From Victorian slum to city landmark A

As Oxford Road station prepares for two-year closure, we look back at its long history

- By LEE GRIMSDITCH

IT may only be the third busiest train station in Manchester city centre, but Oxford Road is by far the best looking.

Like a mini Sydney Opera House made of wood with just a hint of your old nan's living room, the station is the chosen disembarking point in Manchester for out-oftown gig-goers like me.

Located near the O2 Ritz and Manchester Academy, it has the added benefit of being a stone's throw from The Salisbury and Grand Central: two pubs thirsty music lovers travelling into Manchester city centre make a beeline for as soon as they step off the platform. If your train is delayed, it's a great place to kill time.

So, this week's news that Manchester's Oxford Road Station will close for two years for an upgrade brings mixed feelings. The proposed longer plans include platforms, new lifts, and a footbridge - all changes that Network Rail says would help relieve the congested corridor.