is continuing its £78m investment to electrify the railway line between Wigan and Bolton. Work is targeted to be completed in 2025. The work requires some closures of the railway line between Wigan and Bolton / Manchester via Atherton, with rail replacement buses in operation. Closures of the railway line will mainly take place at weekends, however a nine-day closure will also take place from Saturday 31 August until Sunday 8 September 2024. More details are available in the Wigan Bolton Electrification leaflet.