manchester victoria

[faltskog36abba]

i remember going to manchester victoria as a kid,going down the ramp to platforms 13/14 getting a train to blackpool-happy days,sadly its no longer the station it used to be,but still has character and remains my favourite,do any members know anything about the refurbishment the grand old vic was supposed to have?when the roof will be fixed?when oldham loop line trains end next week will any services be added due to there being more paths?there was talk a couple of years ago to re-route rose hill marple trains away from piccadilly via philips park goods line into victoria,this was abandoned why?.

[hairyhandedfool]

The refurbishment of Victoria is still on the cards, but I can't say more than that.

According to someone I spoke to a week or so ago, there is no agreement for where the trains should operate when the loop services cease to run. They may sit in a siding in 'warm store' for a while. Apparently there needs to be agreement between the DfT (who want them to stay in Manchester) and GMPTE (who don't want to pay for them).

[steam for ever]

I wish the stationstill had 17 platforms.
Now it has a piddling 6.
They should not have shrunk the station in the first place.
Tear down the MEN arena I say
Its an eyesore.
This is probably the largest station downgrade ever.
I have come to the conclusuion that Beeching had absolutely no clue in what he was doing.
About three quarters of the closed lines are needed again.

[pre65]

Originally Posted by steam for ever

I have come to the conclusuion that Beeching had absolutely no clue in what he was doing.
About three quarters of the closed lines are needed again.

Now how do you suppose Beeching would have known that ? He was given a job to do and he did it !!

In hindsight,with foresight it should have been done differently.

[steam for ever]

Well I do think he should of know that.
He was given enough evidence.
He worked previously for ICI and they got rid of him.
Wonder why?
Thats right they were sick of him.
Then he came swanning over to poor BR with no railway experience and took over.
He really was kicked out!
My late grandfather was working for ICI at the time, and many years ago he gave me the real story.

The man was a con artist.
The railways were losing money, but thats because it was all going into his pocket.
Beeching was paid twice the amount of the prime minister!
Not having enough money to keep lines open is a rubbish excuse therefore.
Some ofmy grandfathers collegues would often say the same thing.
Sadly, now as people have passed away (in some cases for a long period of time) evidence is hard to come by.

[faltskog36abba]

thanks for info on victoria station,just searched and found that the 300 million upgrade and its environs has been put on hold due to the economic downturn,a paltry 9 million has been found to do the roof -7 mil,and the other 2 spent on the station,toilets[much needed they are a disgrace]shelters,seating etc,poor old vic is always last in line to have any money spent on it.

[rog]

The date is 03/12/09

Vic is an awful place,the oldham loop has gone and the metrolink upgrade begun.

It has recently been voted worst station in the country

I had to use the gents, what an experience......

Can pull it down for me.

[Deathbyteacup]

Pfft.

Yes, it's a dingy place, but it's wonderful if you ask me. Maybe that's bias nostalga but I still think it's great. Would be better without the Arena blocking all the daylight though.

[martin adamson]

Yeah I have to agree, there is something nice about it when you use it. It's not like mega clean modernised Piccy on the other side of town. I feel that Manchester Picc is almost 'too perfect' almost airport like. Manchester Victoria has this niceness about it whith its darkner concourse with all the wooden ticket boxes & 'tin can' DMU's with all those engine sounds, its really nostalgic when you first walk in.

[Dave Rowland]

I like the remaning OLD bits of Man Vic, but the new bit reminds me far too much of Birmingham New Street - and, regardless of what trains come & go there, I've never attached any nostalgia whatsoever to that station - yuchhh. A black hole.