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Location notes
A busy station on West Coast Main Line.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger services by Virgin West Coast & Cross Country, with Pendolinos & Voyagers.
First North Western - DMU Classes 142, 150, 156, 158. Class 175 (First North Western or Trans Pennine Express) appear only during diversions from other routes due to engineering work.
Freight services operated by DRS, DB Schenker and Freightliner - increasingly dominated by Class 66, but Classes 20, 37, 60 and 86 may also be seen.
From the south end of the platforms, trains on the Wigan Wallgate line can also be seen. Passenger traffic on the Wallgate line is entirely First North Western DMU's. One daily return freight between Immingham & Knowsley.
First North Western - DMU Classes 142, 150, 156, 158. Class 175 (First North Western or Trans Pennine Express) appear only during diversions from other routes due to engineering work.
Freight services operated by DRS, DB Schenker and Freightliner - increasingly dominated by Class 66, but Classes 20, 37, 60 and 86 may also be seen.
From the south end of the platforms, trains on the Wigan Wallgate line can also be seen. Passenger traffic on the Wallgate line is entirely First North Western DMU's. One daily return freight between Immingham & Knowsley.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Wigan North Western Station
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Within a busy town.
Road directions
From the M6 (South):
Leave the M62 at Junction 25. Take the A49 and head towards Wigan.
From the West:
Use the A571 from St. Helens or the A577 from Ormskirk & Skelmersdale.
From the M6 (North) and the M58:
On the M6, ignore the Wigan signs at Junction 27 and continue south to Junction 26 (M58). Take the joint M6/M58 sliproad onto the A577 and turn eastwards towards Wigan town centre.
The three routes converge at a large roundabout about 1 mile from Wigan town centre. Head towards the town centre, passing under the railway bridge. After crossing a canal bridge, you may find it less expensive to park near Wigan Pier turn left into Wilcock Street, then first right into Pennyhurst Street, where car parking is available. Alternatively, continue driving past Wigan Pier until you pass under the WCML overbridge, when Wigan North Western is immediately on the right. Car parking available at Virgin prices. If you park near Wigan Pier, return on foot to the main A49 road and head for the town centre.
Walking time about 7 minutes.
Drivers approaching Wigan from the A573 (south), A577 (east) and A49 (north) will need to negotiate a complex and sometimes confusing one-way system. Head for Wigan town centre and follow signs for the railway stations. If you wish to park at Wigan Pier, follow signs for A49/M6 (south)/A571 (St. Helens) / A577 (Skelmersdale/Ormskirk). After passing Wigan Pier on the right, and then the First bus depot on the left, turn sharp right, back towards Wigan town centre, then turn left into Wilcock Street.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Wigan North Western Station map co-ordinates
Leave the M62 at Junction 25. Take the A49 and head towards Wigan.
From the West:
Use the A571 from St. Helens or the A577 from Ormskirk & Skelmersdale.
From the M6 (North) and the M58:
On the M6, ignore the Wigan signs at Junction 27 and continue south to Junction 26 (M58). Take the joint M6/M58 sliproad onto the A577 and turn eastwards towards Wigan town centre.
The three routes converge at a large roundabout about 1 mile from Wigan town centre. Head towards the town centre, passing under the railway bridge. After crossing a canal bridge, you may find it less expensive to park near Wigan Pier turn left into Wilcock Street, then first right into Pennyhurst Street, where car parking is available. Alternatively, continue driving past Wigan Pier until you pass under the WCML overbridge, when Wigan North Western is immediately on the right. Car parking available at Virgin prices. If you park near Wigan Pier, return on foot to the main A49 road and head for the town centre.
Walking time about 7 minutes.
Drivers approaching Wigan from the A573 (south), A577 (east) and A49 (north) will need to negotiate a complex and sometimes confusing one-way system. Head for Wigan town centre and follow signs for the railway stations. If you wish to park at Wigan Pier, follow signs for A49/M6 (south)/A571 (St. Helens) / A577 (Skelmersdale/Ormskirk). After passing Wigan Pier on the right, and then the First bus depot on the left, turn sharp right, back towards Wigan town centre, then turn left into Wilcock Street.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Wigan North Western Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Expensive at Wigan North Western.
Cheap or free near Wigan Pier.
Early arrivals may find limited on-street parking in side streets on the north side of the A49 between Wigan Pier and Wigan North Western station.
Cheap or free near Wigan Pier.
Early arrivals may find limited on-street parking in side streets on the north side of the A49 between Wigan Pier and Wigan North Western station.
Public transport
By rail to Wigan North Western or Wallgate stations - Wallgate is a short walk across the road from North Western station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Small buffet on Platform 4. Various cafes & take-aways available in the town centre, but note that spot ticket checks may take place at the station exit.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Wigan North Western Station
Streetmap links
Wigan North Western Station general view map
Wigan North Western Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Wigan North Western Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Wigan North Western Station
Googly map
Wigan North Western Station general view map
Wigan North Western Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Wigan North Western Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
From Platform 5 or 6, the sun ok for southbound trains on WCML until mid-day / early pm. From south end of platform 5/6, sun ok in afternoon & early evening for photos of northbound trains on WCML, and for trains heading towards Wigan Wallgate.
General views - All photographs © Bevan Price unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
An early morning view from the north end of platform 4.
Fig 2 - Looking south
A late afternoon shot from platform 5.
Fig 3 - Looking south
An early morning view from platform 4.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
Wigan North Western
