Reading discussions about "Parkway" stations leads me to think that Stockport fulfils this role for the south part of Manchester, thanks to the M60 running right through the middle of the town. I only know of one Manchester-bound train which doesn't stop there, the post-evening peak "relief" from Euston; for a while Cross Country omitted Stockport on their Bristol trains but soon saw the light.
Come to think of it, I hardly ever use Piccadilly these days, only if I'm coming North quite late and can't get a lift as Stagecoach simply don't bother running several of their services from Stockport late evenings.
I work in Wythenshawe and we always tell prospective visitors from the South to only get tickets to Stockport NOT Manchester as they would otherwise expect.
Come to think of it, I hardly ever use Piccadilly these days, only if I'm coming North quite late and can't get a lift as Stagecoach simply don't bother running several of their services from Stockport late evenings.
I work in Wythenshawe and we always tell prospective visitors from the South to only get tickets to Stockport NOT Manchester as they would otherwise expect.