In this next addition of Every Station we start back at Wigan Wallgate, heading towards Headbolt Lane on the Merseyrail network & then onward to Kirkdale. This line is one of my favourites with stations like Rainford, Orrell, Upholland & Pemberton, this will also feature potentially as a Branch line post here on my blog!

From Upholland I make my way to Orrelli Station about a 5 minute run through a rather long tunnel especially for the area, there aren’t that many tunnels unless you end up in Derbyshire! I am looking forward to writing about the Buxton line as it is one of my favourite lines in the North West.

From Orrell I’ll head to Rainford which is probably my favourite station on the line because it has a lovely signal box a junction and also lots of railway history with a disuse railway line running from St Helens through to Ormskirk. I also have a post from Ormskirk coming very soon!

From Rainford we head back up the line to Pemberton where strangely trains have a couple of minutes stand time which I believe is relatively a new feature on the line, the guard was telling me that they never used to do this with Kirkby but since Headbolt Lane came on they have a couple of minutes stand time.

Headbolt Lane Station opened back in October 2023 I remeber being at the opening and even getting to interview David Powel, Steve Rotherham and other folk who where at the opening! I also made an appearance on BBCs Northwest Tonight which was the highlight of my year. I hope I get to do it again someday.

From Headbolt Lane I head to Rice Lane a station that isn’t very accessible however I do like Rice Lane station, it’s also very close to another station called Walton which is a station on the line to Ormskirk and then continues towards Preston. I’ve also got a post on that one coming soon too. From Rice Lane I went to Fazakerly hoping to catch a bus to Kirkby I couldn’t.

From Fazakerly my plan was to catch a bus to Kirkby and then head to Kirkdale however in the end I got the train as the bus was taking forever to get to Fazakerly and I felt like they had missed one out which was rather annoying. From Kirkby we head to our final Station of Kirkdale probably the second shortest branch on the network after New Brighton & Ellesmere Port!

Well finally made it to Kirkdale Station! After this we will be heading to New Brighton, West Kirby & Birkenhead as well! I also have plenty of other posts from my Branch Lines, Bus Journeys & Stations so do please consider Subscribing so you won’t miss out!