GOLBORNE has taken a £2million step nearer to getting a railway station.

That's the amount earmarked by Wigan Council for developing a new station in the town.

The cash will come from a £70 million fund set up by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) for public transport projects over the next 10 years in Wigan and Bolton.

And while councillors are stressing that there is still some work to be done before the dream becomes a reality, they say it marks a big step forward in their battle to put the town back on the rail map.

Cllr Brian Strett said: "This is excellent news and I'm delighted that the council has recognised the importance of this project to Golborne.

"We will continue to lobby hard for a return of passenger rail services to the town, and the news that money has now been found from this special fund is another big step forward."

The £70 million 'Transport Infrastructure Fund' is earmarked for public transport improvements and is being seen as a way of compensating Wigan and Bolton for the fact that, because of their distance from Manchester, they are unlikely to benefit directly from the Metrolink tram system.

The PTE has also commissioned consultants to carry out a study of the cost of providing a new station in Golborne.

Cllr Strett added: "The franchises for rail operations will have to be retendered soon and we have heard that an operator has expressed an interest in running services. As far as we are concerned there has never been a better time to get Golborne back on the rails. This will be a major boost for the town."