Better bus links on the way for Golborne and Lowton

People in Golborne and Lowton are set to benefit from improvements to local bus services, with a brand new route and more frequent services on the way for both towns.

It has been announced that a new 612 service will run between Wigan Bus Station and St Helens, calling at Platt Bridge, Abram, Golborne, Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown. This new service could begin as early as September this year, and Lowton and Golborne News has learnt that it will run every half hour, Monday to Saturday, with an hourly evening and Sunday service.

This will be very welcome news for many people in Golborne, as the current bus connection between Golborne and Newton-le-Willows station is pretty patchy, running only once an hour or less, and with limited evening provision. The 360 and 22A which currently cover this route are not part of the Bee Network either, which means local travellers cannot use Bee Network tickets on these services. The 612 should be a significant improvement, with a more reliable and frequent timetable throughout the day and into the evening – and all part of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport system.

For people in Lowton, the 34 service linking Lowton with Newton-le-Willows is also set to run more frequently – more details on exactly how often and when this will begin are not yet confirmed.

Lowton and Golborne News has contacted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to find out more about what the changes will mean for people in our towns and when they can expect them to happen.

When will the changes happen?

TfGM has confirmed that the new 612 service will launch sometime during the 2026/27 financial year, timed to align with the launch of bus franchising in St Helens, which comes into effect on 6 September 2026. It means the service could begin as early as 6 September, and no later than March 2027. Lowton and Golborne News has asked TfGM if they can be more specific with a date that the service will begin, and we are waiting to hear more information.

What about the 360?

The 612 is not a direct replacement for the existing 360 service. The 360, currently operated by Arriva, runs via Warrington, whereas the 612 will not. However, Lowton and Golborne News understands it is possible that the 360 will stop serving Golborne altogether when the 612 begins, though this has not been officially confirmed. TfGM has noted that decisions about the 360 are ultimately a matter for Arriva, as it is not a Bee Network service.

If the 360 is withdrawn from Golborne, it would mean the loss of a direct bus link to Warrington, which some local commuters will be less happy about.

What about the route of the 34?

There had been local speculation that the 34 might be re-routed to serve the new housing estates off Stonecross Lane North in Lowton. TfGM has confirmed to Lowton and Golborne News that the service will remain on its existing route through Newton Road. That will be reassuring for those currently served by it, though it means those living on the new estates will not benefit from this round of changes.

The bigger picture

The improvements to local bus services are part of a wider package of 36 changes announced by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham on Thursday, 19 March 2026, described as the most significant upgrades to the Bee Network since bus franchising was completed in January 2025.

The changes include new night bus services across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, better connections to key employment and leisure destinations, and more frequent services on a number of routes. In total, the improvements are expected to benefit 740,000 people across the city-region.

Andy Burnham said: “These changes will benefit people right across Greater Manchester. They have come about as a direct result of your feedback and support for the Bee Network and have been made possible by the decision we took to bring our buses back under local control.”

The approach taken in Greater Manchester has helped inspire similar changes across the North West. The Liverpool City Region, which includes St Helens, is now following suit with its own bus franchising scheme, and it is the involvement of St Helens in that scheme that has made it possible to extend the Bee Network’s reach into our area, opening the door to improvements like the new 612 service.

What do you think?

Are you looking forward to the introduction of the new 612 service? We’d love to hear your experience of bus travel, so feel free to let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.