'Dangerous' and 'embarrassing' – Why Andy Burnham wants to take control of Manchester's train stations

Andy Burnham wants to take control over all train stations across Greater Manchester, accusing the railway industry of 'failing' the city-region. The Greater Manchester mayor has described the five train stations in the city centre which lag behind their surroundings as 'embarrassing' to the industry.

He claims the city centre stations have not seen substantial investment for decades – and argues that other stations need to be more accessible to all. Mr Burnham said Greater Manchester would look at building flats above the stations and make better use of commercial space to 'maximise their value'.

It comes one month after a judge ruled in favour of the mayor taking buses in the city-region back under public control for the first time since the 1980s. The Labour mayor will demand that the government invests in train stations or hands over control of them as well as part of the upcoming devolution talks.

READ MORE"Now I'll take the Government to court for my dad": Ruling on Covid deaths in care homes 'opens floodgates'

He said: "These stations in city centre Manchester are an embarrassment to the rail industry because they are outliers in the city. You've got modern buildings where thousands of people are working in a really attractive environment and stations that are just nowhere near the same level. It's really something that can't be allowed to continue."

Mr Burnham said Piccadilly Station last had 'substantial' investment in the late nineties ahead of the Commonwealth Games, while others have waited longer. However, Victoria Station received a £44m revamp around seven years ago when the glass bubble roof was installed alongside other improvements.

He described Salford Central station as 'dangerous' due to the 'massive