Kirkby branch line
| Kirkby branch line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A Northern Trains Class 150 at Headbolt Lane | |||
| Overview | |||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Owner | Network Rail | ||
| Locale | North West England | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 6 | ||
| Service | |||
| System | National Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Northern Trains | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 20 November 1848 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 12.25 miles (19.71 km) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
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The Kirkby Branch Line is a branch railway line between Wigan Wallgate and Headbolt Lane. The line's original route was from Liverpool to Bury; later, the most northern of the Liverpool to Manchester lines was taken. The line was split at Kirkby in 1977, with the western section forming a high frequency branch of the electrified Merseyrail Northern Line, also referred to as the Kirkby branch line. The Kirkby branch to Wigan remained a one train per hour diesel-operated service by Northern Trains from Headbolt Lane to Blackburn, via Manchester Victoria.