When the news dropped that a new train station would be coming to Greater Manchester, the crowds went wild – and deservedly so. Now, a first look flythrough video of the new £32m rail station, set to be built in Golborne from next year, has been revealed, building the excitement for this much-needed connection.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham last night (18 November) gave local residents a first look of the video during a community drop-in meeting – showing what the station will look like in more detail and how it will be built in phases. Delivery of the station – set to start construction in 2026 – will mark a significant step forward in reconnecting the town to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years.
What is the timeline on the new Golborne train station?
Following strong public support in a 2024 consultation, the station received planning approval in April this year. The final step will be for a full business case to be submitted to the Department for Transport in early 2026, with construction work expected to start in the summer, subject to approval.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “This is the next major milestone for Golborne train station, with the latest designs showcasing the transformation that’s on the way, with a station right at the heart of this community.
“Golborne will play a vital role in our ambitious plans to make travel across Greater Manchester easier, greener, simpler and more connected.
“This forms part of our plans to expand the Bee Network, with 64 stations joining by 2028 and a further 32 by 2030 – a major step towards delivering a fully integrated transport system for our city-region. I’m pleased that, after decades of being cut off from our train network, Golborne will be at the heart of the change.”
How will the new train station help the people of Golborne?
Golborne currently has no direct bus, train or tram services to Manchester. An hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria will cut journey times into Manchester city centre by up to 30 minutes.
The new, accessible two-platform station will feature improved car parking and better walking and cycling links to the town centre. The station will also enable seamless connections between local bus and rail services, supporting Greater Manchester’s vision for a fully integrated Bee Network by 2030.
The proposed station also supports the regeneration ambitions for the town and the emerging Golborne & Lowton West Neighbourhood Plan. The proposed station will also be less than 2km from Haydock Park Racecourse, providing new options for those getting to race day events, reducing the numbers of cars on the surrounding roads.
Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, said: “The new station is a really important development for Golborne, connecting it to the rail network for the first time in decades, and we’ve been working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester to ensure it really delivers for the local community.
“It’s really exciting to get a glimpse of what’s to come and we’re looking forward to seeing the development start to come to life.”
New video of Golborne train station plans
You can see the new video showing the plans for Golborne train station below:
The station, which will be the first built in Greater Manchester in more than 20 years, will be the first delivered though locally devolved government funding.
