A report looking into the possibility of re-opening Golborne Station has been compeleted, with local councillors confident it makes a “very positive” case.
Carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM), the report is the latest step in an ongoing campaign, supported by both local councillors Susan Gambles, Yvonne Klieve and Gena Merrett, from the Golborne and Lowton West ward, MP James Grundy and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Councillors Susan Gambles, Gena Merrett and Yvonne Klieve from the Golborne and Lowton West ward with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
A meeting took place last week between the polititians and TFGM to consider the next steps.
Cllr Gena Merrett, Labour member for said: “For getting us to this stage we would like to thank Jo Platt, Andy Burnham and James Grundy for their support for our campaign, to Andy and those key local people who have campaigned for many years past and to all those residents who came to our two public meetings to demonstrate their support for the station.”
Cllr Merrett added that the report concludes that Golborne Station has a “very strong case” for reopening, and that this could be achieved without the need for exorbitant funding.
Following the conclusion of the report, work will now begin on more detailed plans to set out how the station could be brought back to use.
The future of another local station is also under review
As well as the calls for Golborne Station to reopen, local MP James Grundy is also pressing the case for the old station at Kenyon Junction to be reopened.
When did Golborne Station close, and why?
Golborne Station opened in the 1930s on what became the West Coast Mainline. It was originally known as Golborne Gate, later just as ‘Golborne’ and subsequently Golborne South.
The station was one of those earmaked for closure as part of the Beeching cuts. It closed to passengers on 6 February 1961. Goods traffic continued until just after a year later.
You can read more about the station’s history on disused-stations.org.uk.
A very kind thank you to John Alsop for allowing us to use the image at the top of this article, showing Golborne Station as it was around 1910.
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