Daisy Hill railway station
Encyclopedia
Daisy Hill railway station serves the Daisy Hill area of Westhoughton
, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
, Greater Manchester
, England
.
Daisy Hill is one of the principal stations that lie on the Atherton
line, between Wigan
and Manchester
. The station is located 22 kilometres (14 mi) west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail
services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton
and Hindley
, with onward trains to Kirkby and Southport.
Due to considerable housing development in the area, it is now a well-used commuter station and (according to official Strategic Rail Authority figures) was (after Atherton) the most used station on the line, although in 2005-2006 this second place was "awarded" to Walkden station, and this continues with the new figures (from 2007-8, released march 2008). The slight drop in usage in 2006-7 may be due to statistical correction rather than genuine decline (see: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 ) A massive increase in usage (2008–2009) has recently been reported (see right). Part of this isexplained in the SRA notes as an attempt more accurately to include local (transport executive) tickets.
An interesting aspect of Daisy Hill station is that, even when in the 1970s the service was sporadic (see BR Timetable 1973), the station was fully staffed. This continued until recent times. Until 2008, Daisy Hill station (unlike the more frequently used next station of Hindley and the stations of many other major towns and even cities in Britain) was continuously staffed from before the first train to after the last – just over 18 hours. Since 2008, however, the station ticket office has closed at 7.25pm (having opened at 6.25am), see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/DSY.html). This is still a longer period of staffing than many other stations in the United Kingdom. The town's other station (Westhoughton railway station
) which, until recently enjoyed an even greater patronage, has been unstaffed since 1974.
On 21 November 1965 the two "fast lines" (which, unlike Hindley and Atherton, never had platforms) were taken out of use. These tracks were removed in early 1966, leaving only the lines adjacent to the central island platform.
In 1974 Daisy Hill station was to some extent modernised. The old British Rail London Midland maroon signage was replaced, the platform canopy removed, the platform toilets and waiting room demolished (to be replaced by a "bus shelter") and the gas lighting replaced with modern electric lighting. The roadside building and ticket office, however, remained relatively untouched (see picture right).
The station is staffed (see above). Information screens in the booking hall show real-time departure information from both platforms, with electronic displays on the platforms themselves that show the next and following train information and estimated arrival time. This is accompanied by automated announcements using the familiar female voice (same voice as heard in Manchester Piccadilly, Oxford Road, etc.) heard via speakers located both on the platform and in the booking hall.
For a further picture of the station (and pictures of the locality) see: http://www.bolton.org.uk/daisyhill.html a site which, inter alia shows the public house Rose Hill Tavern (known locally as The Bug), which is but a few yards from the station (turn right when leaving the station). Across the road was a post-office (closed in 2008) and shop (still open), and bus-stops that provide connections to much of Westhoughton. Daisy Hill village with its few shops, church and cricket ground is five minutes by foot (turn left outside the station). Westhoughton Town Centre is fifteen minutes (leisurely) walk from the station (turn right) or three or four minutes by bus (service 540 - crossing the road as one leaves the station). There is no taxi rank, although a pay phone is found in the booking hall with taxi numbers and other local information. There are no toilet or refreshment facilities. There is a new (2008) car park with 77 places (to the right of the station as one leaves).
The station's island platform remains totally inaccessible (even with assistance) to wheelchair users (see national rail site above).
GM Future Transport
Monday to Saturday daytimes:
There are a few extra services during the peak hours (Mondays to Fridays).
In the evening there is only one train an hour in each direction, the last train stops at Daisy Hill at 23:48; the station is locked up at midnight.
For many years (since 1966) there had been no trains serving Daisy Hill on Sundays. Northern Rail had aspirations to provide a Sunday service for the line for some years and after a successful campaign GMPTE provided funds; Sunday trains ran from May 2010: http://www.walkdenstation.org.uk/campaigns.shtml#sundayservice
In the summer there is sometimes one train each way to Blackpool North
(Via Wigan North Western
). At other times connections to Blackpool can be effected by changing stations (around 100 yards walk) at Wigan.
London (Euston) is most conveniently reached by changing stations in Wigan
(Known as 'Pacers']) and Class 150
'Sprinter' units, with Class 156s
and 153s (which are banned from Wigan Wallgate) making occasional appearances. These trains are relatively modern, introduced in the mid 1980s. They are often seen working in multiple (that is, combined with each other).
Freight services are limited in number through Daisy Hill. A freight service is normally diverted through Daisy Hill only when engineering works takes place on its booked route, normally taking place overnight.
Westhoughton
Westhoughton is a town and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is southwest of Bolton, east of Wigan and northwest of Manchester....
, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Bolton, but covers a far larger area which includes Blackrod, Farnworth, Horwich, Kearsley and Westhoughton, and a suburban and rural element from the West Pennine...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Daisy Hill is one of the principal stations that lie on the Atherton
Atherton, Greater Manchester
Atherton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire. It is east of Wigan, north-northeast of Leigh, and northwest of Manchester...
line, between Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. The station is located 22 kilometres (14 mi) west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton
Swinton, Greater Manchester
Swinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
and Hindley
Hindley, Greater Manchester
Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Lying three miles east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically a part of Lancashire, Hindley which includes Hindley Green borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield and Leigh within Wigan...
