Newton-le-Willows railway station
Newton-le-Willows Merseytravel | |
---|---|
Platforms | 2 |
Other information | |
Station code | NLW |
Fare zone | A1 |
Classification | DfT category E |
History | |
Original company | London and North Western Railway |
Pre-grouping | London and North Western Railway |
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
Key dates | |
1830 | Opened as Newton Bridge |
1888 | Renamed Newton-le-Willows |
Passengers | |
2018/19 | 0.795 million |
Interchange | 0.433 million |
2019/20 | 0.973 million |
Interchange | 0.219 million |
2020/21 | 0.213 million |
Interchange | 38,835 |
2021/22 | 0.791 million |
Interchange | 0.136 million |
2022/23 | 0.799 million |
Interchange | 0.303 million |
Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road |
Newton-le-Willows railway station is a
History
The station was built in 1830[2] and opened by the London and North Western Railway, originally named Newton Bridge.[3] It was renamed Newton-le-Willows on 14 June 1888.[4]
When first opened, it was also on the main LNWR line from London to
The station avoided the
The platforms are currently being extended to allow 5 car carriges, expected completion is summer 2024.
Redevelopment
Merseytravel put forward proposals in December 2015 for the station to be developed as an interchange station.[7] The proposals were later approved with the work scheduled to be completed by March 2018.[8][9]
Work on the new facilities started on 28 November 2016 and included:
- New South side entrance
- New ticket office at south entrance
- Bus Interchange adjacent to the new ticket office
- 400+ space car park (including blue badge and wider spaces)
- Electric vehicle charging points
- New toilet facilities
- Improved passenger waiting facilities
- Step free access to and between the platforms via a new subway and lifts
- Increased cycle parking
- Dedicated drop off and pick up area
- Local highways improvements
Following some delays, the work was completed and the redeveloped station officially opened on Sunday 13 January 2019.[10]
Electrification
The line through the station was electrified by British Rail in 1973 as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification scheme, and the station was served by electrically hauled mail trains, but no regularly scheduled electric passenger trains called here. This finally changed over forty years later when the Liverpool to Manchester line via Chat Moss was electrified by Network Rail as part of the North West Electrification Programme. Commuter services which call at Newton-le-Willows have been operated by four car Class 319 electric multiple units since March 2015, with 3-car Class 323 units also now appearing on many services and the occasional Class 331.
Facilities
Like most Merseytravel stations, it is staffed from start of service until the last train has left (closing just before midnight each evening).[11] There are also self-service ticket machines provided. There are shelters on both platforms, along with digital information screens and timetable poster boards. On the south side of the station there is also a bus interchange with buses to a few local destinations and a large free car park.
Services
The May 2018 timetable change has seen a major upgrade of services here.
Transport for Wales also serves the station once per hour each way (with peak extras) on its Manchester Airport/Manchester Piccadilly to Chester and Llandudno route, though a few trains run to and from Holyhead (to connect with the ferry to Ireland).[14]
On Sundays the service frequency remains the same on all routes, though TfW trains only run to and from Chester. East Midlands Railway services between Liverpool and Nottingham/Norwich services sometimes call here if their usual route via Warrington Central is closed for engineering work, with Warrington-bound passengers changing here for a rail-replacement bus connection.
The new "Northern Connect" services from Chester to Leeds via Manchester Victoria and Bradford Interchange also stops at Newton-le-Willows following its introduction in May 2019.[15] This runs hourly each way Mondays to Saturdays and also on a Sunday since the spring 2023 timetable change[16]
Northern rail opened up a consultation on proposed services which would operate through Newton-le-Willows from December 2022 [1] which reduces the volume of services to and from Manchester Piccadilly, and increased service to Manchester Victoria.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Earlestown | Chester to Manchester Line
|
Manchester Oxford Road | ||
Liverpool Lime Street | North TransPennine
|
Manchester Victoria
| ||
Earlestown | Liverpool to Manchester Line
|
Patricroft | ||
Earlestown | Northern Trains Chester-Leeds |
Manchester Victoria | ||
Historical railways | ||||
Earlestown Line and station open |
London and North Western Railway | Lowton Line open, station closed | ||
Parkside Line open, station closed |
See also
References
- ^ "Parking & Directions".
- ^ Donaghy, TJ (1972). Liverpool & Manchester Railway Operations 1831-1845. David & Charles, Newton Abbott
- ^ The Lancashire CI Six-Inch OS Map for 1849 - http://maps.nls.uk/view/102344075 (bottom right-hand corner) - gives the N-le-W station name as "Newton Br. Station" - i.e. Newton Bridge
- ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
- ^ "Disused Stations - LowtonDisused Stations; Retrieved 30 March 2016
- ^ "Devon Memories"Derby Sulzers; Retrieved 30 March 2016
- ^ "Newton-le-Willows". www.merseytravel.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Newton-Le-Willows train station: what will the new station look like?" Belger, Tom; Liverpool Echo new article 8 December 2015
- ^ "Newton-Le-Willows train station to get new building, bus stop and car park" Belger, Tom, Liverpool Echo article 9 December 2015
- ^ "Newton-le-Willows". Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ Newton-Le-Willows station facilities National Rail Enquiries
- ^ TransPennine Express Franchise Improvements - DfT
- ^ Table 85 National Rail timetable, May 2023
- ^ Table 77 National Rail timetable, May 2023
- ^ "Northern Franchise Improvements - DfT". Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ Table 37 National Rail timetable, May 2023
External links
- Train times and station information for Newton-le-Willows railway station from National Rail