Preston and Wigan Railway

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, the  (1 Will. 4. c. lvi) on 22 April 1831 to build a 15 mi line between Wigan North Western 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. The  (4 & 5 Will. 4. c. xxv) 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.