I'm sure there will be house price related opposition, though I'm sure the increase in noise would surely be offset by suddenly being flung in to the commuter belt for both Liverpool and Manchester.

They reckon that easier access to Liverpool & Manchester would improve house prices.

I can't see how this is an improvement on the original 'Xanadu' idea.

Which is better? Catch a bus from Leigh town centre to a station which is a dead end junction on a branch line with only a terminus. This must mean very infrequent trains so no one will bother with it.

Or extend the bypass to Kenyon and build a station there that is actually on the main line and has quick links from Leigh.

On the point of NIMBY opposition I live in Culcheth and feel the second idea would be mostly welcomed here.

I still think the old line should be re-opened, from the centre of Leigh start at bond street just follow the route through Tyldesley take a left past Woodland Cemetery and connecting to the Atherton - Manchester line just before Walkden Railway Station. The route is easy to follow on Google map. This gives a rail link to Leigh and Tyldesley.

It can't be re-opened. Various Councils over the years have built houses on what was the old line. That's why they were planning to have the misguided busway instead of a train or tram in the first place.

Wigan Council have over the years allowed an unbelievable number of houses to be built in the Astley/Tyldesley area. A train from Leigh to
Kenyon isn't going to help.

Before you get too excited, read the letters in the journal. It appears the elected representatives are the stumbling block. Lord Smith of Leigh, the only chance of a train station is to vote them out.

Not got a Journal but if thats correct when are the next local by-elections?.

Or catch a bus too Atherton and catch a train from there which would save roughly £52m. Simples

The busway follows the same route, there are no houses on the old line, follow it on google map

A train from Leigh would probably take half the time as it would from the Atherton staion with the number of stops.

I take it the Atherton station is on the line from Liverpool to Manchester ?

It`s on the Kirby to Man/Victoria line as opposed to the proposed link up which would be Liverpool to Man/Oxford Rd.