Major UK train station ‘closes’ for nine days for ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ repairs

One of the UK’s busiest railway stations closed to some trains for nine days to undergo a ‘once-in-a-lifetime overhaul’.

Network Rail has invested £8,000,000 to upgrade an ageing stretch of track at Manchester Piccadilly in an effort to reduce future disruptions.

Disruption and limited services are expected as work takes place over the half-term period from today until February 22.

Services in and out of London, the Midlands or the Pennines will not run until next Sunday as Network Rail modernises track, points and signalling systems on six railway lines serving the station.

The scheduled improvements will impact all railway services from the south and east of Manchester.

It means platforms 1-12 will be closed, while services westbound from platforms 13 and 14 will be limited.

Reduced services from Liverpool Lime Street via Eccles and Earlestown, Blackpool North via Bolton and Chester via Earlestown will be running on platforms 13 and 14.

Trains from the north of the city and direct connections to Manchester Airport station will be impacted, with Network Rail urging passengers to plan their journeys.

The station will remain open, including the ticket office, retail outlets and Metrolink services.

Extra buses and rail replacement services will be available over the nine-day disruption, and tram services serving Manchester Piccadilly will run as normal during the work.

The rail operator described the investment to improve a stretch of track, which saw 35 faults in 2024, as ‘long-awaited’.

The southern approach to the station, which was built in the 1980s, will see significant improvements designed to upgrade train performance in Greater Manchester and on the West Coast Main Line.

Julien Dehornoy, Network Rail’s North West & Central deputy regional managing director, said: ‘Once the job is done, we will have a better, more reliable railway. 

‘The major overhaul over six railway lines can only take place during a full railway closure, and we are working closely with train operators, TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move.’

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