the two freight tracks were lifted. This can still be evidenced from the width of the bridges on this part of the line ( indeed the size of Carr Mill Viaduct was physically halved although the almost adjacent bridge over the A580 East Lancashire Road remains intact with four track width). In latter years, the section from St. Helens towards Rainford (originally part of the St. Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway) via Gerards Bridge Junction, terminated at the NSG Pilkington Cowley Hill works as its fuel oil storage depot - such traffic being only for that purpose. However, in Spring 2014, the company decided to re-configure redundant areas of the works site as an Industrial Park, offering rail access. There is a similar oil depot spur - Ravenhead Sidings - to the south of St. Helens Central station serving the NSG Pilkington Watson Street site with fuel. Over a number of years, usage of these facilities has become redundant, due to competition from piped natural gas and road tanker oil deliveries, however of 2016 Ravenhead sidings have seen use by trains delivering sand, one of the ingredients required for glass-making. The line south from St. Helens Central (formerly St. Helens Shaw Street) to St. Helens Junction on the northern Liverpool–Manchester line has also been discontinued. The trackbed is intact as far as the former Hays Chemical works at Sutton Oak and Network Rail regard the St. Helens Central - to St. Helens Junction line as protected. There has been a number of proposed projects by local authorities and other political bodies in the North-West to reinstate the St. Helens Central to St. Helens Junction line. The line would have three purposes: to service local passenger stations along the line, give a more direct route into St. Helens from Manchester and provide a diversionary route in case of disruptions on either the Liverpool–Wigan or Liverpool–Manchester lines. In addition a new station was proposed with a park-and-ride service at Carr Mill, between St. Helens Central and Garswood stations. These elements have been included in or presented to several Route Utilisation Strategies (RUS) for the area. Services All services on this route are currently operated by Northern Trains. From the new timetable changeover on 17 May 2015, electric service was introduced on the Liverpool to Wigan service using 4-Car Class 319 units. As of May 2018, Preston to Blackpool North electrification was completed