Transport in Warrington

There are various modes of transport available in Warrington.

Rail

Warrington has seven railway stations within its boundaries. The town has two main railway stations, Bank Quay on the London to Glasgow and Chester – Warrington – Newton-le-WillowsManchester 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. A new entrance and concourse has been built at Bank Quay, and similar work started in July 2010 at Central station. There are also stations in the suburbs at Warrington West, Sankey, Glazebrook, Padgate and Birchwood.

Routes through Bank Quay

Warrington Bank Quay, to the south-west of Warrington's town centre, is between Crewe and Preston on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston and Birmingham New Street to Glasgow and Edinburgh, with services operated by Avanti West Coast. There are also regional trains from Manchester to Chester and North Wales, from Chester to Leeds, and to Liverpool with one daily service to Ellesmere Port. Arpley and Walton Sidings nearby are a major rail freight interchange, and connect the main line to the freight line to Ditton Junction, which served Fiddlers Ferry Power Station until its closure, crossing the main line under Bank Quay station, where there were once low level platforms.

Routes through Central

Central station has local services to Liverpool and Manchester and express services from Liverpool to Manchester then to Sheffield and beyond.

The trains departing Central serve the urban-rural fringe of Warrington and Manchester, serving Birchwood, Padgate, Irlam etc. before heading into Manchester. To the west, some trains serve Warrington West Station before heading into Merseyside and Liverpool. Beyond Manchester, the hourly East Midlands Railway train serves Manchester and then heads to Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich.

The station has an average daytime frequency of four trains per hour (three local trains operated by Northern and one fast train to Norwich (East Midlands Railway).

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. Occasional 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
  • 2023 - Sankey For Penketh

Buses

The town and its districts are fairly well served by bus services. Warrington's Own Buses is the main provider of services, operating most of the day time bus routes. Arriva North West, First Greater Manchester. National Express also operate their long-distance services through Warrington. Most services that serve Warrington depart from and arrive at 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.

