From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manchester Victoria
Location
Place	Manchester city centre
Local authority	Manchester
Coordinates	53°29′14″N 2°14′33″W / 53.4872°N 2.2424°W / 53.4872; -2.2424Coordinates: 53°29′14″N 2°14′33″W / 53.4872°N 2.2424°W / 53.4872; -2.2424
Operations
Station code	MCV
Managed by	Northern Rail
Platforms in use	6
Live arrivals/departures and station information from National Rail
Annual rail passenger usage
2004/05 *	0.467 million
2005/06 *	0.488 million
2006/07 *	5.060 million
2007/08 *	3.781 million
Passenger Transport Executive
PTE	Greater Manchester
Zone	City (D)
History
1844 1902 1996	Opened Extended Repaired
National Rail - UK railway stations
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
* Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Manchester Victoria from Office of Rail Regulation statistics.
UK Railways Portal

Manchester Victoria station is the second of Manchester's mainline railway stations. It is also a Metrolink station, one of eight that are within the City Zone. It is located to the north of the city centre on Hunts Bank, close to Manchester Cathedral.

The station serves destinations north and east of Manchester and some trains to Liverpool (mostly on the original Manchester to Liverpool line), it is the main terminus for the adjacent Manchester Evening News Arena, which was effectively joined onto the original station between 1992 and 1996 by means of a "raft" above the through rail platforms - the principal access to the MEN Arena is via stairs on Hunts Bank although there is another entrance from the main station concourse. The line from Bury was converted to light rail operation in the early 1990s when the Metrolink tram system was created, and the trams switch to on-street running once they emerge from the side wall of Victoria Station. Current plans for Phase 3 of Metrolink involve the conversion of the rail routes from Victoria to Rochdale via Oldham to light rail. Most of the trains which stop at the station are provided by Northern Rail except during engineering works when some trains are diverted from Manchester Piccadilly.

History

In 1838 Samuel Brooks, vice-chairman of the Manchester and Leeds Railway (M&LR) bought a piece of land at Hunt's Bank close to Manchester Cathedral, and presented it to the company for the purpose of creating a new station to replace the inconveniently located Manchester Oldham Road railway station opened by the company on 3 July 1839. The station was initially a long low single storey building designed by George Stephenson and completed by John Brogden^[1] on 1 January 1844. It was named Victoria by permission of Her Majesty. The long single platform handled M&LR trains to Leeds and elsewhere at its eastern end. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway extended its line from Ordsall, near the original Manchester Liverpool Road railway station, and its trains operated from Victoria's western end from 4 May 1844.^[2]

By the mid 1840s, there were six railway companies connecting Manchester to the cities of London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield. Victoria Station came to dominate the Long Millgate area and was one of the biggest passenger stations in Britain.

Victoria was enlarged by William Dawes, who is responsible for most of the remaining facade, in 1909. The enlarged station building was constructed on land originally consecrated as a burial groundon 1 January 1815, by the Bishop of Chester; this land had been acquired by the Manchester and Leeds Railway in 1844.^[3] It eventually boasted 17 platforms. Wealthy commuters travelled here from Blackpool and Southport rather faster than is possible today (eg 45 minutes from Southport in 1910, 67 today and 65 from Blackpool in 1910, 77 today) in specially-constructed club cars pulled by express steam locomotives. These non-stop services were abandoned in the early 1960s.

Railway Clearing House map of central Manchester railways in 1910

The present Edwardian building has a 160 yards (146 m) facade, which still carries an iron and glass canopy bearing the names of the original destinations which it served, and a tile mural depicting the routes of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway which operated most of the trains from the station between 1847 and 1923 when it became one of the main constituents of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. The canopies served as covered waiting porch for taxi cabs until they were severely damaged in the Provisional IRA 1996 bombing - they have now been completely restored to their former glory. The cast iron train sheds behind the façade run back for some 700 yards (640 m). Initially the station was approached by a wooden footbridge over the River Irk which has subsequently disappeared beneath culverting alongside the Cathedral, where it makes its way un-noticed into the River Irwell.

