Wednesday 6 Feb 2008
AIRPORT WARNS OF MAJOR ROADWORK AT TERMINALS 1 AND 3
- Region & Route:
People travelling to Manchester Airport by road between Friday 15 February and Monday 3 March are being advised to allow extra time for their journey at peak times. As part of a £15 million scheme to create an extra platform at the airport station, Network Rail will be sliding a new bridge into position under one of the main access roads to the airport. Outwood Lane, the main road to Terminals 1 and 3, passes over the ends of the station platforms. To accommodate the extra platform, Network Rail needs to cut across the road and slide a new supporting bridge into place. To do that, the road will be closed and a well signed diversion will be put in place. Bob Longworth, Manchester Airport’s Capacity Planning Manager explained: “It is impossible to predict how much longer road users should allow but we don’t expect major disruption. However, the morning and evening peak periods are always busy so we are advising people not to leave it to the last minute. The last thing we want is for people to miss flights because they have been delayed by work designed to improve access to the airport.” Gary Openshaw, Network Rail’s Area General Manager said the work was vital to meet future demand for travel to the airport: “At the moment there are only two platforms at the airport and with over 300 trains a day calling there, we often have to have two trains in the same platform at any one time. “To ease congestion and give us greater operating flexibility, we are building a third platform at the station. This will lead to improvements in reliability and punctuality for all trains calling at the airport.” Rail passengers will be largely unaffected by the work except for the weekends of 23 and 24 February and 1 and 2 March, when trains between Manchester Piccadilly and the airport will be replaced by coaches. Passengers should check their travel plans either by calling their train operator, by calling national Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or by logging on to www.nationalrail.co.uk
Notes to editors
• A photo of the bridge section waiting to be rolled into position is attached • A map of the diversionary routes is attached • A Q and A brief on the effect on other services such as airport hotels and car parks is attached • The £15 million project is being jointly funded by Network Rail, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and The Northern Way, and Manchester Airport plc is leasing the land needed for the extra platform to Network Rail. Train services are provided by Northern and TransPennine Express • The Northern Way is a unique collaboration between the three Northern Regional Development Agencies: Yorkshire Forward, Northwest Regional Development Agency and One NorthEast • Manchester Airport press office – 0161 489 2700Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - North West & Central Region
0330 854 0100
NWCmediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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