Transport in Warrington

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There are various modes of transport available in Warrington.

Contents

[edit] Rail

The town has two main railway stations. Bank Quay on the London to Glasgow and Chester - Warrington - Newton-le-Willows - Manchester lines, and Central on the Liverpool - Widnes - Manchester line and the Transpennine route. Bank Quay is much altered, but Central (built 1873) is of some architectural merit, featuring polychromatic brickwork. However, both main railway stations have suffered from years of under investment and sadly are in disrepair. There are also stations in the suburbs at Padgate, Sankey and Birchwood.

[edit] Routes through Bank Quay

See full article at Warrington Bank Quay railway station

Warrington Bank Quay (WBQ), which is in the south-west of Warrington's Town Centre, is where the majority of InterCity trains depart. It is also a major freight station. From here you can travel on a long distance train to: Crewe and London to the south of the West Coast Main Line, and Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Lake District to the North. There are also regional trains to North Wales and Chester as well as Liverpool and Ellesmere Port.


Preceding station National Rail Following station
Earlestown   Arriva Trains Wales
(Chester to Manchester Line)
  Runcorn East
Earlestown   Northern Rail
(Liverpool to Manchester Line (Warrington Spur))
  Terminus
Crewe   Virgin Trains
(West Coast Main Line)
  Wigan North Western

[edit] Routes through Central

See full article at Warrington Central railway station

Central station is used mainly as a suburban and regional service. Although there are two long distance trains per hour.

The trains departing Central serve the urban-rural fringe of Warrington and Manchester, serving Birchwood, Padgate, Urmston etc. before heading into Manchester. To the west, trains serve Sankey-for-Penketh before heading into Merseyside and Liverpool. Beyond Manchester, the Trans Pennine Trains serve Yorkshire before terminating at Scarborough, the hourly Central Trains service serves Manchester and then heads to Nottingham and East Anglia.

The station has an average daytime frequency of four trains per hour (two local trains operated by Northern Rail, one fast train to Norwich (Central Trains) and one fast train to Scarborough operated by TransPennine Express).

  • The first train to Liverpool departs Warrington at 0603 (where the train actually starts) (Operated by Northern Rail) arriving into Liverpool at 0644 via all stations.
  • The last train to Liverpool leaves at 2354 (Operated by Northern Rail) arriving into Lime Street at 0030, it calls at Sankey, Widnes, Hough Green, and Hunts Cross.
  • The first train to Manchester departs at 0608 (the train starts at Central)(Operated by Northern Rail) arriving into Manchester at 0647, calling at all stations to Oxford Road (Padgate, Birchwood, Glazebrook, Irlam, Flixton, Chassen Rd, Urmston, Humphrey Park, Trafford Park and Deansgate).
  • The last local service to Manchester departs Central at 2233 and calls at all stations to Oxford Road.
  • This is supplemented by the 2253 Transpennine Express calling at Birchwood, Oxford Road, Piccadilly, Stalybridge, Huddersfield, and Leeds.
  • The final service departing Central, departs at 0011, and runs fast, terminating at Piccadilly.


Preceding station National Rail Following station
Birchwood   TransPennine Express
(North TransPennine)
  Liverpool Lime Street
Padgate   Northern Rail
(Liverpool to Manchester Line)
(Southern Route)
  Sankey
Manchester Piccadilly   Central Trains
(Liverpool-Norwich)
  Widnes

In the case of First TPX, the trains operate Warrington, Birchwood then to Oxford Road.

In the case of Northern Rail, trains operate a local stopping service to Manchester Oxford Road.

[edit] History

The first railway to reach Warrington was the Warrington and Newton Railway in 1831, which connected to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Later, the Grand Junction Railway provided a connection to Birmingham and thence to London.

By 1900 the local rail network was complete, with the London and North Western Railway having 3 routes

- North to South (Carlisle-Preston-Warrington Bank Quay-Crewe-London)

- East to West (Manchester-Warrington Bank Quay (low level)-Ditton Junction-Liverpool

- Warrington Bank Quay to Chester and North Wales

and the Cheshire Lines Committee having one route from Liverpool Central via Warrington Central to Manchester Central. There was also a line avoiding Warrington Central (closed in 1968).

The Warrington Bank Quay low level route was closed to regular passenger traffic in 1962. Freight services continue on the Ditton Junction-Warrington section but the line east towards Manchester has been closed and converted into the Trans-Pennine Trail.

