Almost everyone in Manchester knows about it. For one reason or another, it seems to be universally loathed. It’s windy, busy and has been likened to ‘hell on Earth’.
Of course it could only be Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly. Linked with Platform 13 at the farthest end of the station, it has garnered such a reputation for itself over the years that there are copious social media posts and Reddit threads dedicated to discussing it.
From experience, it’s not the place you want to be rushing to with just minutes until your departure, and has been named in a post on X as a ‘close candidate’ for the top of the list as the worst place to change trains in the UK.
Other posts describe it as ‘one cold Baltic draughty place’, ‘not fit for purpose’ and ‘hell on Earth’. Another person said they hope ‘whoever designed the layout’ of the station ‘has an awful day and warm pillows’.
Platform 14 seems to be universally loathed(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Getting there involves a two-minute walk across the other 12 platforms (which feels much further), trundling along a dusty (and still broken) travellator, through a waiting lounge and down a set of stairs.
At least it has very pleasant views across some of Manchester’s skyline, but if you’ve made a run for it against the clock, you’ll probably be too out of breath to notice.
When I visited on a Wednesday afternoon, the major station, which is still one of the busiest in the UK, was very quiet. It wasn’t the morning or evening rush, but there were still large groups of people rushing while dragging bags and suitcases behind them to make their train. Platform 13 and 14 were by far still the busiest.
I simply asked people whether it really is as bad as everyone makes out, or whether its infamous reputation is unfair and based on some sort of urban Manc legend.
I wrote about my own recent experience at the platform after landing back in Manchester following a short break away in Malta.
A lot of comical things went wrong on my journey back, which took nearly three hours. This included coming across a broken escalator at Platform 14, meaning heavy luggage had to either be pulled up stairs or a long wait for the cramped lift, and again bypassing the travellator, which was again at a standstill.
Granted, it does feel unnecessarily far away, it’s ALWAYS busy and there are too many stairs. If you’re in a rush, I’d say it’s almost worth just giving up altogether. And it seems many others are in agreement.
“It’s nearly always crammed,” Niomie Haynes told the M.E.N as she stood on Platform 14 waiting for her train back to Bolton. “I normally get the tram from Bolton, but when I do get the train it’s very busy here.
“I always say if you can navigate Platform 14 then you can get anywhere in the world. It’s 13 and 14 that feel like they are a million miles away from everything. But at least you can get your steps in.”
The stairway down to the platform(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Jeff Burslan catches a train into town from Godley in Hyde. His train almost always departs from Platform 14. He agreed it is the busiest platform. “It seems to be getting worse and it’s always very busy,” he said.
“Especially since the £8m signal works. There seem to be more signalling faults than there were before. It’s either that or there seem to be more police incidents on this platform, and this is the only one I really use to get home.”
Another man, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “It’s just a mission isn’t it. It’s ages away and the escalator never works, does it?
“It feels far, even though it really isn’t that far away, and it’s nothing like the walk at Terminal One. But it’s just a joke isn’t it, especially if you’re running late.”
The uphill travellator to the Platform 13/14 waiting area(Image: Manchester Evening News)
During the mid-week afternoon, the ‘waiting lounge’ was equally quiet. There was one common sight: travellers were still seen rushing with bags in tow to make their train in the final few minutes before departure. Suitcase wheels bounced off the travellator as passengers were seen frantically weaving through dawdlers on the stairs.
The manic rush to make a train waiting on the station’s farthest platform is something most Mancs, or its visitors, have had the misfortune of contending with at one point. A Reddit thread, where someone questioned their one-minute train connection between Platform 3 and 14, asking if they’d make it, received a flurry of replies.
“Platform 13 and 14 are technically in Yorkshire, I think,” one person quipped. Another comically responded: “Platform 14? You will need to bring supplies and Sherpas to reach that location.”
The user provided an update to the original post shortly afterwards. “UPDATE: Made it to the station,” they wrote. “You lot weren’t lying about awkward it is to get to the platform. Got there as my train was leaving.”
When the Manchester Evening News timed the walk from the entrance of Piccadilly to Platform 14, it took two minutes. This would’ve likely been much longer had the station been busier, with queues at ticket gates and congestion at the stairs down to the platform.
Granted, it’s minimal distance in the grand scheme of things, but there must be a reason that everyone says the same thing.
A quick search on social media brings up numerous posts about the platform. “The hell walk to platform 13/14 Manchester Piccadilly,” one person posted on X, as another wrote: “Worrying about long walks at Piccadilly is particularly ridiculous considering the half-marathon we have to do to get to platform 13/14.”
The still-broken travellator makes the walk that bit longer(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“Platform 13 / 14 Manchester Piccadilly. ..that’s one cold baltic draughty place,” said a third as another posted: “”crazy that manchester piccadilly has 14 platforms and every train seems to leave from platform 13 and 14 (the furthest away).”
In other posts on the platform, one user said: “Platform 14 at piccadilly is hell on earth” followed by: “Whoever built Manchester piccadilly platform 13 and 14 is the first person I’m going after when I get to hell.”
“Manc piccadilly platform 13 and 14 i hate u with a passion,” quipped another. “Starting my holiday with a trip to manchester piccadilly platform 14…a bad omen? we will see,” a sixth post read.
There are also threads on Reddit dedicated to discussing it. One, which included a picture of the near deserted platform was captioned: “Have u ever seen platform 14 this dead.”
“God I hate the platform,” one user responded. Another wrote: “That’s crazy…this platform is always rammed!”
A second thread, titled ‘Platform 14, Manchester Piccadilly’ received an all too familiar response. “One of the most hated places on the railway. Normally far too busy,” one Reddit user penned. Another sarcastically quipped: “If only they could have made it a bit narrower it would be perfect!”