New £32m Golborne Station approved
Designers are now working on final proposals
Plans to reconnect Golborne to the railway network for the first time in more than six decades have moved forward, following planning approval for a new £32 million station.
Wigan Council has approved the application for the two-platform facility, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has appointed Golborne-based firm Murphy to develop the final designs. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the first trains hoped to run by 2027.
The station forms part of the Bee Network – Greater Manchester’s ambition to deliver an integrated transport system by 2028. Currently, Golborne lacks direct public transport links to Manchester. The proposed service could cut journey times to the city centre by up to 30 minutes.
The station will feature step-free access, real-time information screens, improved walking and cycling routes, and a refurbished town centre car park. A new hourly train service is proposed between Wigan, Manchester Victoria, and Stalybridge, subject to government approval.
A public consultation in 2024 showed overwhelming local support, and the government backed the outline business case in January. TfGM, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Wigan Council are now preparing a full business case.
Mayor Andy Burnham called the move a "significant moment" and praised the local appointment, while Wigan Council leader David Molyneux said the project would "make a real difference" to residents and the wider borough.
The station site lies near the former Golborne Station on the West Coast Main Line, approximately five miles south of Wigan North Western. Alongside the station, wider regeneration plans are being developed under the Golborne town centre Masterplan.