Capital gains for Wigan rail passengers

Virgin Trains have announced a new high-speed Pendolino service between the capital and Blackpool which will all stop at the town’s North Western station bringing yet another boost to the borough.

Launching on Monday, May 21, the new services will strengthen Wigan’s connections with London and Blackpool six days a week (Monday – Saturday) and provide an additional 16,900 seats.

The extra weekday services will see Virgin Trains deliver three additional northbound and three southbound services between London and Blackpool, calling at Rugby, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston. In addition, Wigan will benefit from connections to Blackpool and London on Saturdays with six services (three to Blackpool North; and three to London), .

This is the first time Virgin Trains has served Blackpool at the weekend since reintroducing direct services to the resort in 2014.

The extra services followsthe completion of Network Rail’s work to electrify the line between Blackpool and Preston and lengthen the platforms at Blackpool North station, to allow for longer Pendolino trains.

Peter Broadley, executive director of customer, operations and safety at Virgin Trains on the west coast, said: “We’re really pleased to be strengthening our services at Wigan – providing the town with more frequent connections between London and Blackpool.

"We have been proud to play our part in transforming Wigan’s connectivity over the last 20 years and we’re sure our additional services will provide increased opportunities for Wigan and be a welcome boost to the community.”

From Monday, May 21, the additional trains will leave London Euston on weekdays at 6.46am, 8.53am and 10.36am, arriving in town at 8.59am, 11.12am and 12.45pm respectively. Travelling south trains to London will stop at North Western at 11.35am, 1.41pm and 3.45pm.

On Saturday, trains will leave London at 8.53am and 10.36am rolling into Wigan at 11.12am and 12.45am and in the opposite direction, will call at Wigan en route to London at 11.35am, 1.41pm and 4.35pm.