Manchester Victoria officially reopened

Work on transforming Manchester Victoria Station has completed and the official re-opening of the station was undertaken today.

The transformed station will provide better journeys and help with building the Northern Powerhouse.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin performed the opening ceremony, unveiling a plaque declaring the new station open at a ceremony beside Soldiers’ Gate, which local service personnel passed through before heading off to fight in World War One, some never to return.

The £44M upgrade is part of a is part of a £1Bn investment programme in rail across the north of England, providing better journeys and helping to build a Northern Powerhouse.

Mr McLoughlin said: “I want to congratulate everyone involved in this remarkable project. It’s fantastic to see Manchester Victoria once again a station fit for the city. It’s now a symbol of opportunity, not neglect, and proof that this one nation government is building the Northern Powerhouse.

“The north is receiving a wave of investment in its transport infrastructure on a scale not seen for generations, with £4.5Bn in the north west alone. The benefits are already being delivered, with 71,000 more businesses in the north west than in 2010 – a clear sign our long-term plan to secure a stronger, healthier economy is working.’

Once labelled as Britain’s Worst, improvements to the station have included a fantastic new 8,500sq m clear roof that allows light to flood through the station, a 60m high bridge that links the station to Manchester Arena, new shops, cafes and passenger facilities. A mezzanine area boasts retail spaces and a lift making the station fully accessible.

As part of the improvement programme, the station now accommodates the expanded Metrolink, with four new tram platforms and three new tracks.

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “Six years ago it was dubbed Britain’s worst station – today it must surely be among the country’s best.

“For far too long people travelling in and out of Manchester Victoria had to make do with a tired and dark station. The contrast today is remarkable. Manchester Victoria station is modern, clean and flooded with natural light; a station this great city so badly needs. It is a key part of our £1bn programme to modernise the railway for the whole of the north of England.”

Work has been carried out while the station has been operation, with a temporary roof deck in place to allow for the removal and replacement of the roof.

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