Network Rail hit back at claims they're making school children walk 'dangerous' routes

Network Rail have been criticised for not putting on a service to help children get to school after their railway bridge works have caused road closures in Wigan.

Ladies Lane bridge in Hindley is being replaced due to the electrification upgrade on the railway line, meaning there have been weeks of closures. This means that streets connected have become ‘like a cul-de-sac’, and normal bus routes have been diverted.

Coun Chris Ready, portfolio holder for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Wigan Council, has been working with his ward peers to try and sort alternative transport to buses for school children, which he believes Network Rail should have provided.

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Although there is no legal obligation to provide minibuses for school children as a result of these works, Network Rail did look into this option but found 'inadequate turning points' for their vehicles to get around. This means that a number of children face a walk of just over a mile to the nearest bus stop for transport.

“There are people in Network Rail’s offices saying it's safe to walk, I wouldn’t expect my children to walk,” Coun Ready told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “Weather can be atrocious and the Network Rail said it was a safe route to walk.

“They did the work and it’s their responsibility to sort this. Network rail said they don’t want to pay for it.

“These kids have missed out on education through no fault of their own (during the Covid pandemic). I’m disappointed as there is a danger for kids getting to school, the education aspects and then you have a multi-million bridge replacement yet they can’t put something together to get these