Up-and-coming English city that’s often overlooked reveals new £21million train station revamp
ONE of the UK’s underrated cities has revealed plans for its £21million train station revamp.
Salford is often overlooked as a city break destination, with tourists heading to the nearby Manchester instead.
But a boom in popularity has seen its train station reach capacity limits in recent years.
Salford Crescent station first opened in 1987.
Passengers numbers have since grown to around 1.2million between 2022 and 2023, making it one of the busiest stations in Greater Manchester.
The new revamp will see an third platform built, allowing more trains to Manchester and the rest of the country.
An additional exit ticket gate will also ease congestion.
Ben Porter, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The new third platform at Salford Crescent station will mean signallers can better organise how trains move through the area.
“Because of this work, passengers will have smoother, more reliable journeys both through Salford and across the North West.”
Works will start in 2025, and expect to be finished by the following year.
Passengers have already been warned of a number of closure dates during the works including a number of weekends between March and September.
The renovation of the station is also alongside a £10million upgrade to Salford Central, which will include new customer information points.
Salford Central will be closed next year from February 10 to April 21 for the works to take place.
The two train station revamps are part of the wider £2.5billion masterplan to transform Salford.
Across 252 acres, it includes a new 25,000sqft district with cafes, shops and bars.
And a man who has visited all 76 cities in the UK explained why he thought Salford was an underrated destination.
Peter Naldrett visited them all as research for his book bright Lights, Big Cities.
He told Sun Travel: “Despite being part of Greater Manchester, Salford is actually a city in its own right – with its own identity and some of the best urban attractions in the country.
“There’s a lot going on there, especially with MediaCity, where the BBC and ITV are stationed, which means there are plenty of opportunities to see shows that are being recorded.”
“Always when I go to Salford, I’m pleasantly surprised about how nice it is on Salford Quays and how many people like to go there to hang out at lunchtime.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
Greater Manchester is getting a number of new train stations, including onein Cheadle and one in Golborne.
Or if you head to Manchester, you will find the world’s oldest train station, which is now a free tourist attraction.