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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 (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. The trains which stop at the station are all provided by Northern Rail except during engineering works when some trains are diverted from Manchester Piccadilly.
HistoryIn 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 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.[1] 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. 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. 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. Victoria station has been awarded £300 million for regeneration in the next stage of development which will be funded by increased taxes, one of which is the proposed congestion charge. FacilitiesThe 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. ServicesTrainsManchester 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
Manchester Metrolink Station
Manchester Victoria is also served by Manchester's Metrolink system, at the Northern edge of the City Centre zone, forming part of the Bury Line. Trams run through Victoria to Bury, Altrincham and Piccadilly train station. The Metrolink station is situated at the southern end of Victoria station, near the exits. The station had one platform in between tracks and one platform built into the main station, just next to the W H Smith store. However, that platform has now closed, and the platform in between tracks is now a island platform. Like most other Metrolink stations, Public Telephone Boxes, waiting shelters, Ticket Machines and benches are all provided on the platform. (GMPTE information on Victoria) Gallery
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