| Lostock | |
|---|---|
| Lostock station. View looking east. The Wigan lines on the right (with no platforms) can be seen joining the main line in the distance. | |
| Location | |
| Place | Lostock |
| Local authority | Bolton |
| Grid reference | SD674086 |
| Operations | |
| Station code | LOT |
| Managed by | Northern Rail |
| Number of platforms | 2 |
| Live arrivals/departures and station information from National Rail Enquiries |
|
| Annual rail passenger usage | |
| 2004/05 * | 0.118 million |
| 2005/06 * | 0.125 million |
| 2006/07 * | 0.127 million |
| 2007/08 * | 0.140 million |
| 2008/09 * | 0.208 million |
| 2009/10 * | 0.209 million |
| Passenger Transport Executive | |
| PTE | Greater Manchester |
| History | |
| Original company | Liverpool and Bury Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway |
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| c. August 1852 | Station opened as Lostock Junction |
| 7 November 1966 | Station closed |
| 16 May 1988 | Reopened as Lostock Parkway |
| ? | Renamed Lostock |
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | |
| * Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Lostock from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Please note: methodology may vary year on year. | |
Lostock railway station serves the suburb of Lostock in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. According to large scale Ordnance Survey maps and local usage, the area is named Lostock Junction and the station is referred to as such by many local people. Indeed Network Rail's own "location map" refers to the area as "Lostock Junction".[1]
The railway line between Bolton and Preston had opened as far as Rawlinson Bridge (between Adlington and Chorley) on 4 February 1841, and among the original stations on this route, the first station out of Bolton was at Blackrod.[2] On 20 November 1848, the Liverpool and Bury Railway was opened giving a route between Bolton and Wigan, and the point where it connected to the Bolton–Preston line was named Lostock Junction; the first station out of Bolton on this route was Westhoughton. Later, a station was constructed at the junction, also named Lostock Junction, which opened around August 1852. The station gave its name to the village which grew around it.[3][4] This station had platforms on both the Preston and Wigan routes.[5] It closed on 7 November 1966.[4]
On 16 May 1988 the station was reopened, but with platforms only on the Preston route. It was named Lostock Parkway, being provided with a large car park for the use of park-and-ride commuters.[4] The suffix "Parkway" was later dropped.[6]
The two-platform station is served by Northern Rail and TransPennine Express services to Manchester stations (i.e. Piccadilly, Airport, Oxford Road and Victoria) from Preston and Blackpool North. It is a popular commuter station.[7]
The Bolton-Wigan branch-line diverges just to the south of Lostock's platforms, but there are no longer any platforms on the branch to Wigan and Southport. The Network Rail North West Route Utilisation Strategy has recommended the construction of these additional platforms and they are planned to be reinstated as part of the Manchester TIF bid.[8]
If the Wigan platforms were restored, then Lostock may again provide a valuable interchange point for those passengers wishing to travel from Hindley and Westhoughton to Chorley, Preston and Blackpool, and from Chorley to Wigan and Southport, which may be faster than the options that are currently available.
Most recently in early 2009, the station has had a passenger information display system installed, giving waiting passengers on the platforms information about trains that are due to arrive. Fully computer automated, it is also equipped with an audio speaker system, giving the benefit of announcements of train arrivals and delays. During December 2008 - Spring 2009 the car park facilities were greatly improved by extending and resurfacing the land surrounding the railway, with the addition of floodlighting and CCTV.
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwich Parkway | Northern Rail Manchester-Preston Line |
Bolton | ||
| Horwich Parkway | First Transpennine Express TransPennine North West Limited Service |
Bolton | ||