Preston, Lancashire was reserved for the new western bypass. The M6 between junctions 30 and 32 was widened extensively between 1993–95 to compensate. Junction 31A which has only a northbound exit and a southbound entry opened in 1997 to serve a nearby business park. Other motorways terminating close to the city are the M61 – Preston to Manchester via Chorley and Bolton, the M65 – Preston to Colne via Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley and the M55 – Preston to Blackpool via Kirkham. Preston railway station opened in 1838 and has since been rebuilt and extended several times. It is a major stop
Accrington railway station uses a rainwater harvesting system, photovoltaic cells and solar hot water generation panels on the new tower. There is an hourly service from Accrington to (westbound) and Leeds/York (eastbound) on the Caldervale Line. This now also runs hourly on Sundays since the May 2009 timetable change, though it was suspended beyond Burnley (with a replacement bus connection to/from Hebden Bridge) due to ongoing engineering work at Holme Tunnel between November 2013 and late March 2014. These call at Blackburn and Preston westbound and Burnley Manchester Road, Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Bradford Interchange, New Pudsey and Leeds eastbound. Through trains to restarted