Wigan Council in the UK has approved the planning application for a new railway station that will reconnect Golborne for the first time in over six decades.
This development is part of Greater Manchester’s vision to integrate eight commuter rail lines into the ‘Bee Network’ by 2028, aiming to establish the first fully integrated transport system outside London.
The formal approval for the station follows the UK government’s approval of the outline business case this January, which highlighted the transformational impact expected for the area.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), in collaboration with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Wigan Council, will now progress with a full business case and detailed design set for 2025.
To advance the project, TfGM has enlisted the services of Murphy, a local engineering company, to create the final station designs.
Pending further approval, construction is anticipated to commence in 2026, with the station set to be operational by 2027.
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By GlobalDataCurrently, Golborne lacks direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, and the new station could reduce travel times to the city centre by up to 30 minutes.
Public consultation in 2024 revealed strong support for the station, leading to a planning application submission to Wigan Council last November.
The proposed station features include two accessible platforms with step-free access and an hourly service connecting Wigan and Manchester Victoria.
Additionally, partners are exploring improvements to Golborne’s town centre and its vicinity, enhancing living and visiting conditions with better cycling and walking infrastructure.
The station’s funding will come from locally devolved government sources.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “This is a significant moment for Greater Manchester, with the approval of the planning application for Golborne station bringing us closer to reconnecting Golborne to the railway network for the first time in more than 60 years.
“Local residents have campaigned tirelessly for the restoration of rail services to Golborne. This approval is a victory for the community and a step towards realising our shared vision for better connectivity, easing congestion on local roads, reducing carbon emissions and supporting economic growth.
“We are committed to moving forward at pace with this project and bringing rail into the Bee Network – making it easier to get around the city-region. To have such a respected partner like Murphy on board to take the station through detailed design is a fantastic result, and we can then move swiftly through to construction.”
In March 2024, Cityheart, Wigan Council’s strategic development partner, appointed Galliford Try for the first phase of the Wigan Galleries redevelopment.
