A flythrough video of the new £32m rail station, set to be built in Golborne from next year, has been revealed.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham 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.

placeholder image — Golborne station CGI | TFGM

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is working in partnership with Wigan Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to deliver the major project.

Following strong public support in a 2024 consultation, the station received planning approval in April this year. TfGM then appointed Golborne-based engineering firm Murphy to develop the station designs, building on the feedback from the community and local engagement.

The final step will be for a full business case will 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.”

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.

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.”

The proposed station 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 raceday events, reducing the numbers of cars on the surrounding roads.

Jo Platt, MP for Leigh and Atherton, said: “I’m excited to see Golborne Station moving forward at pace, as part of a £32m investment to reconnect the town to the rail network - for the first time in over 60 years.

“The station will transform local connectivity, cut journey times to Manchester by up to 30 minutes and support sustainable travel. It’s been a long time in the making and a huge credit goes out to local councillors and residents who have been pushing this forward to get us to where we are now.”

The station, which will be the first built in Greater Manchester in more than 20 years.

Nick Fletcher, UK Managing Director at Murphy, said: “With Murphy having had a presence in Golborne for the last 50 years, we were particularly delighted to be appointed to this project alongside our valued supply chain, including design partner WSP.

“In parallel with the design works, we are currently progressing plans for the build phase. As a company, Murphy is focused on improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure and this project will do just that - greatly improving transport links in the local area for the benefit of the surrounding communities.”