why? You can get to Liverpool from Manchester direct... and/or via Wigan.

Because there are people who live in the Wigan Borough (311,000) that might want to go to Liverpool or Manchester by train.

Pemberton, Orrell, Upholland and Rainford Junction. Get on at any of these and you have to get off at Kirkby, walk 10 yards down the platform and get on another train on the same line. It's alright if there is a train waiting but there isn't always one there.

Thats like Ormskirk station.

You really think there's no direct train from Wigan to Liverpool??

You never got on a Liverpool Lime Street train from Wigan North Western? goes via Bryn, Garswood, St Helens Central etc....

As for those up the line a bit, shame... where we are, if we want a train, we gotta get a bus. If we wanna get a bus to Leigh, we gotta go to Wigan or Warrington first... It happens...

Kirkby is on the electrified Merseyrail network, hence the break in the line.

Two threads on train spotting.... For gods sake bring on the new season.

And Kirkby

I can't see a reason why a diesel can't run on an electrified line, nothing would be touching the third rail.