Due to engineering works all trains from Walkden on Saturday 22nd August are replaced by buses.

Rail tickets are valid as normal but previous experience has shown that bus replacements are often slower, more crowded, and less reliable than trains – in fact they provide a salutary reminder of just why the train is such a superior way of traveling from Walkden !

For further details check the National Rail Journey Planner before travelling – and allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

According to National Rail the 23.20 from Victoria to Walkden will be replaced by a bus next Monday to Thursday (3rd – 6th August).
Unless you enjoy slow journeys without toilets we suggest you avoid this service on these days.
Please note this is a change to previous National Rail advice which indicated the bus replacements would only run Tuesday-Thursday.

Next week the last train (at 2320) from Victoria to Walkden is being replaced by a bus from Monday 11th to Thursday 14th.

Previously this has proved to be a slow and unsavoury experience – we don’t recommend it.

Due to engineering works there are NO TRAINS TO/FROM WALKDEN next Saturday. A bus replacement service will be provided – please see posters at the station or use the online Journey Planner for their times.

More details of the disruption can be found on the National Rail Enquiries website.

The train drivers’ strike which threatened to severely disrupt all services next Monday has been called off.

This afternoon Northern Rail announced made the following announcement:

Northern Rail is pleased to announce that its drivers in the North West have suspended their planned strike action for Monday 13 October 2008 and a normal timetable will be in operation.

Train drivers working for Northern in the North West had been balloted over industrial relations, but agreement has been reached on all issues and the strike action has been suspended pending a meeting of the ASLEF Executive Committee on 14 October 2008.

Apologies for the late posting, but for this week (Mon 9th -Fri 13th) the last train from Manchester has been replaced by a (slooooow) bus to allow overnight engineering works near Hindley.

Today is the last scheduled day for the bus – hopefully things should be back to normal from tomorrow.

Passengers suffered disruption and delays along the Atherton line again yesterday after cable thieves struck for the second time in 6 weeks. Services were delayed throughout the afternoon and evening, and the Blackpool service had to be re-routed via Bolton, missing out Walkden completely.

Thanks to a speedy repair job by Network Rail services were back to normal this morning.

Overnight theft of cables along the Walkden line caused misery for thousands of commuters last Monday as trains had to proceed under safety conditions due to the theft of signalling cable overnight.

And this weekend Walkden station has been hit by thieves who’ve stolen the lead flashing from the station roof, making the roof and joints susceptible to leaking and rain damage.

These attacks cause massive losses and inconvenience to the travelling public – if you see any suspicious activity on or around the railway line please report it immediately to British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40

FOWS understands the line closure proposed for Saturday 29th December has now been cancelled – presumably the works will be rescheduled for a later date.

There are bus replacements between Wigan and Southport this week (20-28th October) while Network Rail carry out engineering works at Wigan.

Meanwhile all services between Walkden and Wigan were cancelled yesterday due to a broken rail between Walkden and Atherton.