Preliminary works on the new Golborne railway station are beginning from today (Saturday, 1 August).
Survey and ground investigation works will take place overnight tonight, and again on Saturday, 8 August – marking a big milestone in the project, which has been many years in the making.
The station is due to open in December 2027 and will reconnect the town with the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years.
And with work expected to ramp up over the coming months, we’re all being invited to a series of drop-in sessions to find out what’s going to happen next.
Local MP Jo Platt said: “It’s great to see things moving forward, with preliminary works for Golborne Train Station due to begin.
“I know many people have been keen to see progress on this project, so it’s encouraging to see work getting underway. I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to take shape and bringing better transport links back to our community.”
Bringing a train station back to Golborne has been the hope of local campaigners for many years, with the town having had no direct rail service for more than six decades. The station is expected to bring shorter journey times into Manchester and Wigan, along with improved bus connections designed to work alongside the new service. And as well as convenient transport, many local people also hope it will give Golborne High Street a real boost too. The area has already seen a handful of new cafes and bars open in recent times, and the arrival of a station could act as a further catalyst for investment on the high street.
Confirming that work was getting underway, Simon Elliott, Network Director Rail at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “We have started writing to residents about some early preliminary work taking place on Saturday 1st and 8th August overnight.
“These surveys and ground investigations works are essential before construction of the new station can begin and represent one of the first stages in bringing rail services back to Golborne.”
Golborne currently has no direct bus, train or tram services to Manchester, so train services would reduce journey times into Manchester city centre by up to 30 minutes. A public consultation in 2024 showed high levels of support for the station proposals, and a planning application was submitted to Wigan Council in November that year.
The station includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station including step-free access throughout. It would initially offer an hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria and onwards to Stalybridge.
However, parking has consistently been the most difficult issue to resolve at previous public meetings on the project. The last plans shared with the public proposed splitting the station car park into long stay and short stay sections, with Wigan Council also looking at an additional overspill car park on a separate piece of land nearby, and considering parking permits for streets around the station, subject to a future consultation. Here’s what else we learnt at the most recent public meeting about Golborne Station.
The development will also include a new footbridge connecting the two platforms, which will be uncovered and accessible 24 hours a day, creating a new route from the streets behind the station straight into Golborne town centre.
Drop in and find out more
Over the coming weeks there are a number of opportunities to learn more about the station, and next steps.
These take place at:
- Golborne Parkside Sports and Community Club: Thursday, 6 August, from 10.30am to 1.30pm
- Golborne Library: Monday, 10 August and Monday, 17 August, both from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
- Golborne Sports and Social Club: Monday, 10 August, from 4-7pm
- Lowton Social Club: Thursday, 13 August, from 4-7pm.
More information about the Golborne Station project can be found at beenetwork.com/golborne.