The Anonymous Widower

Adding Wigan And Manchester Victoria To The Bee Network

This article on the Railway Gazette has a list of the lines, that will be transferred between Northern Rail and the Bee Network.

Included in the list is this line.

Wigan and Manchester Victoria via the West Coast Main Line and a proposed station at Golborne, which could open from 2025.

I think this route could be the following.

• The Eastern terminal would be Manchester Victoria
• The Northern terminal would be Wigan North Western, as it is on the West Coast Main Line.
• Intermediate stations would be Golborne, Patricoff, Eccles and Salford Central.
• The route is fully electrified with 25 KVAC overhead.
• Most of the route has a 90 mph operating speed.

There is no comparable route in the current timetable.

These are a few thoughts.

Golborne Station

In Beeching Reversal – Reopening Golborne Railway Station, I discussed the reopening of Golborne station.

I didn’t think it would be likely, as it was a cramped site in the middle of a village, as this Google Map shows.

But I didn’t notice the four tracks through the site.

As the line through here, will have to be rebuilt for High Speed Two to raise the operating speed from the current 90 mph to as high as 140 mph. perhaps a high class architect could find a way to build a station at the site on the slow lines?

Improvements To Wigan North Western Station

In Wigan North Western Station Set For Platform Extension Work, I talked about work to make Wigan North Western station ready for High Speed Two.

I concluded, by saying this.

It certainly looks like Wigan North Western station is being updated to have a comprehensive network of local electric services to give a large number of stations, good access to current West Coast Main Line and future High Speed Two services.

I also added this picture of Wigan North Western station.

Wigan North Western station can’t be far off being able to accept pairs of High Speed Two Classic Compatible trains, that will be 400 metres long.

The Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria service will add Golborne, Patricoff, Eccles, Salford Central and Manchester Victoria to the list.

Connecting To Scottish Services

The Internet gives these times from Wigan North Western.

• London Euston – 1 hour and 55 minutes – Current
• London Euston – 1 hour and 34 minutes – High Speed Two
• Glasgow Central – 2 hours and 35 minutes – Current
• Glasgow Central – 2 hours and 06 minutes – High Speed Two

It looks to me, that there is an awful lot of trackwork to be done to the West Coast Main Line between Wigan North Western and Glasgow Central.

But on the other hand, changing at Wigan North Western will be a reasonably fast alternative, if whilst building High Speed Two to Manchester, the current route is closed.

March 27, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Bee Network, Golborne South Station, High Speed Two, Manchester Victoria Station, Northern Rail, Wigan North Western Station, Wigan Wallgate Station