Liverpool–Manchester lines

There are two direct Liverpool–Manchester lines, the railway routes between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester in North West England. A northern Chat Moss line via St Helens Junction, and a southern CLC line via Warrington Central. Historically, there were a total of four railway lines between the two cities, with a further northern direct route via Wigan and a further southern route via Ditton Junction. These two other lines can no longer operate direct services, with only the middle two of the four remaining as complete direct lines.

The northern route, the Chat Moss line, is fully electric, and spans from Liverpool Lime Street terminus station via Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows and Lea Green to Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly. This line follows the route of the original 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

The southern route, the CLC line, is mostly diesel-only, though it shares its westernmost section with the electrified West Coast Main Line. It stretches from Liverpool Lime Street terminus via Warrington Central to Manchester Piccadilly operates on lines formerly owned by the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC).

The two other historical lines that no longer operate trains directly between the two are:

• The former northernmost route via Wigan, which has been split into two services, with its western section part of the electrified MerseyrailNorthern line services up to Headbolt Lane, and the eastern section used by diesel services from Headbolt Lane to Manchester, therefore passengers require a change at Headbolt Lane (or Kirkby before 2023).
• The former southernmost route via Ditton Junction, which has been largely abandoned east of Warrington; with a section from Altrincham into Manchester being part of the Altrincham Line, a Metrolink tram line, while the remaining western section caters mainly for freight trains.