Northern Rail

[wirralbus]

RE: Northern Rail

(30/06/2015 21:20)St Helens Rider Wrote:  Few problems this afternoon for Northern on the Blackpool North - Liverpool service, the 1603 from Blackpool (1651 ex Wigan North Western) came to a stand on the West Coast prior to Springs Branch. Waiting there for some time, it transpired that the points had failed. After about 25 minutes, the train was directed back into North Western (onto Platform 6) and then sent via the branch used by services terminating at Wigan. At St Helens Central around 30 minutes late. The irony being that this service is usually delayed prior to arriving at North Western (possibly due to difficulties regaining access to the 2 track section at Euxton) but this afternoon had left there on time.

It does show the flexibility of the layout at Wigan North Western these days , in previous times the service would have either had to wait for Network Rail or eventually get rerouted via Newton Le Willows (subject to driver route knowledge).