Passengers travelling to Manchester are being thanked for their patience following the completion of a multimillion‑pound track upgrade on the southern approach to Manchester Piccadilly, the North West’s busiest rail station.
The first trains rolled back into service shortly after 5am on Monday 23 February, marking the end of nine consecutive days of intensive engineering work delivered by Network Rail and the Central Rail Systems Alliance.
Major Track Overhaul Completed
Between 14–22 February, engineers renewed a significant stretch of railway infrastructure across six key lines. The upgrade included:
- Eleven sets of points
- 9km of signalling and telecoms cabling
- 4,000 timber sleepers swapped for modern concrete
- 5,500 tonnes of fresh ballast
- New signalling and lineside equipment
The work replaces infrastructure originally laid in the late 1980s and is designed to significantly increase reliability and reduce faults that lead to delays.
Time‑lapse footage released today showcases the vast scale of the operation and the rapid pace of works completed within the nine‑day blockade.
Station Enhancements During Closure
While platforms 1–12 were closed to passenger trains, Network Rail used the opportunity to make further improvements inside the station, including:
- Freshly repainted and repointed platform edges
- Upgraded emergency lighting
- A comprehensive track litter clean-up within the train shed
The closure also triggered one of the most extensive rail replacement bus operations seen in Manchester in recent years. On average, buses departed Manchester and Stockport every two and a half minutes in each direction, with 8,922 services operating over the nine days to keep passengers on the move.
Industry Leaders Thank Passengers
Brian Paynter, Network Rail Capital Delivery track director, said:
“We would like to say a big thank you to passengers for their patience while this once-in-a-generation upgrade has taken place over the last nine days.
“Manchester Piccadilly is one of the country’s busiest stations and it’s a key hub for people travelling to the North West. Upgrading the track over six lines in what’s known as the Piccadilly corridor will make journeys more reliable and the points and signalling systems less prone to faults - meaning fewer delays for passengers. It’s all part of our long-term commitment to invest millions of pounds to make the North West’s railway fit for the future.”
Simon Elliott, network director for rail at TfGM, added:
“This was a once in a generation piece of work that will future-proof journeys for people travelling to and from Manchester Piccadilly train station for years to come.
“By working together with partners across the rail industry we were able to keep people moving and we would like to thank everyone for their patience while these works took place and all of our colleagues who helped people to make their journeys on Bee Network trams and buses.”
Further Works Ahead
Routine follow‑up tamping will take place on Sunday 1 March and Sunday 22 March to secure the newly laid ballast and stabilise the track.
Manchester Piccadilly is a vital hub on the West Coast Main Line, Europe’s busiest mixed‑use railway connecting London and Scotland. More than £400m is set to be invested this year alone, including additional improvements planned for the Easter period that will temporarily affect journeys to London and Cumbria.
Image & Video credits: Network Rail
