Views sought on Greater Manchester’s proposed new Golborne station

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is to consult the public about plans for a new railway station at Golborne, in Wigan Borough.

TfGM is working with Wigan Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to deliver the station, which will be the first new station in the city-region for more than two decades. Passengers will be able to take trains directly to Wigan, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.

The proposed station would be accessible via new walking and cycling routes, as well as existing bus services. Golborne is a town of around twenty-four thousand residents, which is fourteen miles west of Manchester and five miles south/southeast of Wigan. The town had a station until 1967 but now has no direct bus, train or tram services to Manchester.

The GMCA approved sixteen million pounds funding for the station in 2021, and a further one million to develop the project.

The consultation will enable passengers, residents and businesses to give their opinions on the scheme before the business case is finalised and submitted to the government.

It will compile views on the proposed design of the station facilities and its local links, and will ask people about how they might use the station once it is open. In particular, the consultation will seek feedback on:

• the location of the proposed new eastern access to Golborne town centre
• facilities within the station
• accessibility for all station users
• car park improvements
• walking, cycling and other active travel measures

On Thursday 4 January, an online consultation portal will go live, and TfGM will also host a series of drop-in sessions. It will publish further details of both in the new year.

Greater Manchester has a plan for an integrated public transport system, which it calls the Bee Network. The new station forms part of that plan, and part of local investment aimed at supporting GMCA's strategy of making local rail an integral part of the Bee Network by 2030.

TfGM's Head of Rail Simon Elliott said: “Greater Manchester's exciting plans for Golborne station would vastly improve public transport connectivity for people in Golborne, Lowton and Leigh, as well as the broader borough of Wigan, bringing significant economic and environmental benefits.

“It also represents a crucial step forward in developing the Bee Network and realising our ambitions for local rail to form part of Greater Manchester's integrated public transport system by 2030.

“I would encourage residents, businesses and rail users to respond to the consultation once it goes live. We are keen to hear the views from the local area.”

Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, said: “We fully support the reopening of Golborne rail station and are working closely with our colleagues at TfGM to turn these plans into a reality for the people of Golborne.

“I'd like to encourage residents to have their say during the consultation to ensure we can develop the best scheme possible on behalf of those who will benefit from better transport links and improved walking and cycling infrastructure.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The first Bee Network buses under public control are already carrying passengers in Wigan and Bolton, with other areas across Greater Manchester joining by 2025.

“By 2030 we want local rail services to be part of the Bee Network too and having a new station Golborne will mean that people in the area will be able to enjoy the better connectivity and all the opportunities that would bring.

“it's now really important that everyone has an opportunity to have their say on ensuring that plans for the new Golborne station are shaped in the best possible way.”