Useful links and contacts

This is the operator of all Bolton's rail services at present.

Timetables, trains, tickets and general information : 

          https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

Reporting faults at stations or on trains - 0844 264 3606 

Customer Experience Centre - 0800 200 6060 

This operator will return to Bolton at the next timetable change in May 2019, as the main line through Bolton is now fully electrified and can take this operators electric trains. The service will provide direct services to Preston, Lancaster and other principal stations to Glasgow and Edinburgh. It will not however allow travel between Bolton and Salford Crescent, Manchester Stations or Manchester Airport.  This restriction will be reviewed in the light of experience.

This is a public body controlled by Greater Manchester local authorities and the Mayor of Greater Manchester.  It is responsible for  planning and support of bus and rail services in Greater Manchester and other transport related services, including  Metrolink, Concessionary Passes, bus stations,  transport interchanges, bus timetables and  and non-commercial bus services

This is a large nation-wide public sector company controlled by the Secretary of State for Transport.  It owns and is responsible for the development and maintenance of  the rail infrastructure - tracks, stations, electrification, bridges, tunnels, signalling  etc.  It regulates access to the network by operators and produces and controls the timetables and their twice-yearly revisions. It delegates the operation and management of almost all stations to the operating companies, but retains a few major stations for direct operation by itself.  It's now organised into a number of regional structures.  Bolton is within its London North West division.

The operating companies pay Network Rail for the use of its system and for the electricity used to power their trains.