A truly awful station with an "underground" metro feel to it. Platforms 3-6 are almost completely devoid of any natural light. Nothing but Units all the time and the occasional freight.

The original station was destroyed at the end of 1992 when they built the Manchester Arena. It used to be a great station with 16 open platforms and full of non stop loco hauled activity. They downsized it to what exists today just 6 rail platforms and 4 metrolink platforms and alot of the old traffic that used to come through was diverted to Piccadilly to accommodate the "newer" much downgraded station.

Victoria is great for DMU's. The station is rather dark and it can be difficult to see units on platforms 5 & 6. Best place for spotting is at the Eastern end of platform 3 where you overlook the main station and the "Yorkshire" platforms 1 & 2 as well as the Metrotram tracks. A pair of bins is very helpful.
Will see 142, 144, 150/1, 150/2, 153, 155, 156, 158, and 180's. Very little freight, I noted an Eastbound train about 16.30 on several occasions.

Probably the most run down mainline station I have been to in recent years, though the building work for the metro may be a contributory factor. This was my first visit in 20 odd years and the only bit I recognized was the ticket windows and the bar/cafe. Plenty of units, especially 142's but a pain to take pictures. Light very poor due to the building which has been built on top. Ticket inspectors on the the through platforms so you will need a ticket to get on. Not a lot of choice food wise, though I suspect there is more once outside the station.

Manchester Victoria is very over run by DMUs now, with not a single Loco hauled train diagrammed to run through the station. However this appears to be the case across the whole of north west england now, and Manchester Victoria does at least have quite a good freight scene with transpennine trains. People say that they are mainly few and far between, however being at a school that overlooks the western approach to the station, I know that there are USUALLY one or two freight trains to watch during an hour long music lesson!

Victoria is unit paradise ! Stacks of units from most classes owned by North Western pass through and the supertram also goes through Victoria. On the freight side the station sees trans-pennine freight flows but they are few and far between. A buffet and McDonalds are within the station and the city is a stones throw away. A tram runs straight to Piccadilly in about 5 mins and a day rover ticket is great value. Parking is not cheap in central Manchester so park at a local station and buy a day rover on the train (£2.80).