View source for Manchester–Preston line

{{Short description|Railway line in  the UK}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = auto
| name                            = Manchester–Preston line
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = 156425 at Preston 14-06-24 (53791304365).jpg
| image_width                     = 321px
| caption                         = A [[Northern Trains]] {{BRC|156}} at {{rws|Preston}}, June 2024
| type                            = 
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = [[North West England]]
| start                           = {{rws|Manchester Victoria}}
| end                             = {{rws|Preston}}
| stations                        = 16
| routes                          = 
| electrification                 = {{nowrap|[[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC 50 Hz]]}} [[Overhead lines|OHLE]]
| open                            = 
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = {{plainlist|
* [[Northern Trains]]
* [[TransPennine Express]]
  }}
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = {{plainlist| 
* [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]]
* [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]]
* [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]]
* [[British Rail Class 195|Class 195]]
* [[British Rail Class 331|Class 331]]
* [[British Rail Class 397|Class 397]]
* [[British Rail Class 769|Class 769]]
* [[British Rail Class 802|Class 802]]
  }}
| linelength                      = 
| tracklength                     = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| speed                           = 100mph
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = [[File:Manchester–Preston line.png|290px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Manchester–Preston line.png|Click to expand]])
| map_state                       = expanded
}}
{{Manchester to Preston Line}}
The '''Manchester–Preston line''' runs from the city of [[Manchester]] to [[Preston, Lancashire]], England. It is largely used by commuters entering Manchester from surrounding [[suburbs]] and cities, but is also one of the main railway lines in the North West and is utilised by [[TransPennine Express]] regional services and to [[Scotland]]. It was announced in December 2009 that the line would be electrified, following an announcement in July 2009 that the [[Chat Moss line]] between Manchester and Liverpool was to be electrified first. The electrification work for this line commenced in May 2015 and was due for completion in May 2018,<ref name=networkrailmanc>{{cite web|title=Manchester to Preston improvements| url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/lnw/north-west-electrification/manchester-to-preston/|website=Network Rail| access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=Hendy>{{cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-Update.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204213454/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-Update.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-02-04 |title=Hendy report: Enhancements Delivery Plan Update| website=Network Rail}}</ref><ref name=gazette>{{cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/network-rail-plans-bolton-station-expansion.html |title=Network Rail plans Bolton station expansion |work=Railway Gazette |date=2016-12-27 |access-date=2017-02-17 |quote=Electrification of the railway through Bolton is due to be completed by December 2017... }}</ref><ref name=may18delay>{{cite web| url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/no-electric-trains-on-bolton-line-until-may-2018/ |title=No electric trains on Bolton line until May 2018| website=Place North West| date=1 December 2017}}</ref> but was delayed until December 2018.<ref name=boltontests>{{cite web| url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17299332.video-watch-first-successful-electric-train-tests-through-bolton/| title=VIDEO: Watch first successful electric train tests through Bolton| website=The Bolton News| date=14 December 2018| first=Seamus| last=McDonnell}}</ref>

Electric service commenced on 11 February 2019. 

The line is one of the busiest in the North West, with eight trains per hour in each direction during the off-peak daytime timetable. The line speed is currently 100&nbsp;mph.

There is a large variety of rolling stock on this line, current rolling stock include Classes 150, 156, 158 and 195 DMUs, 331 and 397 EMUs and 769 and 802 BMUs. Former rolling stock on this line include Classes 142, 153, 175, 180 and 185 DMUs and 319 and 350 EMUs.

== History ==
The line was opened as far as Bolton in 1838 by the [[Manchester and Bolton Railway]], then extended in 1841 by the [[Bolton and Preston Railway]]. These were amalgamated, via the [[East Lancashire Railway 1844–1859|East Lancashire Railway]], as part of the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]].

