Victoria Station status as queen of railway hubs finally restored
THE transformation of Manchester’s Victoria Station railway station as part of a £1bn plus investment into the northern rail infrastructure is complete.
Architect and heritage consultant BDP, acting for client Network Rail, says the scheme, which has taken three years to complete, has created not only a gateway to the city but also a new destination in its own right.
Bosses at BDP and Network Rail believe the work as returned Victoria to its former position as one of the leading railway stations in the country.
The design was masterminded by BDP’s Manchester studio and Peter Jenkins, BDP’s transport architect director. Morgan Sindall was the project main contractor.
The striking central new feature is a new concourse which is enclosed with 10,000sq metres of energy-saving material ETFE on a futuristic roof which has changed the appearance of the station from the north of the city.
The new roof replaces a series of train-shed roofs, and the new design includes a series of mezzanine floors holding retail and station facilities and improving passenger connections.
The station complex covers a variety of functions, including the main entrance to the Manchester Arena and a multi-storey car park.
The multi-modal transport interchange required by Network Rail integrates these with heavy and light rail, regional and shuttle buses, taxis, private cars and bicycles. Upgraded Metrolink facilities at the station enable the new second city crossing route, now under construction.
“Working closely with Historic England and Manchester City Council, we have blended high-quality new architecture alongside the refurbishment of the original Victorian and Edwardian buildings, with favourite historic features celebrated and others revealed to the public for the first time in decades,” said a BDP spokesman.
Victoria is one of the city’s oldest rail terminals and a historic building in its own right, dating from 1844, with a number of listed buildings and features.
The project has included restoration of the original Grade II-listed Edwardian frontage building, including the refurbishment of the original ticket hall dating from 1909.
Original features such as the original Lancashire and Yorkshire railway tiled wall map, the First World war memorial, the original glass dome, Soldiers’ Gate, the historic station mosaics, and the Art Nouveau external glass and iron canopy, all have been restored and re-installed.
BDP were also behind the award-wining successful redevelopment of Manchester Piccadilly, completed in 2002.
Jenkins said: “One of the challenges in designing the new Victoria was to match the standards laid down by the successes of BDP’s previous work at Manchester Piccadilly, to once again blend high-quality new architecture with a refurbishment of the original Victorian and Edwardian buildings.”
The programme of work which incorporates the Northern Hub and North West electrification will unlock new routes, improve connections and provide journey-times across the north of England from coast to coast.