Daytime route table [1][2][3][4][5]
Route NumberRoute SummaryDirectionMon - Sat FrequencySunday FrequencyRoute
1
Warrington - Westy CircularSouthbound30 mins60 minsWarrington, Knutsford Road, Latchford, Westy, Manchester Road, Warrington
2
Warrington - Westy CircularEastbound30 mins60 minsThe reverse of route 1
3
Warrington - MartinscroftEastbound30 mins30 minsWarrington, Paddington, Woolston, Manchester Road, Martinscroft
4
Warrington - WoolstonEastbound30 minsNo serviceWarrington, Paddington, Woolston
CAT5
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - AltrinchamSouthbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Grappenhall, Thelwall, Statham, Lymm, Warburton (some), Dunham, Altrincham
CAT5A
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - AltrinchamSouthbound60 minsSee CAT5As service CAT5, but serves Partington and Broadheath instead of Warburton and Dunham
CAT6
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - Grappenhall CircularSouthbound30 mins60 mins
(to Cobbs Estate)
Warrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Grappenhall East View
7
Warrington - LiverpoolWestbound30 mins30 minsWarrington, Penketh, Cronton, Huyton, Broadgreen, Edge Hill, Liverpool
CAT7
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - Appleton ThornSouthbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Pewterspear, Dudlows Green, Appleton Thorn
CAT8
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - Appleton Thorn - Hatton (some)Southbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Appleton Thorn, Stretton (some), Hatton (some)
CAT8A
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - Appleton Thorn - HattonSouthboundInfrequentNo serviceAs service CAT8 but via Lyons Lane and New Lane, operating at school times only
CAT9
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - NorthwichSouthbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Stretton, Antrobus (some), Comberbach, Budworth, Wincham, Lostock Gralam, Northwich
CAT9A
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - NorthwichSouthbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Stretton, Antrobus, Comberbach, Anderton, Barnton, Northwich
CAT9B
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - HattonSouthboundInfrequentNo serviceWarrington, Bank Quay Rail (most), Centre Park (most), Stockton Heath, Stretton, Hatton
10
Warrington - Edgewater ParkEastbound 60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Farrell Street, Westy, Edgewater Park
10A
Warrington - Edgewater ParkEastbound Peak onlyNo serviceWarrington, Knutsford Road, Latchford, Westy, Edgewater Park
11
Warrington - Lower Walton CircularSouthbound30 minsNo serviceWarrington, Knutsford Road, Latchford, Westy, Loushers Lane, Gainsborough Road, Lower Walton, Warrington
12
Warrington - Lower Walton CircularSouthbound30 minsNo serviceThe reverse of route 11
13
Warrington - Omega Business ParkWestbound30 minsNo serviceWarrington, Hood Manor, Chapelford, Whittle Hall, Omega Business Park
14
Warrington - Sankey CircularWestbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Hood Manor, Sankey Station, Lingley Green, Meeting Lane, Penketh Lane Ends, Warrington
15
Warrington - Sankey CircularWestbound60 minsNo serviceThe reverse of route 14
16
Warrington - DallamWestbound30 mins30 mins
(on 16/20A/21A)
Warrington, General Hospital, Folly Lane, Dallam
16A
Warrington - DallamWestbound30 minsSee 16/20A/21AAs service 16, but serves Troutbeck Avenue
17
Connect17
Callands - Warrington - BirchwoodWest/eastbound15 mins (westbound)
30 mins (eastbound)
60 mins
(to Callands)
Warrington, Gemini, Callands, Westbrook, Old Hall, Warrington, Paddington, Fearnhead, Birchwood, Oakwood
17A
Connect17
Callands - Warrington - BirchwoodEast/westboundInfrequentSee 17As service 17, but additionally serves Birchwood Park
17C
Connect17
Callands - Warrington - BirchwoodEast/westboundInfrequentSee 17As service 17, but serves Birchwood Park instead of Birchwood Centre
18
Burtonwood - Warrington - Priestley CollegeWestboundInfrequentSee 17Burtonwood, Callands, Westbrook, Old Hall, Warrington, Priestley College
19
Warrington - LeighNorthbound60 mins60 mins
(to Culcheth)
Warrington, Winwick, Croft, Culcheth, Glazebury, Leigh
Occasionally continues to or starts from Priestley College
20
The Pops
Warrington - Orford CircularNorthbound10 mins60 minsWarrington, Winwick Rd, Orford Park Centre, Longford, Orford, Warrington
20A
Warrington - Orford CircularNorthboundEarly morning only60 minsAs service 20, but serves Warrington Hospital and Dallam instead of Winwick Road and Orford Park Centre
21
The Pops
Warrington - Longford CircularNorthbound10 mins60 minsWarrington, Orford, Longford, Orford Park Centre, Winwick Road, Warrington
21A
Warrington - Longford CircularNorthboundEarly morning only60 minsAs service 21, but serves Dallam and Warrington Hospital instead of Orford Park Centre and Winwick Road
22
Warrington - Earlestown - Vulcan - Ashton-in-MakerfieldNorthbound60 minsSee 22AWarrington, Winwick, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Vulcan, Ashton-in-Makerfield
22A
Warrington - Earlestown - Wigan (most)NorthboundSee 2260 minsAs service 22 to Earlestown, then most continue to Newton-le-Willows, Golborne, Abram, Platt Bridge and Wigan
23A
Orange Grove - FearnheadEastboundInfrequentNo serviceOrange Grove, Cinnamon Brow, Fearnhead
25
Warrington - Gorse CovertEastbound30 minsSee 26/27Warrington, Ryfields Village (some), Orford, Orange Grove (some), Cinnamon Brow, Birchwood, Oakwood, Gorse Covert
Occasionally continues to or starts from Priestley College
26
Warrington - Gorse CovertEastboundSee 25120 minsWarrington, Orford, Cinnamon Brow, Birchwood, Oakwood, Gorse Covert
27
Warrington - Gorse CovertEastboundSee 25120 minsAs service 26, but serves Fearnhead instead of Cinnamon Brow
28
Warrington - LeighEastbound60 minsSee 28AWarrington, Paddington, Padgate, Longbarn, Birchwood, Locking Stumps, Risley, Culcheth, Glazebury, Leigh
28A
Warrington - LeighEastboundPeak only60 minsAs service 28, but omits Birchwood
32
Warrington - WidnesWestbound15 mins
20 mins on Sats
60 mins
to Penketh only
Warrington, Sankey Bridges, Penketh, Tannery Lane (some), Cuerdley, Widnes
33
Penketh - Gemini Retail ParkWestboundInfrequent
Thu only
No servicePenketh, Sankey, Whittle Brook, Westbrook, Gemini Retail Park
39
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceGrappenhall, Lymm High School
40
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceStretton, Stockton Heath, Grappenhall, Lymm High School
40B
