Re-vamped Manchester Victoria station revealed
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October 6, 2015
The re-vamped Manchester Victoria station was unveiled today, following a £44m upgrade.
The station, once dubbed Britain’s worst train station, features a new roof built from 410 ETFE cushions, which is the same material used at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The roof was designed to allow natural light into the station and is held up by 15 giant steel ribs up to 96 m long.
The upgrade, which was built by Morgan Sindall and designed by BDP, also includes a bridge linking the station to the neighbouring 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.
The station concourse has been fully refurbished and there is a new restaurant, first-class lounge, shops and ticket barriers.
It has also incorporated the Metrolink tram network into the redeveloped station, with four new tram platforms and three new tracks.
The scheme, which was carried out while the station remained operational, is part of a £1bn investment made by the government to improve rail capacity and connectivity in the north.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Everyone who uses Manchester Victoria is getting not just a stunning, upgraded station, but improvements to their journey. When we have finished, every line serving this station will have been enhanced with new infrastructure or better services.”
