Network Rail Celebrates Return of Trains to Manchester Piccadilly

Network Rail has announced the return of the first trains after a nine-day closure at Manchester Piccadilly station.

The first trains travelled into the city just after 05:00 this morning (Monday 23 February) following a nine-day, multimillion-pound series of works were carried out to future-proof the station’s southern approach

During the works, which took place between 14–22 February; Network Rail and its partner Central Rail Systems Alliance overhauled major sections of track and surrounding infrastructure across six lines, replacing eleven sets of points, 9km of signalling and telecoms cabling, 4,000 timber sleepers with modern concrete equivalents, 5,500 tonnes of new railway foundation stone (ballast) and a range of signalling & other lineside equipment.

All newly installed infrastructure updates track that was last replaced in the late 1980s, with works necessitating a closure of platforms 1-12  to all passenger trains whilst upgrades were carried out. During this time, improvements were also made inside the station itself to repaint and repoint platform edges, improve emergency lighting and thoroughly litter pick the tracks between platforms.

The closure resulted in one of the largest rail replacement bus operations the city has experienced in recent memory, with one bus departing Manchester and Stockport every two and a half minutes in each direction on average. Over the course of the nine-day closure; 8,922 rail replacement bus services ran to keep passengers on the move.

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.

Routine work is set to commence both this coming Sunday (01 March) and again on Sunday 22 March to secure the new railway foundation stone through tamping – which will impact trains until lunchtime, with passengers advised to check the National Rail website when making travel plans during these times.