The best option has got to be metrolink - and the majority of the route is already there, as from the East Lancs it could follow the proposed guided busway route into Leigh town centre. This would also connect astley & tyldesley & boothstown on to the metrolink thereby reducing even further the number of cars using the A580 to get into Manchester every day.

This of course makes far too much sense to the people responsible for public transport planning who will continue to fritter away public money on planning issues, consultation exercises, public surveys (no-one wants the busway so they keep doing them til they get the results they want) and various other jobs for the boys.

A rail link is highly unlikely. A metrolink should have happened years ago and Leigh sould have been THE first to have it. Way before Altrincham, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham etc that already had rail links to Manchester.

Good call Jimmy , I'd rather we get some investment to get some jobs back into the town

Another thing is 'WHY WAS THE STATION DONE AWAY WITH IN THE FIRST PLACE?' answer, quite easy people didn't/wouldn't use it.
Lets not forget the man who developed the linear motor and the Maglev train system was born in Atherton, pity they are too expensive, still whats good enough for Shangai???

Surely one reason is that it is an extra factor in making the town attractive as a place for 'outsiders' to live. Why would anyone come to live in Leigh who worked in the centre of Manchester? I used to drive along the East Lancs every day for a while but wouldn't like to go Manchester in the morning rush hour now. Having said that, I can't see why people are so against the guided busway. Seems like a cheap, sensible and effective answer to me.

It is all about commuting and getting people into Leigh, if there is a station in Leigh people will travel into Leigh to use the train, those people will spend money, newspapers, Waterfields, pint, coffee whatever people buy when they commute, whether for work or pleasure, the more people passing through town can only help, no people passing through the Town will continue to die.
It would be an amenity for the local population to use.
The Station could be situated at the end of the old line at Bond Street opposite Princess Street, have a look at Google map, the line then passes along side Tyldesley and then could connect to the Bolton Manchester line.

Until Leigh and environs are able to self govern then nothing will happen

One rreason is that the price of property is a third less than manchester. Insurance is also a lot less. I remember a friend from Glasgow coming to see me when I lived in Leigh and said "dear me I didn't know you lived in the country". Leigh has a lot going for it. If only we could be released from the shackles that are Wigan.