Wigan bus station serves the town of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is operated by Transport for Greater Manchester.
History
Wigan's original bus station was on Market Square. It was demolished in 1985, as part of a wider redevelopment of the town centre, to make way for the Galleries Shopping Centre. Construction on a new bus station, built at a cost of £2.3 million, began in April 1986 and was opened in November 1987. The new station was built on the site of the Queen’s Hall, most of which was demolished to accommodate it.
The facility has 19 stands and can handle up to 72 services. At its opening, it was praised for its accessibility features, including ramps and tactile paving. The bus station was opened officially in 1988 by the Mayor of Wigan, who unveiled a commemorative plaque. CCTV cameras were installed in 1996 to deter crime, and the station's facilities were further improved in 2001 with a £150,000 upgrade.
Location The bus station is located opposite the site of the former Galleries shopping centre; it is well connected to the town centre with pedestrian and bicycle routes. It is around 400 yards away from Wigan North Western and Wigan Wallgate railway stations.
Redevelopment In July 2017, the bus station closed for redevelopment with the stands relocated temporarily around the town centre. The old bus stands were demolished and a new station was built on the same site, the project cost £15.7 million supported by the UK Government through the Greater Manchester Local Growth Deal programme.
It reopened in October 2018, two months ahead of schedule. The new station added a new covered waiting area for better passenger comfort and security, with increased retail space, new toilets and covered bicycle parking. The development also has eco-friendly initiatives, such as solar panels and the planting of wildflowers. Accessibility was also improved for people with physical disabilities, for the blind and partially sighted.
Services The majority of services are operated by Go North West, Diamond Bus North West, Vision Bus and Stagecoach Manchester, under franchise to the Bee Network; others are Arriva Merseyside, Holmeswood Coaches and Warrington's Own Buses.
Routes connect the town with Bolton, Chorley, Ormskirk, Preston, St Helens, Skelmersdale, Southport, the Trafford Centre and Warrington. Local routes run to Appley Bridge, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Golborne, Hindley, Leigh, Pemberton, Shevington and Standish.
Notes
References
External links
Wigan bus station departures - TfGM Album of historical photographs of the bus station - Wigan World