, with onward trains to Kirkby and Southport.
Due to considerable housing development in the area, it is now a well-used commuter station and (according to official Strategic Rail Authority figures) was (after Atherton) the most used station on the line, although in 2005-2006 this second place was "awarded" to Walkden station, and this continues with the new figures (from 2007-8, released march 2008). The slight drop in usage in 2006-7 may be due to statistical correction rather than genuine decline (see: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 ) A massive increase in usage (2008–2009) has recently been reported (see right). Part of this isexplained in the SRA notes as an attempt more accurately to include local (transport executive) tickets.
An interesting aspect of Daisy Hill station is that, even when in the 1970s the service was sporadic (see BR Timetable 1973), the station was fully staffed. This continued until recent times. Until 2008, Daisy Hill station (unlike the more frequently used next station of Hindley and the stations of many other major towns and even cities in Britain) was continuously staffed from before the first train to after the last – just over 18 hours. Since 2008, however, the station ticket office has closed at 7.25pm (having opened at 6.25am), see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/DSY.html). This is still a longer period of staffing than many other stations in the United Kingdom. The town's other station (Westhoughton railway station
Westhoughton railway station
Westhoughton railway station serves the town of Westhoughton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, north-western England. The station is 15½ miles north west of Manchester Piccadilly.- Overview :...
) which, until recently enjoyed an even greater patronage, has been unstaffed since 1974.
History
The station was opened in August 1888.On 21 November 1965 the two "fast lines" (which, unlike Hindley and Atherton, never had platforms) were taken out of use. These tracks were removed in early 1966, leaving only the lines adjacent to the central island platform.
In 1974 Daisy Hill station was to some extent modernised. The old British Rail London Midland maroon signage was replaced, the platform canopy removed, the platform toilets and waiting room demolished (to be replaced by a "bus shelter") and the gas lighting replaced with modern electric lighting. The roadside building and ticket office, however, remained relatively untouched (see picture right).
Location & Facilities
MultimapThe station is staffed (see above). Information screens in the booking hall show real-time departure information from both platforms, with electronic displays on the platforms themselves that show the next and following train information and estimated arrival time. This is accompanied by automated announcements using the familiar female voice (same voice as heard in Manchester Piccadilly, Oxford Road, etc.) heard via speakers located both on the platform and in the booking hall.
For a further picture of the station (and pictures of the locality) see: http://www.bolton.org.uk/daisyhill.html a site which, inter alia shows the public house Rose Hill Tavern (known locally as The Bug), which is but a few yards from the station (turn right when leaving the station). Across the road was a post-office (closed in 2008) and shop (still open), and bus-stops that provide connections to much of Westhoughton. Daisy Hill village with its few shops, church and cricket ground is five minutes by foot (turn left outside the station). Westhoughton Town Centre is fifteen minutes (leisurely) walk from the station (turn right) or three or four minutes by bus (service 540 - crossing the road as one leaves the station). There is no taxi rank, although a pay phone is found in the booking hall with taxi numbers and other local information. There are no toilet or refreshment facilities. There is a new (2008) car park with 77 places (to the right of the station as one leaves).
The station's island platform remains totally inaccessible (even with assistance) to wheelchair users (see national rail site above).
The future
As yet unspecified development is planned for the station:GM Future Transport
Service
For many years Daisy Hill enjoyed what was virtually a peak only service (although those peak hour trains were well used): the 1973 British Rail timetable (table 95) shows a gap between 9.45am and 3.45pm for trains to Manchester Victoria. Since then the service has dramatically improved. First hourly and then half-hourly services were introduced. The present service is as follows:Monday to Saturday daytimes:
- 2 trains per hour to Manchester Victoria.
- 1tph operates a local service stopping at:
-
-
- Hag FoldHag Fold railway stationHag Fold railway station is one of the local stations that lie on the Atherton line, between Wigan and Manchester. The station is located 13 miles west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton, Walkden and Hindley.The station was built...
, AthertonAtherton railway stationAtherton railway station serves the town of Atherton, Greater Manchester, and is the main station on the line between Wigan and Manchester on the Manchester to Southport Line, and according to Strategic Rail Authority figures) is the busiest station on the line .The station is located 19 km...
, WalkdenWalkden railway stationWalkden railway station is one of the principal stations that lie on the Atherton line, between Wigan and Manchester. The station is located 8¼ miles west of Manchester Victoria with regular Northern Rail services to these towns as well as Salford, Swinton and Hindley...
, MoorsideMoorside railway stationMoorside railway station is located in the Moorside and Wardley areas of Swinton, near Manchester, England. The station stands on Moorside Road close to the junction with Chorley Road , Swinton....
, SwintonSwinton (Manchester) railway stationSwinton railway station serves the town of Swinton and Pendlebury in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England.Swinton is one of the local stations that lie on the Manchester to Southport Line between Wigan and Manchester...