Former stations in the Warrington area include

closed 1949 - Sankey Bridges

1950 - Fidler's Ferry and Penketh

1954 - Warrington Arpley

1962 - Heatley and Warburton, Lymm, Latchford, Thelwall

[edit] Buses

The town and its districts are fairly well served by bus services. Warrington Borough Transport are the main provider of services, operating 78% of day time bus routes. Arriva, First, Bennetts of Warrington, Halton Transport, and Warrington Coachways. National Express also operate their long-distance services through Warrington. All services that serve Warrington depart from and arrive at the new bus station (known as Warrington Interchange). However services can be caught from various points around the town centre, principally Rylands Street (for South and Eastbound routes), Academy Way (Inbound and Eastbound routes), Warrington Central for Northbound services, Sankey Street for Westbound, Eastbound and Southbound buses, and the Town Hall for Westbound services.

[edit] Routes

[edit] Notes

  • First buses are those leaving either Wilderspool Depot (in the case of Warrington Borough Transport) or the Town Centre, to start the full route, generally before 0730 they leave the Depot, as it is the first route for the bus. After 0730, first bus will leave from Warrington Town Centre.
  • Last Buses are those leaving the outer terminus on linear routes, or arriving into Warrington on circulars.
  • Asterixed times show first/last bus operating full route, beyond this there may be a partial operation, terminating before the normal terminus.
  • Superscripted numbers mean an alternate to the normal route, with the exception of the 420, where I have placed a letter there to avoid confusing the same route, just with an alternate destination. In Warrington, all buses operating this route have 420 on the front of the bus.
  • A Purple background in the route number column denotes routes operated by other companies (company code bracketted)
  • Source is a mix of timetables at [1], [2] and [3] and the list of buses at [4]