From 1884, Victoria Station had Manchester Exchange Station, operated by the rival London and North Western Railway as a close neighbour and a single passenger platform linked them; this was the longest passenger platform in Europe at 2,194 feet (669 m). Exchange Station was closed in 1969 and its services were transferred to Victoria. Its site opposite the cathedral is now a car park.

In the early 1970s, as part of the ill-fated Picc-Vic tunnel project, there were proposals to build an underground station, Victoria Low Level.^[4] The project was eventually cancelled and subsequent rail improvements concentrated on surface projects and the introduction of light rail.

Facilities

The station includes a barber's shop, newsagents (run by WHSmith), coffee bars and buffet. Network Rail aims to rent out the offices on the first and second floors of the station to businesses. In 2009 the station was identified as one of ten 'worst' major stations on the network and is set to receive a share of £50m funding for improvements.^[5]

Services

Manchester Metrolink Station

Victoria
Manchester Metrolink
Victoria station, showing a tram entering. The platforms are off-shot.
Location
Place	Manchester city centre
Local authority	Manchester
Fare zone information
Metrolink Zone	D (City)
Conversion to Metrolink operation	4 June 1992
City centre lines       to Bury & Rochdale       Victoria       Shudehill       High Street       Market Street     Mosley St     St Peter's Sq   Piccadilly Gardens G-Mex   Piccadilly Cornbrook     to Altrincham, Eccles, E. Didsbury & Airport   to Droylesden & Ashton Mosley St. is westbound only
UK Trams portal

Manchester Victoria is also served by Manchester's Metrolink light rail system, at the northern edge of the City Centre zone, forming part of the Bury Line. Metrolink services run through Victoria to Bury, Altrincham and Piccadilly. Trams enter Victoria station from Shudehill Interchange by crossing Corporation Street and Long Millgate and passing through a specially constructed arch in the station wall. From there they curve right and stop at the Metrolink platforms.

The Metrolink station is situated at the southern end of Victoria station, near the exits, and occupies the site of the former Bury electric train platforms. The Metrolink station was originally built with three platforms, denoted A, B and C; platform A, close to the point where the trams enter the station was used for Bury-bound trams, but is now closed to public use due to leaks in the station roof. Platforms B and C, located on a single island platform further along the tracks, are now used, and passengers must cross the tram lines to reach these platforms.

The Metrolink system was opened in 1992 and was the result of a long-running project to link the two main rail stations in Manchester, Piccadilly and Victoria, with a rail line running across the city.^[6] Previous proposals involving an underground railway were abandoned due to costs, but Greater Manchester Council instead secured funding for a light rail solution. The original system was based on the conversion of selected British Rail lines to light rail operation, linked by on-street tram tracks. The Bury line to Victoria opened as a Metrolink line in 1992, replacing former heavy rail services with Metrolink trams.

• GMPTE information on Victoria

Trains

A tram departs from Victoria heading into the city

Manchester Victoria is currently served by one train operating company, Northern Rail. It is occasionally used by First Transpennine Express and CrossCountry services during engineering works.

Service Summary

Northern Rail train

• 2 trains per hour (tph) to Wigan Wallgate (via Bolton) calling:

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Kearsley, Farnworth, Moses Gate, Bolton and Wigan Wallgate

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Westhoughton, Hindley and Wigan Wallgate

• 1tph to Kirkby calling:

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Moorside, Walkden, Atherton, Hag Fold, Daisy Hill, Hindley, Ince, Wigan Wallgate, Pemberton, Upholland, Rainford and Kirkby

• 1tph to Southport calling:

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Walkden, Atherton, Daisy Hill, Hindley, Wigan Wallgate, Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Hoscar, Burscough Bridge, New Lane, Bescar Lane, Meols Cop and Southport

• 1tph to Blackpool North calling at:

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway, Blackrod, Adlington, Chorley, Leyland, Preston, Kirkham and Wesham, Poulton-le-Flylde, Layton and Blackpool North

• 1tph to Clitheroe calling at:

Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Hall-i-th-Wood, Bromley Cross, Darwen, Blackburn, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Langho, Whalley and Clitheroe

• 1tph to Rochdale, calling at:

Moston, Mills Hill, Castleton and Rochdale

• 1tph to Liverpool Lime Street calling at:

Eccles, Patricroft, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, St. Helens Junction, Lea Green, Rainhill, Whiston, Huyton, Roby, Broad Green, Wavertree Tech Park, Edge Hill and Liverpool Lime Street

• 1tph to Stalybridge calling at:

Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge

• 1tph to Huddersfield calling at:

Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Mossley, Greenfield, Marsden, Slaithwaite and Huddersfield

• 2tph to Leeds calling at:

Rochdale, Smithy Bridge(1tph), Littleborough(1tph), Walsden (1tph), Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd(1tph), Sowerby Bridge(1tph), Halifax, Bradford Interchange, New Pudsey, Bramley and Leeds

• 1tph to Leeds via Dewsbury calling at:

Moston , Mills Hill , Castleton , Rochdale , Smithy Bridge , Littleborough , Walsden (1800 service only) , Todmorden , Hebden Bridge , Mytholmroyd ,Sowerby Bridge , Brighouse , Mirfield , Ravensthorpe (Peak Hours only) , Dewsbury , Batley , Morley , Cottingley (Peak Hours only) and Leeds

Typically Northern Rail operate class 142 pacers and 150 or 156 Sprinter DMU's on most train services around Manchester while the Leeds Calder Valley services normally use class 155 or 158 Sprinter DMU's. The Leeds via Dewsbury services mainly use 3 car Class 144's Monday - Friday although at weekends this services sees other classes on the route such as a pair of Class 153 DMU's or Class 150 or 155. Class 180's are often used on Blackpool services which has led to the situation where high-speed trains capable of 125mph being used on slow multiple station stopping services.

Manchester Victoria sees use by Transpennine Express as a diversionary route and alternative station when the normal route through Manchester Piccadilly is unavailable for Engineering Works. Night services between Manchester Airport and York run va Manchester Victoria although these do not stop at the station. The services then run via Ashton-under-Lyne in order to pick up the normal route at Stalybridge, or continue through Rochdale and Hebden Bridge before reaching Huddersfield.

Future

As part of the Phase 3 of the Metrolink expansion project, it is planned to extend the tram network to Rochdale by converting part of the Oldham Loop Line to light rail operation. The conversion of the line will involve electrification of the route and replacing the diesel Pacer and Sprinter train services with the new generation of Flexity Swift trams. The Rochdale line expected to come into service around 2011/2012.^[7] Further expansion of the line will see the addition of a Metrolink branch via the old branch line via Oldham Central and the extension of the northern end of the line via a tram line into Rochdale Town Centre.

In July 2009, it was announced that the line between Manchester and Liverpool (via Earlestown) will be electrified at 25 kV ac (overhead line). Class 319 EMU's will be used on services from Victoria and Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street. The project is expected to be completed within four years.

In November 2009, it was announced that Manchester Victoria was officially the worst station in Britain. As a result, the transport secretary, Lord Adonis, announced that the station, along with nine others, would receive an urgent injection of £50 million and an emergency rebuilding programme. ^[8]

On 16th February 2010, it has been reported that National Rail intend to completely refurbish Manchester Victoria as part of the Northern Hub improvement proposals.

It is intended to build new west facing platforms, for terminating services to & from Yorkshire & the Humber. New shops & cafe's will be included, along with a new & much needed roof. The station itself will become a major interchange for local & regional services throughout the North West of England.

Further & more detailed announcements are due on Victoria's upgrade in another few weeks.

Gallery

Manchester Victoria Entrance

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Tile Mural

The main station concourse.

The platform entrances.

