MANCHESTER'S Piccadilly Station is the most popular in the country, a rail watchdog said today.

Passenger Focus, the national rail consumer body, said passengers have placed Piccadilly at the top of the league of Great Britain's 20 busiest stations.

In a survey of more than 25,000 passengers, the city's flagship station won a 92 per cent approval rate, easily beating busier Glasgow into second place. It is far ahead of London's best entry - the giant Liverpool Street which could only muster 74 per cent support from its passengers.

Near neighbours Leeds comes in third with the good opinion of 81 per cent of its passengers ¬- but Liverpool Lime Street fares less well with just 52 per cent appreciating its environment.

Piccadilly, used by more than 22 million passenger journeys a year, was once one of the ugliest in the land and hated for its shabby 1960s look. But Network Rail won praise across the country after spending around £100m on a complete refurbishment.

Satisfaction

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: "Passengers' ratings of Manchester Piccadilly station was head and shoulders above the national average of 60per cent passengers satisfied with their station's overall environment.

"These results show that passengers value the huge investment Network Rail has put into Manchester Piccadilly station and the fact that the station continues to be well run. We encourage more investment into stations, which helps to attract people to travel by train."

Station Manager Duncan Law said: "Coming top of the poll is a huge boost for the station team. The station has fabulous facilities for passengers using it, those meeting and greeting travellers and the workforce in the area who use it as their local shopping centre. However, the station is only as good as the people who work on it and look after it, whether they are on the station talking to people or those behind the scenes. I am rightly proud of my team and what they have achieved."

Last week the government announced that it is to invest £150m in 150 stations along with its commitment to fund Thameslink and redevelop Reading and Birmingham New Street stations.

But there was no commitment to a new high speed line from the south which could bring Channel Tunnel Eurostar trains into Piccadilly from France.

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