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceMartinscroft, Hollins Green, Latchford Locks, Lymm High School
41
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceWalton, Grappenhall, Lymm High School
Stanton Road, Lymm High School
41A
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceStanton Road, Lymm High School
42
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceGrappenhall Heys, Appleton Thorn, Grappenhall, Lymm High School
42A
School service to Lymm High SchoolEastboundInfrequentNo serviceWarrington, Knutsford Road, Lymm High School
47
Warrington - Lymm - High Legh - KnutsfordSouthboundInfrequentNo serviceWarrington (some), Latchford (some), Grappenhall (some), Lymm, Broomedge, High Legh, Knutsford (some)
48
Northwich - FrodshamNot applicable120 mins
Not Weds
No serviceNorthwich, Weaverham, Acton Bridge, Hatchmere, Kingsley, Frodsham
48A
Northwich - FrodshamNot applicable120 mins
Weds only
No serviceAs service 48, but serving Delamere Park instead of Acton Bridge
62
Warrington - Runcorn - Widnes - HalebankSouthbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Stockton Heath, Walton, Moore, Murdishaw, Halton Lea, Runcorn, Widnes, Halebank
62A
Warrington - Runcorn - Widnes - HalebankSouthboundPeak onlySee 62As service 62, but serves Daresbury Technology Park instead of Moore
100
Warrington - ManchesterEastbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Martinscroft, Hollins Green, Partington, Cadishead, Trafford Centre, Eccles, Salford, Manchester Shudehill
110
Warrington - MurdishawWestbound15 mins
20 mins on Sats
30 minsWarrington, Penketh Lane Ends, Penketh, Widnes, Runcorn, Halton Lea, Murdishaw, (Whitehouse - peak only), (Windmill Hill - Sun only)
329
Warrington - Saint HelensNorthbound30 mins30 minsWarrington, Winwick, Burtonwood, Collins Green, Parr, Saint Helens
329
Warrington - Saint HelensNorthbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Winwick, Burtonwood, Collins Green, Parr, Saint Helens
360
Warrington - WiganNorthbound30 minsNo serviceWarrington, Winwick, Newton-le-Willows, Golborne, Wigan
X30
Warrington - ChesterSouthbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Walton, Daresbury, Halton Lea, Frodsham, Helsby, Chester
Evening route table [6][7]
Route NumberRoute SummaryDirectionMon - Sat Evening FrequencySun Evening FrequencyRoute
1E
Warrington - Westy CircularSouthbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Knutsford Road, Latchford, Westy
3
Warrington - MartinscroftEastbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Paddington, Woolston, Manchester Road, Martinscroft
CAT5
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - LymmSouthbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Grappenhall, Thelwall, Statham, Lymm
7
Warrington - LiverpoolWestbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Penketh, Cronton, Huyton, Broadgreen, Edge Hill, Liverpool
CAT8
Cheshire Cat
Warrington - Appleton ThornSouthbound120 minsNo serviceWarrington, Stockton Heath, Cobbs Estate, Appleton Thorn
14
Warrington - SankeyWestbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Hood Manor, Sankey Station, Lingley Green, Meeting Lane, Penketh Lane Ends, Warrington
16
Warrington - DallamWestbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, General Hospital, Folly Lane, Dallam
17
Warrington - CallandsWestbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Old Hall, Westbrook, Callands
21E
Warrington - Longford CircularNorthbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Orford, Longford
22A
Warrington - Earlestown - WiganNorthbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Winwick Road, Orford Park Centre, Winwick, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows, Golborne, Abram, Platt Bridge, Wigan
26E
Warrington - Cinnamon BrowEastbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Winwick Road, Longford, Orford, Cinnamon Brow
27E
Warrington - Cinnamon BrowEastbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Orford, Padgate, Cinnamon Brow
28E
Warrington - LeighEastbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Paddington, Padgate, Longbarn, Locking Stumps, Birchwood, Gorse Covert, Risley, Culcheth, Glazebury, Leigh
32
Warrington - PenkethWestbound60 minsNo serviceWarrington, Sankey Bridges, Penketh
110
Warrington - WidnesWestbound60 mins60 minsWarrington, Penketh Lane Ends, Penketh, Widnes, Runcorn, Halton Lea, Murdishaw, Windmill Hill
Notes:
  • First buses are those leaving either Wilderspool Depot (in the case of Warrington's Own Buses) or the Town Centre, to start the full route.
  • Last buses are those leaving the outer terminus on linear routes, or arriving into Warrington on circulars; some last buses terminate elsewhere in the town centre, e.g. Garven Place.
  • A red background in the route number column denotes routes normally operated by Warrington's Own Buses
  • A teal background in the route number column denotes routes normally operated by Arriva North West
  • A green background in the route number column denotes routes operated by Link Network
  • A grey background in the route number column denotes routes operated by First Greater Manchester

Roads

There are three key motorways serving the town and surrounding 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:

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.

Canals

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.

The first modern canal is also located in Warrington. The Sankey Canal starts at Spike Island in Widnes, going through Sankey Valley Park past Bewsey Old Hall & Gullivers World theme park, on through Earlestown and ending at the old Safeway store (now Tesco) in St. Helens.

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 reach Manchester Airport by train (via Piccadilly Station in Manchester).

At one point Warrington was home to a world-famous military airfield used intensively during World War Two at Burtonwood. Now the runway is part of the M62 and the area has now been transformed into Gemini business park. When driving down the M62 one can still see some of the old aircraft hangars that are now home to various businesses.

Cycling

Warrington is home to the Warrington Cycle Campaign, a cycling advocacy group that has received international attention with its 'Cycle facility of the month' feature.

References

  1. "Home". arrivabus.co.uk.
  2. "Home". warringtonsownbuses.co.uk.
  3. "Home". firstgroup.com.
  4. "Home". linknetworkbus.co.uk.
  5. https://www.warrington.gov.uk/buses
  6. "Home". arrivabus.co.uk.
  7. "Home". networkwarrington.co.uk.
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