[edit] Route Table

Route Number Route Direction of service Daytime Frequency (First Bus) Evening Frequency (Last Bus) Sunday Frequency (operating times) Duration Destination on Front
1 Warrington-Westy (circular) Southbound 5-10 mins (0725 M-F/0800 S) 30 mins (2323) hourly then half-hourly after 1530 (1300-2323) 12 mins Knutsford Road, Latchford, Westy
2 Warrington-Latchford (circular) Eastbound 5-10 mins (0535 M-F/0715 S) 30 mins (2255) hourly then half-hourly after 1530 (1130-2255) 16 mins Manchester Rd, Westy, Latchford
3 Warrington-Martinscroft Eastbound 15 mins (0507 M-F/0705 S) 30 mins (2331) half-hourly (0910-2331) 18 mins Woolston, Manchester Road, Martinscroft
4/4A Warrington-Woolston Eastbound 20 mins (0640 M-F/0704 S) No Service (1904) No Service 18 mins Woolston
5 Warrington-Warburton Southbound Half-hourly (0640 M-F/0730 S) No Service (1800) No Service 37 mins Stockton Heath, Lymm,Warburton
6 Warrington-Lymm Southbound Half-hourly (0655 M-F/ 0712 S) No Service (1836) No Service 30 mins Statham, Thelwall Lymm
6A Warrington-Statham Southbound 3 Services (0820,0838,and 0908)(0820) No Service (0908) (No return service) No Service 28 mins Stockton Heath, Thelwall, Statham or Statham
6 Warrington-Liverpool Westbound Half-hourly (0650* M-F/ 0720* S) Hourly (2205) Hourly (0910-2205) 64 mins Liverpool via Huyton, Broadgreen, Edge Hill
7/7A Warrington-Grappenhall Southbound Half-hourly (0630 M-F/0850 S) Hourly (2307) Hourly (0910-2307) 18 mins Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate Grappenhall
8 Warrington-Hatton Southbound Hourly (0645 M-F/0820 S) No Service M-Th/4 Journeys (F&S) (1839* M-Th/2059* F&S) No Service 28 mins Stockton Heath, Appleton Thorn, Hatton
8X Warrington-Appleton Thorn Southbound 1 Service (Not Sats) (0645) No Service M-Th
2 Journeys (F&S)
(1940 and 2140),
No 8X operate returns
No Service 17 mins Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Appleton Thorn
9 Warrington-Hatton Southbound Hourly (0645 M-F/0820 S) No Service Mon-Thu (1745)/One Service Fri&Sat (2245 FS) No Service 19 mins per Ser 9 Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Hatton
11/11A Warrington-Gainsborough Road (circular) Southbound Hourly (0637 M-F/0902 S) No Service (1830) No Service 21 mins per ser 11, 24 mins per ser 11A Knutsford Road, Loushers Lane, Gainsboro' Rd
12/12A Warrington-Loushers Ln (circular) Southbound Hourly (0707 M-F/0800 S) Hourly (2244) No Service 23 mins per ser 12 and 12A Chester Road, Gainsborough Road, Loushers Lane
13 Warrington-Westbrook Westbound Half-hourly (0739 M-F/0809 S) No Service (1757) No Service 18 mins Westbrook
14 Warrington-Sankey (Circular) Westbound Half-hourly (0721 M-F/0821 S) 2 services M-Th, hourly F&S (2337) 2 services (1805 & 2337) 37 mins Whittle Brook, Meeting Ln, Sankey Circ(ular)
15 Warrington-Sankey (Circular) Westbound Half-hourly (0543) Hourly (2307) Hourly (0835-2207) 32 mins Whittle Brook, Sankey Stn, Sankey Circ(ular)
16 Warrington-Dallam Westbound 15 mins (0706) Half-hourly (2326) Hourly (1145-2326) 12 mins Gen. Hospital, Folly Lane, Dallam
16A Warrington-Dallam Westbound 15 mins (0706) No Services (1729) No Service 12 mins Gen. Hospital, Troutbeck Av, Dallam
18 Warrington-Callands Westbound 20 minutes (0726 M-F/0806 S) Hourly M-Th, 30 mins F&S (2329) Hourly (0955-2329) 16 mins Old Hall, Westbrook, Callands
18A Warrington-Callands Gemini Retail Park (M&S) Westbound No Set Frequency until 0756
then every 20 mins (0625 M-F/0705 S)
No Service (1855) No Service 16 mins Old Hall, Westbrook, M&S/Callands
19/19C Warrington-Leigh via Croft Northbound Half-hourly (0628 M-F/0648 S) Hourly (2310) Hourly (0758-2310) 44 mins Croft, Culcheth, Leigh
20 Warrington-Orford (Circular) Northbound 10 mins (0707 M-F/0730 S) 30 mins(2339) Hourly (1145-2339) 24 mins Winwick Rd, Longford, Orford
(with Orford Circular on side of bus)
20A Warrington-Orford (Circular) Westbound Mon-Fri: Two services (0615 and 0645)
Sat: One service (0645)
Early AM services only (0716) Hourly (on the 15 of the hour) (1215-2215) 31 mins Gen Hospital, Longford, Orford
21/21A Warrington-Longford (Circular) Northbound 10 mins (0510 M-F/0613 S) 30 mins(2324) 30 mins (0900-2324) 24 mins Winwick Rd, Orford, Longford
(with Longford Circular on side of bus)
23/23A Warrington-Cinnamon Brow Eastbound 15 mins (0720 M-F/0735 S) No Service(1805) No Service 23 mins Cinnamon Brow
24/24A Warrington-Oakwood Half-Hourly (0630) Eastbound No Services (1900) No Service 47 mins Oakwood
25 Warrington-Gorse Covert Eastbound 15 mins (0509 M-F/0730 S) No Service (1815) No Service 44 mins Gorse Covert or Statham Av, Birchwood, Gorse Covert
25A Warrington-Cinnamon Brow Eastbound Two Services (0509 (ex Wilderspool Depot) and 0607) Early morning only (0626) No Service 18 mins Cinnamon Brow
25B Warrington-Ryefields Village Eastbound One Service (1030) No Service (1030) 120 mins (1045-2227) 41 mins Gorse Covert
26 Warrington-Gorse Covert Eastbound No Service (1845) 120 mins (2227) 120 mins (1045-2227) 41 mins Gorse Covert
27 Warrington-Gorse Covert Eastbound No Service (1924) 120 mins(2324
(To Wilderspool Depot arriving at 0004))
120 mins (0945-2324) 47 mins Gorse Covert
28 Warrington-Leigh via Birchwood Eastbound 30 mins (0624 M-F/0644 S) No Service (1747*) No Service 51 mins Padgate, Culcheth Leigh
28A Warrington-Leigh via Padgate Eastbound No Service (1925) Hourly (2245) Hourly (1025-2245) 43 mins Padgate, Culcheth Leigh
29 Warrington-Collins Green Westbound 15 mins to Westbrook/hourly to Collins Green (0827*) No Service(1705*) No Service 20 mins Collins Green
30/30B Warrington-Penketh (circular) Westbound 30 mins (0508) hourly (2335) 2 hours until 1620 then hourly (1020-2245) 15 mins Liverpool Rd, Meeting Ln, Penketh Circ(ular)
31/31A33/33A Warrington-Penketh (circular) Westbound 15 mins (0722 M-F/0807 S) No Service (1827) No Service 15-16 mins Liverpool Rd, Penketh Ln Ends, Penketh Circ(ular)
37/37A(BE) Warrington-Altrincham Southbound Half-hourly (0705*) Hourly (2241*) Hourly (0940-2237)
(WBT Operate this Service)
30 mins Altrincham
Interchange
45 Warrington-Northwich Southbound Infrequent (0620 MF/0810 S) No Service(1748) No Service 47 mins Stretton, Lostock Gralam, Northwich
46 Warrington-Northwich Southbound Infrequent (0725 MF/0948 S) No Service(1940) No Service 42 mins Stretton, Anderton, Northwich
48 Warrington-Dudlows Green Southbound 30 mins (peak)/hourly (off-peak) (0748* M-F/0845* S) No Service (1812) No Service 26 mins Latchford, Stockton Heath Dudlow's Green
62(HT) Warrington-Widnes Southbound Hourly (0753*M-F/0840* Sat) No Service (1718* M-F/1618* S) No Service 81 mins Widnes Bancroft Rd via Bancroft Rd, Grangeway, Halton Lea
98 (BPS) Birchwood Park-Birchwood (circular) N/A 20 mins (Morning Peak 0732-0908*
Lunchtime Peak 1211*-1327*
Evening Peak 1817-1913)
No Service (1813) No Service 8 mins
Birchwood Park
Shuttle
100 (FM) Warrington-Manchester Eastbound Hourly (0751*) No Service (1805* M-F/1800* S) Hourly (1106-1735) 81 mins Manchester Exchange BS via Trafford Centre, Eccles
101 Warrington-Wilderspool (circular)/ Known as Centrelink Centre Loop 20 mins (0730 M-F) No Service (1832*) No Service 16 mins Centre Park Shuttle
104 (BE) Warrington-Woolston Eastbound Hourly (0700) No Service (1751) No Service 21 mins Woolston
110 Warrington-Murdishaw Westbound 20 mins MF (0730)/Half hourly S (0735) No Service (1840M-F/1704 S) No Service 54 mins Widnes, Runcorn, Murdishaw
329 Warrington-St.Helens Northbound Half Hourly (0650M-F/0725S) No Service (1809) No Service 54 mins St. Helens
Bus Station
360 Warrington-Wigan Northbound Half Hourly (0715M-F/0815S) No Service (1821M-F/1721S) No Service 50 mins Wigan
Bus Station
420V Warrington-Vulcan Northbound Hourly (0850) No Service(1814) No Service 37 mins Newton, Earlestown, Vulcan
420E Warrington-Earlestown Northbound Hourly (0750) Hourly(2245) Hourly (0830-2245) 23 mins Winwick, Newton, Earlestown
X30 Southbound Warrington-Chester Hourly (0905) No Service (1605) No Service 93 mins Penketh, Walton, Daresbury, Runcorn, Halton, Frodsham Chester

