Blackpool branch lines

Blackpool branch lines
Blackpool branch lines
	Layton railway station on the branch to Blackpool North
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Network Rail
Locale	Lancashire; North West England;
Termini	Preston; Blackpool North/South;
Stations	13
Service
System	National Rail
Operator(s)	Northern Trains
Rolling stock	Class 150; Class 156; Class 158; Class 195; Class 221; Class 331; Class 390; Class 805; Class 807;
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map
Route map

Blackpool & Fleetwood branch lines

The Blackpool branch lines are two railway lines running from the West Coast Main Line at Preston to Blackpool. The main branch, which is double-tracked and electrified, runs to Blackpool North station via Poulton-le-Fylde. A second branch, which is single-tracked and non-electrified, diverges from the main branch at Kirkham and Wesham junction, running on a southerly route to Blackpool South station via Lytham.

The Preston–to–Blackpool North route was resignalled and electrified with overhead wires at 25kV AC; electric trains ran from the May 2018 timetable change.

Previously, there was also a central branch running from Kirkham to Blackpool Central station; this was closed in the 1960s and the route became a road linking from the M55 known as Yeadon Way.