Preston and Wigan Railway
# Preston and Wigan Railway

vteNorth Union Railway :

Legend :

1834 – 1889 :

The Preston and Wigan Railway would have been an early British railway company operating in Lancashire.

The Preston and Wigan Railway obtained an Act of Parliament on 22 April 1831 to build a 15 miles 30 chains (24.7 km) line between Wigan and Preston. On 8 August 1833 the Board decided that it would be to their advantage to amalgamate with the Wigan Branch Railway, the directors of the Wigan Branch Railway met shortly thereafter and agreed with them. An Act of Parliament was approved and gained royal assent on 22 May 1834 incorporating the two railways as the North Union Railway. It was the first-ever amalgamation of railway companies.

The line was formally opened by the North Union Railway on 21 October 1838 and to the public on 31 October.

## Acts of Parliament

* ↑ An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from the Borough of Wigan to the Borough of Preston, both in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and collateral Branches to communicate therewith.
* ↑ An Act for uniting the Wigan Branch Railway Company and the Preston and Wigan Railway Company; for authorizing an Alteration to be made in the Line of the last-mentioned Railway; and for repealing, altering, and amending the Acts relating to the said Railways