, Salford CrescentSalford Crescent railway stationSalford Crescent is one of two railway stations in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The other station is Salford Central.The station is west of Manchester Victoria and west of Manchester Piccadilly...
, Salford CentralSalford Central railway stationSalford Central railway station is a railway station in Salford, Greater Manchester in the North West of England just over the River Irwell from Manchester city centre. It is very close to Manchester's Spinningfields district and the area behind the House of Fraser department store, Deansgate...
and Manchester Victoria.
- Hag Fold
-
- 1tph operates a faster service stopping at:
-
-
- Atherton, Walkden, Swinton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central and Manchester Victoria
-
- 1tph to KirkbyKirkby railway stationKirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Manchester Victoria via Wigan Wallgate....
stopping at:
-
- HindleyHindley railway stationHindley railway station serves the area of Hindley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.Hindley is one of the principal stations that lie on the Wigan to Manchester line, just before the route branches to use either the Atherton line or the Eastern Branch line via Westhoughton and Bolton...
, Ince, Wigan WallgateWigan Wallgate railway stationWigan Wallgate railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station is on 2 lines, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is north west of Manchester Victoria...
, PembertonPemberton railway stationPemberton railway station serves the Pemberton area of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. It is on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line.The station is situated on the A571 Billinge Road...
, OrrellOrrell railway stationOrrell railway station serves the Orrell area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. It is a small two-platform commuter hub on the Wigan to Kirkby branch line....
, Upholland, RainfordRainford railway stationRainford railway station is situated in the village of Rainford, Merseyside, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail.- History :...
, Kirkby
- Hindley
- 1tph to SouthportSouthport railway stationSouthport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...
stopping at:
-
- Hindley, Wigan Wallgate, GathurstGathurst railway stationOn the outskirts of the town of Wigan, Greater Manchester, the semi-rural Gathurst is a recently refurbished two-platform station on the Southport line 2¾ miles north west of Wigan Wallgate station...
, Appley BridgeAppley Bridge railway stationAppley Bridge railway station serves the villages of Appley Bridge and Shevington in England.The station is 4½ miles north west of Wigan Wallgate on the Manchester-Southport Line....
, ParboldParbold railway stationParbold railway station serves the village of Parbold and the nearby village of Newburgh in West Lancashire, England.The station is north west of Wigan Wallgate on the Manchester to Southport Line.-History:...
, Burscough BridgeBurscough Bridge railway stationBurscough Bridge railway station serves the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is a main stop on the Manchester-Southport Line. A bus interchange has recently been constructed next to the station, including a shop and cafe....
, New LaneNew Lane railway stationNew Lane railway station serves the rural communities and farming villages around New Lane in West Lancashire, in the north-west of England. It is served and managed by Northern Rail and is situated near the Martin Mere bird sanctuary, which can be reached by a 1 mile walk.Trains run to Southport...
, Bescar LaneBescar Lane railway stationBescar Lane railway station is on the Manchester to Southport Line, east of Southport in the village of Scarisbrick. Bescar Lane is an old cottage-style station, operated by the Northern Rail franchise...
, Meols CopMeols Cop railway stationMeols Cop railway station serves the Blowick suburb of the coastal town of Southport, Merseyside, England. The station has an island platform and is served by Northern Rail's - via branch services, on which it is the last stop before the terminus...
, Southport
- Hindley, Wigan Wallgate, Gathurst
- Recent timetables provide an hourly convenient connection (5-7 mins. wait) at Hindley (although a platform change must be made that is not possible for wheelchair users) for services to/from Bolton.
There are a few extra services during the peak hours (Mondays to Fridays).
In the evening there is only one train an hour in each direction, the last train stops at Daisy Hill at 23:48; the station is locked up at midnight.
For many years (since 1966) there had been no trains serving Daisy Hill on Sundays. Northern Rail had aspirations to provide a Sunday service for the line for some years and after a successful campaign GMPTE provided funds; Sunday trains ran from May 2010: http://www.walkdenstation.org.uk/campaigns.shtml#sundayservice
In the summer there is sometimes one train each way to Blackpool North
Blackpool North railway station
Blackpool North railway station is the main railway station serving the seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire, England. It is the terminus of the main Blackpool branch line from Preston....
(Via Wigan North Western
Wigan North Western railway station
Wigan North Western railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.It is a moderately-sized station on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by Virgin Trains, and is also served by Northern Rail...
). At other times connections to Blackpool can be effected by changing stations (around 100 yards walk) at Wigan.
London (Euston) is most conveniently reached by changing stations in Wigan
Rolling stock information
The services are operated solely by Diesel Multiple Units (Rail-buses), often ex-British Rail Class 142British Rail Class 142
The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984....
(Known as 'Pacers']) and Class 150
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
'Sprinter' units, with Class 156s
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
and 153s (which are banned from Wigan Wallgate) making occasional appearances. These trains are relatively modern, introduced in the mid 1980s. They are often seen working in multiple (that is, combined with each other).
Freight services are limited in number through Daisy Hill. A freight service is normally diverted through Daisy Hill only when engineering works takes place on its booked route, normally taking place overnight.