Person dies after incident at Wigan North Western Station
A person has died following an incident at Wigan North Western Station, police have confirmed.
Last updated 5th May 2026
Emergency services were called to the station at around 2.30am today, Tuesday, May 5, after a body was found.
Rail passengers were warned to expect disruption through the morning, with services between Preston and Wigan North Western affected while emergency crews dealt with the incident.
All lines between the two stations were blocked earlier, with trains cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 30 minutes.
Avanti West Coast, Northern and TransPennine Express services were among those affected.
Routes impacted included Avanti West Coast services between Scotland, Lancaster, Birmingham New Street and London Euston, Northern services between Blackpool North and Liverpool Lime Street, and TransPennine Express services between Glasgow Central, Oxenholme Lake District and Liverpool Lime Street.
The lines have since reopened, but passengers are still being advised to check before they travel as services may continue to be delayed or subject to short-notice changes.
During the disruption, rail replacement transport and ticket acceptance were put in place by operators to help passengers continue their journeys.
Anyone delayed may be entitled to compensation and should keep their ticket and details of their journey to support any claim.
Avanti West Coast advice
Avanti West Coast passengers can use their tickets at no extra cost on rail replacement coaches between Preston and Crewe, via Wigan North Western and Warrington Bank Quay.
Tickets are also being accepted on CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, Northern services between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly, Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Piccadilly, and Wigan North Western and Liverpool Lime Street.
Passengers can also use TransPennine Express services between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly.
If an Avanti West Coast train is cancelled, tickets are valid on one of the two Avanti services immediately before or after the booked train.
Passengers who no longer wish to travel because their train has been delayed or cancelled can request a full refund from where they bought their ticket.
Northern advice
Northern says services are unable to run between Preston and Wigan North Western in either direction.
Services between Blackpool North and Wigan North Western or Liverpool Lime Street will start and terminate at Wigan North Western.
Northern services between Blackpool North and Preston, and between Wigan North Western and Liverpool Lime Street, are not affected.
Stations between Preston and Wigan North Western cannot currently be served.
Northern ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, during the disruption.
Rail replacement transport is being provided at no extra cost. A coach operated by S Line was due to leave Preston at 8.30am, calling at stations to Wigan North Western, while a coach operated by Bestway was due to leave Wigan North Western at 8.30am, calling at stations to Preston.
Passengers using replacement transport are being advised that journey times may be extended by up to 60 minutes. Bicycles, e-bikes and dogs, excluding service dogs, are not permitted on replacement road transport.
TransPennine Express advice
TransPennine Express services are unable to run between Liverpool Lime Street and Preston in both directions.
This is affecting services between Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central.
Passengers are being advised to continue their journeys via Manchester, where they can change for TransPennine Express services towards Preston and Glasgow Central.
Tickets are being accepted at no extra cost on TransPennine Express and Northern services between Liverpool and Manchester, Northern services between Wigan Wallgate and Bolton or Manchester, and Metrolink services between Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
Passengers are being urged to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys.
Anyone delayed may be entitled to compensation and should keep their train ticket and details of their journey to support any claim.