WITH reference to the Northern Hub development (Guardian, February 12) and the start of construction of the fourth platform at Manchester Airport, George Osborne MP, Martin Frobisher, Network Rail and especially Andrew Cowan of Manchester Airport might like to begin by asking someone unfamiliar with the airport to try driving them from the M56 to the airport station without verbal directions. I pointed out, to no effect, in an email exchange with the airport’s customer relations over a year ago, that on approach to the airport there is no directional signage to the station until you have discovered that you need to go right round the roundabout in front of Terminal 1. Then the need to turn left for the station is only indicated by a faded “STN” painted on the road. At the next roundabout, a single sign indicates right, but the sign at the second roundabout wrongly directs cars into the bus station instead of the forecourt of the station.

The station building itself has no exterior signage to indicate you have arrived, neither the word “station”, nor the usual double arrow rail sign For anyone wanting to pick up or drop off passengers, apart from one poorly-signed disabled drop-off space in the taxi bay, there is no provision for pick-up and drop-off of passengers.

This could easily be provided within the very long airport bus bay directly in front of the station which seems to be rarely, if ever, used by more than one bus. Those with such ambitious plans for the development of the Northern Hub must surely realise that for any potential rail passenger the journey begins with “First find your station!”

JOHN MILLER Knutsford