Network Rail Manchester Piccadilly works: trains return

Network Rail Manchester Piccadilly works have brought trains back to the station after a nine-day closure.

As reported by the Network Rail Media Centre, the first trains travelled into the city shortly after 05:00 on Monday 23 February, after a nine-day, multimillion-pound programme of work to future-proof the station’s southern approach.

Manchester Piccadilly station closure: what was done?

The works took place between 14 and 22 February and were delivered by Network Rail with its partner, the Central Rail Systems Alliance. In addition, across six lines, engineers overhauled major sections of track and surrounding infrastructure, including the replacement of eleven sets of points.

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The programme also included the installation of 9km of signalling and telecoms cabling. It covered the replacement of 4,000 timber sleepers with modern concrete equivalents and the renewal of 5,500 tonnes of railway foundation stone (ballast), alongside a range of signalling and other lineside equipment. Meanwhile, Network Rail said the new infrastructure replaces track that was last renewed in the late 1980s.

Piccadilly corridor track upgrade and station improvements

To carry out the Piccadilly corridor track upgrade, platforms 1 to 12 were closed to all passenger trains while the work was completed. Network Rail has also set out background on the Piccadilly corridor renewal.

At the same time, additional improvements were made inside the station during the closure. These included repainting and repointing platform edges, improving emergency lighting, and thoroughly litter picking the tracks between platforms.

Rail replacement bus services Manchester Stockport and next works

The closure also led to one of the largest rail replacement bus operations the city has seen in recent memory. On average, a bus departed Manchester and Stockport every two and a half minutes in each direction, and 8,922 rail replacement bus services ran over the nine-day period to keep passengers moving.

Also, passengers planning travel during the tamping works on 01 March and 22 March are advised to check the National Rail website.

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.

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