==Route==
The route now has 2 starting points in Manchester:
* [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]], which offers rail links to most large cities in the country. Trains using the route will call at the through platforms 13 and 14 on the west side of the station. It then follows the route of the [[Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway]] as far as {{Stnlnk|Deansgate}}, where it uses the [[Windsor Link Line, Manchester|Windsor link]] to reach {{Stnlnk|Salford Crescent}} and joins the line from [[Manchester Victoria railway station|Manchester Victoria]].
* [[Manchester Victoria railway station|Manchester Victoria]] was the original starting point before the Windsor Link was created. It goes through [[Salford Central railway station|Salford Central]], after which it then joins the line from the Windsor Link and enters [[Salford Crescent railway station|Salford Crescent]].

The route then continues to [[Clifton (Manchester) railway station|Clifton]], and then passes through [[Kearsley railway station|Kearsley]], [[Farnworth railway station|Farnworth]] and [[Moses Gate railway station|Moses Gate]] following the [[Irwell Valley]] for much of the route. The first major town is  [[Bolton]]. Just after [[Bolton railway station|Bolton station]] there is a junction to the right where the [[Ribble Valley line]], a single track line, heads off to Blackburn and Clitheroe. The line cuts through the western suburbs of Bolton including [[Lostock, Bolton|Lostock]], where trains to Wigan Wallgate via Westhoughton, branch off. Next is [[Horwich Parkway railway station|Horwich Parkway]] opened in 1999 and [[Blackrod]] (where the former [[Horwich Branch]] diverged). It then proceeds through the town of [[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]] and on to [[Chorley]], passing through {{stnlink|Buckshaw Parkway}}, which opened in 2011 and finally joins the [[West Coast Main Line]] at Euxton Junction before continuing via Leyland to [[Preston railway station|Preston]].

==Operators==

[[Northern Trains]] operate local services over the full length of the line. These include limited stop workings from {{rws|Manchester Airport}} and {{rws|Hazel Grove}} via {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}} to {{rws|Blackpool North}}, along with {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} to {{rws|Preston}} services and a limited number of {{rws|Manchester Airport}} to {{rws|Barrow-in-Furness}} and {{rws|Windermere}} trains.
Other workings use part of the line only - e.g. {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} to {{rws|Wigan Wallgate}} and {{rws|Kirkby}} via {{rws|Walkden}} (which diverge at {{rws|Salford Crescent}}), {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} to {{rws|Blackburn}} and {{rws|Clitheroe}} (diverge at Bolton) and {{rws|Stalybridge}}/{{rws|Alderley Edge}} to {{rws|Southport}} via {{rws|Westhoughton}}  (diverge at Lostock Junction).<ref>{{NRtimes|December 2016|82}}</ref>

[[TransPennine Express]] (TPX) used to operate the semi-fast {{rws|Manchester Airport}} to {{rws|Blackpool North}}, {{rws|Barrow-in-Furness}} and {{rws|Windermere}} services prior to the 2016 franchise change. TPX now only operate express trains to {{rws|Glasgow Central}} and {{rws|Edinburgh Waverley}}. These were temporarily diverted to via {{rws|Wigan North Western}} and Chat Moss but resumed in May 2019 after the completion of the electrification of this line.<ref name=may18delay/>

[[Avanti West Coast]], and formerly [[Virgin Trains West Coast]], services occasionally use this line (non-stop) when the [[West Coast Main Line]] is closed via {{rws|Wigan North Western}} on their main Scotland to London route via {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}.

Other TOCs operate along the southern section of the route to Ordsall Lane Jn and go on to Warrington:
* [[Transport for Wales Rail]] operate services en route to {{rws|Llandudno}} via {{rws|Warrington Bank Quay}} and {{Stnlnk|Chester}}. 
* [[East Midlands Railway]] also operate services between {{rws|Norwich}} and {{rws|Liverpool Lime Street}}

==Freight and diversions==
The line is an important diversionary route at weekends, used in conjunction with the [[Crewe–Manchester line]] to divert away from a large section of the West Coast Main Line if required. The convenience is that this only adds 35–40 minutes to a journey and negates the need for costly bus replacement services. Some freight still uses this line (such as stone trains from the Peak District to a distribution terminal at Hope St., [[City of Salford|Salford]] and "Bin-liner" refuse trains from Pendleton to [[Scunthorpe]]), especially during the peak periods during the day. It is, however, a primary passenger route in the North West of England.

