Preston Rail station Pick Up Point — Attraction in Preston

As far as stations go Preston is no better or worse than stations of it's size and age. The only downside to Preston is it can be bitterly cold as the roof is a tall Victorian style and the wind just blows through, plus not all the platform is covered (especially the Virgin 11 carriage pendalinos) so be prepared to be outside!

If you enjoy running up and down footbridges to get to your platform you're in luck, a small old metal bridge is over the longer platforms but it gets busy and crowded. Fortunately a lot further down the platforms there are subways for those of us with mobility issues or lots of luggage.

If you know which platform you need, arriving with luggage and/or have mobility issues then use the side drop off (adjacent to the Fishergate Centre). There's a newer entrance by the bike hub to go straight to the subway, rather than walking up to the footbridge entrance or round to the main entrance. If you arrive at the original main entrance use the ramp and walk down the platform to the subway rather than lugging your cases up the bridge.

The main entrance has the ticket office and pick up machines, a Starbucks just at the bottom of the ramp along with a newsagents. On the main platform is a cafe, waiting area, toilets, media hub (charging points available) and customer service.

Virgin staff are always around to assist and have always been very helpful helping me on and off trains with my luggage...

Picking up at Preston (Butler St pick up area) is generally OK. Yes, avoid rush hour if you can: at busy times it's never easy driving round Preston, but even when the Fishergate car park at the bottom of Butler Street is emptying, it's usually easy to get into the short stay pickup area. Officially it's no more than 20 minutes waiting. Arrive a little earlier if picking up from a London train as the limited parking spaces (on the right hand side) can fill up. Parking spaces are angled in and provide for pretty good access to doors etc.. You have to reverse out and visibility is not great, so take care. Wheelchair access is toward the middle and bottom end (the south). The top exit (north) is accessed by steps from the platform. Just be careful crossing over from and to the car, because there is no pedestrian walkway to the parking bays. This is also where the replacement bus services wait, so be aware that it can be quite difficult when there are a queue of busses there (on the left hand side by the pavement). Overall, a good pickup point given the space available. Dont forget that when exiting Butler street you can't turn right - you will get fined. Must turm left and go around the block to head east or north out of town. A nice alternative is Lancaster if you live...

The train station is very nice and is an older building. The facilities are very good and even though it isn’t a room or giant building it is very warm when you are inside. The only slight problem I have against it are the small shops. I’m okay with the Starbucks because the prices are the normal prices but what I don’t like are the WistleStop or something like that. J went in there one to buy a pack of sweets and I was shocked to see a pack of course Wine Gums for just shy of £3 or £4. I do have a slight vendetta against all transport stations shops but I was just a bit surprised. But except from the affordability of the shops this train station is really good especially for the access to Fisher gate and St George’s so there’s that. I do think that this train station is one of the better ones from the ones I’ve seen and the prices are the only...