Notes: In 1874 the CLC promoted the idea of a Wigan Junction Railway which would run from its main Liverpool to Manchester line at Glazebrook and would link it to the lucrative Lancashire Coalfields. Only the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire constituent of the CLC remained interested in the concept and it was they who built the line which opened to goods services in 1879. When opened it connected to the main line at Glazebrook with an east to north curve which meant services could only easily go towards Manchester. A number of passenger stations opened on the line in 1884. These included Culcheth, Lowton St Mary's, Plank Lane for West Leigh (later Bedford and West Leigh), Bickershaw and Abram, Strangeways and Hindley (Later Hindley South), Lower Ince and then a terminus at Wigan Darlington Street.

In 1892 a half mile extension was opened into a new terminus at Wigan Central which consisted of a single platform with substantial buildings and a large platform canopy.

Initially trains ran from Wigan Central to Manchester Central but in 1900 a west to north curve was put in at Glazebrook which allowed trains to head to and from Liverpool. The line became part of the GCR and in 1923 part of the LNER but it was operated as part of the CLC system. Monday to Friday services in 1903 saw the GCR run 8 trains to Manchester and 6 to Warrington each day. Services increased under the LNER especially during the war years. However after 1945 the line went into decline and the last service was the Wigan Central to Irlam or Manchester Central service. Latterly some of these services where operated by DMU's until the end came on 1.11.1964. The line lingered on for goods services until 1968.

Today the site of Wigan Central is occupied by a road and a shopping development.

To see the other stations on the Wigan Central - Glazebrook line click on the station name: Lower Ince, Hindley South,
Bickershaw & Abram, West Leigh & Bedford, Lowton St. Marys, Culcheth & Newchurch Halt.