Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway
| Company type | Railway company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Fate | Taken over by East Lancashire Railway in 1847 |
| Successor | East Lancashire Railway (from 1847), later Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (from 1859) |
| Headquarters | England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Northwest England |
The Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway was founded in 1846 in the northwest of England through the Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston Railway Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. ccclxxxi). The East Lancashire Railway took ownership in 1847, and the line officially commenced operations on 2 April 1849.
This railway stretched from a junction near Walton with the Liverpool and Bury Railway, extending northward to connect with a west-facing junction east of Lostock Hall on the Blackburn & Preston Railway. Bridge construction plans from 1847, signed by Joseph Locke among others, provide detailed documentation. A direct link from Lostock Hall to opened on 2 September 1850, followed by a branch line from Ormskirk to Rainford Junction via , which began service on 1 March 1858.
In May 1859, following the takeover of the ELR, the railway became part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). During L&YR’s management, this route functioned as the principal corridor between Liverpool and Preston as well as East Lancashire. It accommodated express passenger services bound for Blackpool and Scotland via , , and the Settle-Carlisle Line, in addition to substantial freight movements serving Liverpool docks. Starting in 1891, a direct link near connected it to the West Coast Main Line, coinciding with enhancements that expanded the route to four tracks. Electrification of the southern segment progressed incrementally from 1906 (reaching Aintree) through to completion at Ormskirk by 1913.
Currently, the railway remains active; however, continuous services between Liverpool and Preston/East Lancashire ceased around 1969/70. The stretch between Liverpool and Ormskirk now forms part of Merseyrail's Northern Line, while the section from Ormskirk to Preston operates under Northern as the Ormskirk Branch Line. These two portions meet at Ormskirk station along the same track alignment but are divided by buffers, creating an uncommon example of a cross platform interchange.
Connections to other railways
- Liverpool and Bury Railway at Walton (shared ownership of segment to )
- North Mersey Branch and North Liverpool Extension Line at
- Manchester and Southport Railway at (via the Burscough Curves)
- East Lancashire Line at