Depends where you define the Centre of London. If going for the most logical option of Charing Cross, then it is nowhere near the biggest station in London. Size may not necessarily correlate to importance but for me I would say if I had to nominate just one terminal as the “main” London station, I would go for London Bridge since it serves the widest range of destinations in different directions.
Salford must be one of very few places in England which has a Central station located closer to a neighbouring city centre than its own. Salford Crescent is not only the area’s more important station but also more deserving of the Central suffix than the one which does have it.
That was certainly true before the introduction of the hourly Sheffield - Gainsborough Central service, but I think over time if that service keeps up, then importance will gradually shift away from Lea Road in favour of the station closer to the town centre. There’s not much between the two stations in terms of their physical size.
I would say Foregate Street gets more trains per hour than Shrub Hill. Especially as it gets the hourly Birmingham - Hereford trains, so it's the more major station in Worcester.
I'd argue that Warrington Central is the main station there - certainly by passenger numbers, and by the importance and frequency of service to the destinations offered to where the people of Warrington want to go.
I was brought up in Salford in the days before the 1974 local government changes. Different people would probably have given different answers to the question "where is the city centre?" but one plausible answer would have been Bexley Square, the location of the then town hall, and quite near to Salford Central (then just Salford) station.
Wigan Wallgate is right next door! I suspect this might be a gag. Both Bicester stations are a trek from the centre, although North is less so that Bicester. I nominate Burnley as Burnley Central is the most centrally located for the shopping centre and high street and only gets the all stops Colne to Preston, but Manchester Road gets the Blackburn to Wigan/Kirkby services via Todmorden and the Blackpool to York services, which are much faster and better used.
Next door, but slightly closer to the town centre!
In most cases, the main station (the one with more trains) will also be the larger station, but not necessarily the one nearest to the town/city centre (hence this thread!)
