Construction has started on a new railway station in Golborne, which will reconnect the Wigan borough town to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years.

The station is being built on the West Coast Main Line, about five miles south of Wigan North Western and close to the site of Golborne's old station, which closed in February 1961.

According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), it will be the first new rail station in Greater Manchester for more than 25 years.

Train services are expected to start in spring 2028, with an hourly service planned between Wigan and Stalybridge via Manchester Victoria. TfGM says the new link could cut journey times into Manchester city centre by up to 30 minutes. Exact service timings have not yet been agreed.

Golborne currently has no direct train, tram or bus service to Manchester.

The station will be step-free throughout, with lifts to both platforms and a footbridge over the railway. It will also have waiting shelters, seating, digital information screens, ticket machines, passenger assistance intercoms, CCTV and lighting.

The town centre car park next to the station is due to be resurfaced and get upgraded lighting and CCTV, along with cycle parking, electric vehicle charging points, disabled parking bays and a taxi drop-off area. Walking, wheeling and cycling routes between the station and the town centre will also be improved.

Golborne-based engineering firm Murphy has been appointed to build the station. The project is being delivered by TfGM with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Wigan Council, and is paid for through locally devolved government funding.

Visiting the site, Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said: "People in Golborne have been crying out for better transport links. We've listened and we're building a brand-new train station that will re-connect the community to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years."

The scheme went to public consultation in early 2024 and won planning permission in April 2025, before work started on site in August 2026. TfGM says the team will keep residents and businesses informed during construction and try to keep disruption to a minimum.

Sources: TfGM, Leigh Journal, Wigan Today and the Manchester Evening News. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above.