A £100m electrification of the railway between Wigan and Bolton is officially complete after overhead power lines were entered into service this weekend.

Overnight on Saturday (26 July), Network Rail teams unveiled new train driver signage and removed barriers at stations which have seen platforms extended in the final stage of the major multi-year investment.

It follows successful test train running and regulatory sign-off in recent weeks to commission the newly installed infrastructure along the 6.5-mile route between the two towns.

 The £100m investment from the Department for Transport has been delivered by Network Rail in partnership with its supply chain and train operating partners.

Now complete it means cleaner and quieter trains are able to run under electric power along the route.

It also enables operators to run longer trains with more carriages over further distances in future, improving train connectivity across the North West of England.

Since 2022 the project has seen:

• 21km of power lines installed
• 414 new overhead line equipment stanchions erected
• Six road bridges and one footbridge completely reconstructed
• Modifications to 17 bridges and two-level crossings
• Signalling and track upgrades completed
• Platform extensions at Hindley, Westhoughton and Ince stations

Kathryn Berry, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: “It’s a very proud moment to see this newly electrified railway line enter into service after many years of hard work to modify bridges, level crossings and stations to make way for the overhead power lines.

“I’d like to thank our supply chain, local partners, train operators and lineside neighbours for their patience during construction. Now complete train services will be able to run in electric mode, providing quieter and more reliable journeys, whilst improving air quality for communities along the 6.5-mile route.”

Electrifying this section of railway gives greater operational flexibility for train operators and bring this part of the rail network in line with upgrades to a train maintenance facility at Wigan Springs Branch.

It will also reduce the number of diesel trains running on the route improving air quality for local people.

The platform extensions have future-proofed Westhoughton, Hindley and Ince stations for longer trains with more seats to serve those communities in the years to come.