[edit] Roads

There are three key motorways serving the town and surronding areas. The town is located roughly halfway between Liverpool and Manchester.

The M6 has four junctions in Warrington. Junction 20 serves the rural south-eastern outskirts of Warrington (i.e. Lymm, Grappenhall, Appleton Thorn and Hatton), it also acts as the "Lymm Interchange" for the M56. Junction 21 serves Woolston, Padgate, Birchwood and the town centre. Junction 21A is the "Croft Interchange" for the M62. Finally, junction 22 serves the north-eastern rural suburbs (i.e. Kenyon, Croft, and Culcheth). To the North, the next exit is for Haydock, to the south the next exit is for Macclesfield, Knutsford and Northwich.

The M62 also has four junctions serving Warrington. Junction 11 serves the Eastern suburbs (Birchwood, Risley, and Culcheth). Junction 10 is known as the "Croft Interchange" and links to the M6. Junction 9 serves the town centre, and inner city areas (Orford, Winwick, and Longford). Finally, junction 8 serves the western suburbs (Westbrook, Sankey and Callands). To the west, the next junction serves St.Helens, Prescot, and Widnes. Towards the east, the next junction is known as the "Eccles Interchange", linking the M60.

The third motorway skirts the south-east of Warrington, the M56 interchanges with the M6 at junction 9. Junction 10 serves the very rural outskirts of Warrington (Stretton and Hatton).

There are several A-roads serving Warrington:

[edit] River

The River Mersey runs through the heart of the town dividing it into two. There are only two main thoroughfares crossing the Mersey in Warrington: at Bridgefoot and at the Kingsway Bridge. Another crossing is planned from Lower Walton to Arpley. Warrington is also divided by the Manchester Ship Canal but there are three swing bridges and a high-level cantilever bridge providing crossing points, and another high-level crossing is planned between Warrington and Runcorn. The picturesque Bridgewater Canal runs through the Borough from the scenic village of Lymm to Walton Lea Gardens, a local park/leisure area.

[edit] Air

Although, Warrington itself does not have an airport, it is within half an hour (by road) of two international airports : Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport , each with a mix of various international, European, domestic and regional flights. You can get to Manchester Airport by train (via Piccadilly Station in Manchester).

[edit] External links