| Greater Manchester
has a rail network of 142 route miles with 98 stations,
forming a central hub to the North West rail network and
making it very easy to reach the city centre by train.
The main train station in the city is the newly renovated Piccadilly Station, which is within easy
walking distance of Manchester’s main shopping area
and many tourist attractions.
Since it opened as the London Road station in 1842, Manchester
Piccadilly has been a major gateway to the North West and now handles more than 55,000 passengers and 1,000
train movements every day.
It is the northern terminus of Virgin services to London
and offers direct services to other major UK cities, including
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff and Norwich.
Between 1998 and 2000, over £27m was spent modernising
the station, with new lighting, platform surfaces, signage
and roof over the platforms just some of areas that were
improved. In addition to all this, a new shopping complex
with the likes of Sainsbury’s, Superdrug and Starbucks
Coffee moved into the station, and new car parks for commuters
were added.
The new short stay parking area has increased the number
of spaces from 22 to 50, whilst a new multi-storey car
park means there are now 600 long stay spaces.
There are now also dedicated drop off and pick up points
on the south side of the station off Fairfield Street
for private cars and taxis.
Piccadilly station also has a Metrolink station for passengers
heading into the city centre or to Altrincham.
Manchester’s second mainline station is Victoria,
which is located to the north of the city centre on Hunts
Bank, adjacent to Manchester Cathedral.
The station mainly serves destinations north and east
of Manchester, including Rochdale and Oldham, and some
trains to Liverpool. It is also an important stop for
the Metrolink on its way between Bury and Altrincham.
For more information on services to and from Manchester
Piccadilly or Victoria stations then phone National Rail
Enquries on 08457 48 49 50.
Information on longer journeys is also available on the
national rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk while details on journeys in the Greater Manchester area
is available at www.gmpte.com.
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