Medium Station of the Year

Bolton (Northern)

Bolton station was said by the judges to have “delighted us with its total makeover into a modern transport interchange for the North West”.

The highlight of that makeover was described as “a new covered walkway to the bus station and an attractive forecourt with a taxi rank”.

Opened in 1838 at Bolton Trinity Street, the station now sits alongside a £48 million interchange that opened in September 2017.

Delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester and Bolton Council, the interchange replaced Bolton bus station, offering improved waiting areas, enhanced customer information, and a ‘sky bridge’ offering easy transfer between buses and trains.

A 48-space cycle hub was also built outside the main interchange building to offer secure storage for bikes.

Serving routes radiating to Blackburn, Preston, Wigan, Salford and Manchester, Bolton station currently has five platforms in use.

An additional line to Rochdale was closed in October 1970, while the original main station building was demolished in 1987. However, the Victorian platform buildings all survive, and the station’s iconic clock tower (built in 1899) was dismantled and rebuilt alongside the current frontage.

Prior to the pandemic (2019-20), the station welcomed almost 3.3 million passengers per annum, representing an increase of some 425,000 on the previous 12 months.

Electric services commenced through Bolton in February 2019, following the delayed completion of Network Rail’s North West electrification programme.

At the same time, a £1m package of upgrades was announced by NR, Northern and TransPennine Express to fit new signage and seating, revamp toilets and waiting rooms, install pigeon netting, and refurbish underused buildings on Platforms 4 and 5 for retail, enterprise and community use.

This includes the P5 Platform Gallery, which opened in July 2019 in the space formerly used as a general waiting room.

The judges added: “Modern facilities include an upgraded ticket hall, information displays featuring both trains and buses, level access, waiting rooms and retail, all managed by proactive staff.”

Highly Commended: Abbey Wood (Elizabeth line), Oxenholme (Avanti West Coast).