Andy Burnham says the need for the new train station has been recognised at the "highest levels of Government" and does not accept that the technical problems are insurmountable.
Network Rail, the owner of the country's rail infrastructure, described the Golborne station as a "non-starter" last week, just days after Mr Burnham's announced his support for a Manchester congestion charge with improvements to transport in the Wigan Borough as a sweetener.
One of the Culture Minister's five "key tests" for supporting the C-charge bid was that a station be built at Golborne ahead of the introdution of the charge in 2013, giving people in the surrounding areas a viable alternative to their cars.
Mr Burnham said: "I think the declaration it's a 'non-starter' doesn't understand the extent to which discussions have progressed to in recent weeks. We wouldn't have got this far if it was a 'non-starter'.
"I've raised the issue with Ruth Kelly and the Department of Transport, and senior officials at the PTE and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).
"The plans appeared in a very serious Government document last week and things should now move forward.
"Network Rail seem to be commenting on a different proposal and the response seems out-of-date because discussions have moved on since those issues were raised. Plus, I've never argued for a West Coast Main Line station with main line services stopping there.
"I've been told that it is technically possible to provide a local service in Golborne that would not cause unnecessary or unacceptable disruption to main line services.
"I'm not saying there are not technical issues. We would have to create new services but if there is to be a congestion charge, some of that money has to come back into this area, and that's non-negotiable."
But former Golborne councillor and GMPTA member Peter Franzen is sceptical about the chance of the plans coming to fruition.
He said: "If he gets a station for Golborne in my lifetime, I'll vote Labour.
"It's just an election stunt. During my time on the GMPTA, the chairman burst out laughing when I raised the idea of a station for Golborne during a meeting."People have been coming up to me saying 'I've heard we're getting a station' but I think that's misleading the public and the issue has been abused as an election campaign issue.
"It's just a cover for the congestion charge and all Wigan will end up with from the deal is a few extra trains."