Passengers travelling into Manchester are being urged to plan ahead as a major £7.9 million upgrade to the railway near Manchester Piccadilly will result in a nine‑day closure from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February.
The works—delivered by Network Rail and the Central Rail Systems Alliance—will overhaul nearly one kilometre of track, points and signalling equipment on one of the busiest sections of railway in the North West.
As the primary gateway to Manchester Piccadilly, this stretch of railway is critical to network-wide performance. Much of the infrastructure dates back to the 1980s, and the project aims to boost reliability for decades to come.
What the £7.9m investment includes
- Eleven sets of points replaced
- 9,000m of new cabling installed
- Timber sleepers upgraded to modern concrete
- 5,500 tonnes of new ballast
- Major signalling and lineside equipment enhancements
Because the work spans all main lines into Piccadilly from the south and east, no trains will run into platforms 1–12 during the closure. A limited westbound service will operate from platforms 13 and 14, and the station concourse will remain open.
Passengers are advised to check journey updates via www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Network Rail statement
Rebecca Rathore, Network Rail's North West route strategy director, said:
“This work is vital in order to keep passengers and freight on the move reliably for decades to come across both Greater Manchester and wider North West.
“We know that the part closure of Manchester Piccadilly so we can carry out this work will cause some disruption and we’re thankful for everyone’s patience so we can complete these journey improving upgrades. I'd advise anyone planning to travel between 14 and 22 February to check National Rail Enquiries for the smoothest journey possible."
Train operators’ statement
A spokesperson for train operators said:
"This work will improve the reliability of trains running into the region's busiest station.
"During this essential work, we're expecting services to be busy, so please plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Please check with your specific operator or with National Rail Enquiries for detailed journey information."
Passenger support and Bee Network integrations
To minimise disruption, valid rail tickets will be accepted on a selection of Bee Network bus and tram services. Ten additional buses will run throughout the day on the busy 192 route.
The closure coincides with major events at Etihad Campus, including Manchester City fixtures and shows at Co‑op Live, although Metrolink trams will operate as normal.
Staff will be on hand at Manchester Piccadilly to assist passengers with bus and tram connections.
TfGM statement
Simon Elliott, Network Director Rail at TfGM, said:
“This investment in Manchester Piccadilly’s rail infrastructure is a crucial step forward in delivering a reliable and resilient railway for passengers, freight and supporting the city-region’s continued economic growth.
“The Bee Network is here to support passengers to move easily across Greater Manchester while these essential works take place. Ticket acceptance is in place on a number of bus and tram services and 10 extra buses a day will be running on the 192 in addition to the rail replacement buses.
“I would urge everyone to please plan their journey, check before they travel and leave extra time as we are expecting services to be extra busy during the works.”
Some rail services across the North and direct connections to Manchester Airport will also be affected.
Image and video credits: Network Rail