==Trains==
[[British Rail Class 185|Class 185]] trains were the most frequent units on the line: working for [[First TransPennine Express]] to {{rws|Blackpool North}}, {{rws|Barrow-in-Furness}} and {{rws|Windermere}}. In the other direction, they all worked to {{rws|Manchester Airport}} although engineering works resulted in some services working to {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} instead. 
Prior to 2007, [[British Rail Class 175|Class 175]] trains worked the majority of these services before the 185s took over. Between May 2001 and December 2006, they worked all {{rws|Barrow-in-Furness}} and {{rws|Windermere}} services and the majority of the {{rws|Blackpool North}} services. However, they never worked to Scotland due to this being a [[Virgin CrossCountry]] service until December 2007. 

[[TransPennine Express]] use mainly newer [[British Rail Class 397|Class 397 Civitys]] on the line having replaced the older [[British Rail Class 350|Class 350]] units. [[British Rail Class 185|Class 185]] units still appear occasionally when the [[British Rail Class 397|Class 397 Civity]] units are unavailable. 

[[Northern Trains]] operate a variety of rolling stock for their services, with [[British Rail Class 331|Class 331s]], [[British Rail Class 323|Class 323s]] and [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]]. Northern also use [[British Rail Class 195|Class 195s]], [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158s]], [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156s]], [[British Rail Class 153|Class 153s]], [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150s]] on the line. Most of the diesel services only use the line south of {{rws|Bolton}} as these diverge onto the unelectrified lines, notably the [[Ribble Valley line]] to {{rws|Blackburn}} and {{rws|Clitheroe}} and the [[Manchester–Southport line]] to {{rws|Southport}}.

Since December 2019, services between {{rws|Hazel Grove}}/{{rws|Manchester Airport}} and {{rws|Blackpool North}} have been run using [[British Rail Class 331|Class 331]] units. Some Sunday services between {{rws|Manchester Victoria}} and {{rws|Blackpool North}} also use [[British Rail Class 331|Class 331]] units.

==Electrification==
Work on 25 kV OHL electrification of the line began in May 2015 and has included numerous bridgeworks plus the major undertaking of the re-boring of Farnworth Tunnel.<ref name=networkrailmanc/> Its high profile resulted in a visit from Chancellor of the Exchequer, [[George Osborne]], shortly after work started,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/mediafile/100120624/the-farnworth-flyer-issue-2.pdf| title=The Great North Rail Project - ''The Farnworth Flyer'', Issue 2| access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref> and from Transport Secretary [[Patrick McLoughlin]] in August 2015 during the reboring work.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-boost-for-northern-powerhouse-farnworth-tunnel |title=Government boost for Northern Powerhouse: Farnworth Tunnel| website=Gov.UK| date=11 August 2015| author=Department for Transport}}</ref> Breakthrough was achieved in late, rather than early October, due to loose sand delaying the work in August; the first trains running through the new twin track bore on Monday 14 December 2015. Electrification of the line was due for completion by December 2016, then delayed until December 2017 and then further delayed until May 2018. In January 2018 yet another delay was announced.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/project-electrify-manchester-preston-rail-14141547| title=Plans to electrify Manchester to Preston rail route delayed AGAIN| last=Cox| first=Charlotte| date=2018-01-11 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=2018-01-11}}</ref> This was attributed to difficult ground conditions including hard rock and running sand resulting from old mine workings.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-41706213| title=Old mines delay rail electrification| date=2017-10-21| work=BBC News| access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref name=may18delay/> Test trains ([[Virgin Pendolino]]) finally ran between Preston and Manchester in December 2018.<ref name=boltontests/>  The first scheduled passenger-carrying electric services began on 11 February 2019, running to Blackpool North, Buckshaw Parkway, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Airport using [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] EMUs.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17426252.first-electric-passenger-trains-finally-entering-service-in-bolton/| title=First electric passenger trains finally entering service in Bolton| last=McDonnell| first=S.| website=Bolton News| date=12 February 2019| access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
{{commons category}}
*[[Manchester and Bolton Railway]]

{{Railway lines in North West England}}
{{Current rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manchester To Preston Line}}
[[Category:Rail transport in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Railway lines in North West England]]