Network Rail Unveils Mural to Transform Oxford Road

Network Rail has unveiled a vivid new mural at Manchester Oxford Road station, launching a creative placemaking project that reflects the city’s music and cultural heritage. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The colorful artwork transforms the former Screen One building’s façade, turning it into a prominent visual landmark. Visible from both Station Approach and Whitworth Street West, the mural acts as a gateway to the Music for the Senses trail, a citywide celebration running from July 7 to August 31, 2025.

Network Rail Leads Public Art Initiative in Manchester

Network Rail collaborated with Wild in Art and Manchester City Council to deliver this artistic project. The trail features 88 installations, including painted guitars, mosaics, and digital works, all celebrating Manchester’s creative spirit and sensory experiences.

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Internationally recognized street art duo Nomad Clan designed the mural. Their work anchors a broader strategy by Network Rail to reimagine stations as community spaces through storytelling, design, and culture.

Rebecca Foy, regeneration and placemaking specialist at Network Rail, explained that the mural marks the beginning of a station-wide regeneration plan. The goal is to transform railway assets into places that better reflect local communities.

Network Rail and Partners Celebrate Creative Collaboration

On July 14, representatives from Network Rail, Manchester City Council, Northern, HOME, and the wider creative sector gathered at the site to mark the mural’s completion.

Artist Jay Gilleard noted that public art revitalizes neglected areas and makes them accessible and inclusive. Neil MacInnes OBE, head of Libraries and Culture at the Council, added that non-traditional art venues engage the public more organically.

Ben Reed of Wild in Art highlighted how the trail invites engagement from visitors and concertgoers while strengthening civic identity through creative expression.

Looking ahead, HOME will lead a two-year programme exploring Oxford Road’s dual role as a transport hub and cultural connector. Events, public installations, and community-led storytelling will define future developments.

Through this mural and future projects, Network Rail aims to show how infrastructure and creativity can merge to redefine the role of stations in modern urban life.

Source, photo: Network Rail

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