Manchester Victoria station transformation gets underway

Artist's impression of an aerial view of the proposed Manchester Victoria station

Passengers arriving at Manchester Victoria will see the start of the station’s £44m transformation from Monday (8 April) as work begins to build a spectacular new station roof.

Artist’s impression of an aerial view of the proposed Manchester Victoria station

The new roof is part of a scheme to bring the station up to 21st century standards and turn it into a major regional interchange and will include a better, brighter and more open concourse, a new ticket office, information booth, waiting room and toilets.

The project will also include careful restoration and enhancement of some of the station’s key period features, including the glazed canopy at the front of the building.

Network Rail route managing director Dyan Crowther said: “Manchester Victoria is becoming increasingly busy and with even more trains and passengers set to travel through this historic station in the future, it’s vital that we invest now to create a station fit for the needs of passengers in the years ahead.”

Passengers will become aware of progress at the station as scaffolding is erected, a temporary roof deck installed and work begins on dismantling the old roof. A key priority is to keep the station open during the work and to maintain pedestrian access throughout, but Network Rail is advising passengers that if some thoroughfares need to be changed, alternative routes will be clearly signed.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “While it is a very popular station, Manchester Victoria is still punching below its weight. It’s been prevented from achieving its full potential – particularly in architectural terms – because of a lack of investment in recent years.

“So I am delighted that work is now beginning to transform it into an outstanding, heavyweight destination befitting its heritage and its strategic importance both now and long into the future.”

Key elements of the scheme include:

• A new, brighter replacement roof that allows for future expansion of the station
• Improved station concourse area, including a new bridge link to the Manchester Arena, making the entire station fully accessible
• Improvements to the footbridge spanning platforms 3-6 allowing for future growth in passenger numbers
• Sympathetic refurbishment to Grade II listed parts of the Victoria Buildings, (including the war memorial, glass dome, Soldiers Gate and the wall map) restoring them to their former glory
• Refurbishment of the external canopy, new lighting and glazed entrances to revitalise the Victoria Buildings
• Revamp of existing retail spaces and provision of new retail facilities for a better shopping experience
• Improvements to the ticket hall and external improvements to the paving on station approach
• Upgraded Metrolink facilities

The works will future-proof the station, allowing for the imminent electrification of the line to Liverpool and will allow for improvements to services included in the Northern Hub rail capacity expansion scheme which could see the numbers of people using the station double by 2019, with faster, more frequent trains running to Leeds and Liverpool.

Lee Wasnidge, Area Director, Northern Rail said: “Complementing the wider Northern Hub and electrification capacity enhancements, these improvements will ensure that Manchester Victoria provides a fitting gateway to the city. This scheme will preserve the heritage of the station while providing a bright and modern environment for passengers.”

Funding for the station transformation is being provided jointly by Network Rail, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.