Bee Network: The Greater Manchester town with no transport to city centre set for biggest change in 60 years
Residents in a Greater Manchester town without a direct transport link to the city centre could zoom into town very soon, transport chiefs say.
Those living in Golborne, in the furthest reaches of the region on the Wigan-Warrington border, have no direct rail, tram, or bus connection to Manchester city centre 15 miles away.
However, they could see trains stop in the town for the first time in 60 years from 2027. The former colliery community saw its railway halt close in the early-1960s, but Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is close to starting construction on a new station for the town.
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If the government approves the £32m project early next year as hoped, TfGM says passengers could hop on and off at Golborne from 2027.
A new video has been released showing what Bee Network passengers can expect, with the West Coast Mainline station connecting up to Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria. Although formal journey times are yet to be released, bosses expect it to take 30 minutes to reach the city centre interchange.
“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,” said Andy Burnham.
“Golborne will play a vital role in our ambitious plans to make travel across Greater Manchester easier, greener, simpler and more connected.”
Wigan council leader David Molyneux MBE added: “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.”
The new station, the first to be constructed in Greater Manchester for 20 years, will be built close to the original platforms and feature Bee Network branding, as Bee Network trains are expected to run on the line from 2028 onwards.
The mayor added: “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.”
The move to take trains into public control promises to make it easier to get around with simpler tickets, and timing services with connecting buses and trams. That could be a big draw to Mancs heading out to Haydock Racecourse, just over a mile from the new stop, which local leaders hope will cut traffic on roads around Golborne.