page_title: Liverpool–Wigan line
section_title: Electrification
hierarchical_section_title: Liverpool–Wigan line / Technical details / Electrification
caption_attribution_description: English: New catenary, Eccleston Park railway station
context_page_description: The Liverpool–Wigan line is a railway line in the north-west of England, running between Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North Western via St Helens Central station. The line is a part of the electrified Merseyrail Liverpool to Wigan City Line. The stations, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Trains, however the stations are branded Merseyrail using Merseyrail ticketing.
context_section_description: Electrification was originally scheduled to be accomplished by December 2014, but due to delays the target was missed, however the line was eventually energised in March 2015.
  Work on the 25 kV overhead line electrification is now complete as is similar work on the Liverpool - Manchester (Chat Moss) route. On Monday 16 March 2015 the Network Rail test coach and its associated train made a series of passes over the line. This was followed by a series of test runs during the night of 19/20 March 2015 using a Class 319 EMU. The test findings were submitted to ORR who subsequently 'signed off' the route for public service.
  A single, Saturdays only, early morning out and back run in public service was due to start on 18 April 2015 but the booked electric was replaced by a diesel at the last minute because of electrical problems on the branch. The first public EMU service was the 06:00 Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western and 07:03 return on 25 March 2015; this has run regularly since. Electric trains started all day passenger operation following the new timetable change on 17 May 
  In December 2009, the then Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, had announced that the line between Huyton and St Helens Line Junctions would also be electrified along with the previously committed Edge Hill to Huyton Junction infill on the Liverpool–Manchester line, as part of a £200 million rail electrification scheme. This work, in conjunction with the previously-announced  Liverpool–Manchester line electrification would electrify the entire Liverpool to Wigan route. Additionally, considering currently-operated services; in conjunction with other infill electrification projects announced, this would allow electric trains to operate from Liverpool to St Helens, Wigan, Preston and Blackpool.  
  Merseytravel (One of the two PTEs on the route) had previously stated their aspirations for the St Helens infill electrification; considering it a necessary addition to the (then-proposed) Liverpool–Manchester electrification, given the interworking of passenger services between the Chat Moss (Liverpool–Manchester) and St Helens (Liverpool–Wigan) lines imposed by the December 2008 timetable.
caption: Partially erected catenary at Eccleston Park, in December 2013
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