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Tram times and station information for Manchester Victoria station from Manchester Metrolink

Preceding station		Manchester Metrolink		Following station
Woodlands Road toward Bury		Bury-Altrincham line		Shudehill toward Altrincham or Piccadilly
		Proposed
Monsall toward Rochdale		Rochdale-Manchester line		Terminus
National Rail
Terminus		Northern Rail Caldervale Line		Moston
Terminus		Northern Rail Huddersfield Line		Ashton-under-Lyne
Salford Central		Northern Rail Manchester-Preston Line		Terminus
Salford Central		Northern Rail Ribble Valley Line		Terminus
Salford Central		Northern Rail Manchester-Southport Line		Terminus
Salford Central		Northern Rail Manchester-Kirkby Mondays-Saturdays only		Terminus
Eccles		Northern Rail Manchester-Liverpool Line		Terminus
Historical railways
Terminus		L&YR Oldham Loop Line Caldervale Line Huddersfield Line		Miles Platting
Manchester Exchange		L&YR Manchester-Liverpool Line		Terminus

Manchester Lines - City Centre and North, (Past, Present and Future)

Legend To Bury    To Rochdale Moston    Bowker Vale   To Oldham Newton Heath   Dean Lane Crumpsall        Central Park   To Tameside Abraham Moss;Monsall   Clayton Bridge Woodlands Road   Park Queens Road   To Tameside Miles Platting    Edge Lane    Clayton Oldham Road   New East Victoria Station   Holt Town/Sportcity Exchange    To Salford    Pollard Street   Ardwick Shudehill   Ashburys High Street; Piccadilly Station; Manchester Mayfield    To South Manchester Market Street; Piccadilly Gardens         To Belle Vue;Gorton Moseley Street;Oxford Road    St Peter's Square   To Hyde Road    To Tameside Manchester Central/G-Mex   Deansgate Liverpool Road        To Salford;Cornbrook   Cornbrook     Pomona    To Eccles    Trafford Bar        Firswood To Trafford;To Altrincham   To Chorlton

Manchester Metrolink Stations City zone G-Mex · Market Street · Mosley Street · Piccadilly · Piccadilly Gardens · Shudehill · St Peter's Square · Victoria Altrincham Line Altrincham · Brooklands · Cornbrook · Dane Road · Navigation Road · Old Trafford · Sale · Stretford · Timperley · Trafford Bar Bury Line Besses o'th' Barn · Bowker Vale · Bury · Crumpsall · Heaton Park · Prestwich · Radcliffe · Whitefield · Woodlands Road Eccles Line Anchorage · Broadway · Eccles · Exchange Quay · Harbour City · Ladywell · Langworthy · Pomona · Salford Quays · Weaste Operations Operators Stagecoach Group · GMPTE Vehicles Flexity Swift · T-68 History Former operators GMML · Altram (Ansaldo Transporti, Serco, Laing, 3i) Transferred lines Altrincham Line · Bury Line Abandoned plans Glossop Line · Hope Valley Line · Picc-Vic tunnel Under Construction or Proposed Bury Line Abraham Moss · Buckley Wells · Queens Road · East Manchester Line Ashton Moss · Ashton Under Lyne · Ashton West · Audenshaw · Cemetery Road · Clayton · Droylsden · Edge Lane · Holt Town · New Islington · Sportcity:Stadium · Sportcity:Velodrome Eccles Line Mediacity:uk Oldham & Rochdale Line Central Park · Dean Lane · Derker · Drake Street · Failsworth · Freehold · Hollinwood · King Street · Kingsway · Monsall · Milnrow · Newbold · Newhey · Oldham Central · Oldham Mumps · Oldham Werneth · Rochdale  · Rochdale Town Centre · Shaw & Crompton · South Chadderton · Westwood · South Manchester Lines Baguley · Barlow Moor Rd. · Benchill · Burton Road · Chorlton · Chorlton High · Crossacres · Didsbury · East Didsbury · Firswood · Hardy Farm · Haveley · Hough End · Manchester Airport · Martinscroft · Moor Road · Nothern Moor · Peel Hall · Robinswood · Roundthorn · Sale Water Park · Shadowmoss · West Didsbury · Withington · Woodhouse Park · Wythenshawe Town Centre · Wythenshawe Park Transport in Manchester · UK light rail systems