Salford Central railway station — Local services in Salford

I'm not an avid user of public transport for good reason. I arrived at the station at 14.30. My return train to Rochdale should have arrived at 14.37. A few mins before it was due, the tiny screen on the platform says it is delayed. Another 25mins later, the screen changes to "train cancelled". As I was traveling on a return ticket, I had little choice to wait the full hour for the next train. A good 40 mins into waiting, there was an announcement on the tannoy advising there had been an incident and trains to Rochdale and one other destination were delayed. A few minutes before my hour wait was complete, the screen once again displayed the cancellation message for the next train that had waited for, which was due at 15.37. At this point I went to seek advice. I had to be let through the ticket barriers to get to the desk. I advised that I had waited over an hour so far for a train that should have been every 10 minutes. In a condescending manor, the chap behind the screen seemed to question the validity of my claim to have waited an hour. He asked my why I hadn’t boarded the numerous trains to Blackburn that had come and gone during my hour wait.

“Geeeeee, let me think why I didn’t do that... Oh I know why... the same reason I didn’t get on any of the trains that were bound for Stalybridge, because I’m not going to fkin Blackburn or Stalybridge, I am going back to Rochdale”.

Only then did he think to advise that the train to Blackburn stops at Rochdale! Absolutely unbelievable that he expected me to know that. A simple announcement would have saved this awful review...

“Bing Bong...there has been an incident that is affecting the dedicated Rochdale train but any passengers whishing to get back to Rochdale can use the Blackburn bound train as it stops at Rochdale train station.”

In the end, his final suggestion to me was that I should jump on the next train to Victoria station and “work it out from there”.

Information screens are really poor. The audio announcements are no help at all to anyone stranded by cancelled trains.

A business trip from Rochdale to Manchester that would have took me 2 hours in time and cost me £4 parking. The cost to use the train and this station was 5 hours time and approx £8.

And that is why I don't like public...

The train was late and since i had no idea wt was going on i dropped off 1 train station earlier. I asled Backy for help and i was wellcomed with negative attitude and when i tasked for her manager because i rather speak with someone who is willing to help then arguing and not listening to reasoning. Another colleague jumped in and instead of calming the situation she said learn some manners and i shouldn't be talking to her like that. I was amazed on their training and the way of talking. I was the only one kept asking for a solution and alternatives because they r paid to be there but i have to go home. I kept asking for help and I was stranger in that city and desperate of help. I kept asking please help me out but their attitude was over the sky. Her supervisor karan (i hope its her real name). She already decided before even speaking to me that i am somesort of criminal and demanding my name without even introducing her self. She felt like she is a police or above the law. I thought i was in some 3rd world country and lawless one also. She refused to give me her colleague name who said i should learn some manners. I kept asking for help even asfter all that and got the same answer, i dont care. I was asking for alternatives but their manager was more interested in pay to pay check then training. Lou witnessed everything and but refused to give me her name but i got it from her badge. In simple words, If asked for help, all workers will make u feel as if ur criminal and acting like one themselves. Never ask for one cuz their attitude is over the sky. Zero training and zero humanity in them. I felt like i should be the adult one and say thank you. I kept saying my network is down and three network was down on that day. Its in...

I hate using this station due to some of the attitudes from staff.

One was very rude, when I challenged him for allowing all females through the barriers without checking their tickets, and checking all male travellers tickets, clearly an attempt to get female attention. He gave me an aggressive response. And when I asked his name he refused, I asked for his manager and he refused. I then went to the ticket desk to complain and the man behind the glass couldn’t care less, and refused to give me his name or contact details of the manager.

Also in the past when the ticket checkers have been there, yes it’s important to check I fully agree, but they were clearly singling out the Asian passengers over anyone else.

The sooner it becomes an unstaffed...