Friday 17 Jul 2026
Greater Manchester travel updates ahead of August engineering work
- Region & Route:
- North West & Central
Rail passengers in Greater Manchester are being urged to plan journeys in advance ahead of engineering work taking place in August.
Important track renewal will be taking place between Manchester Piccadilly, Rose Hill Marple and Hadfield on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August. Meanwhile, there will be continued work on a new turnback between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale from Monday 10 to Friday 14 August.
Trains will not run on the following dates, with bus replacement services in operation:
- Between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale from 10 to 14 August
- Between Manchester Piccadilly and Rose Hill Marple on 15 and 16 August
- Between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield on 15 and 16 August.
Alongside bus replacement services between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale, there will be amended services to both stations from several other locations.
Closing the railway outside Manchester Victoria will allow engineers to continue creating a new turnback. Once finished, this will free up space in the station so trains can stop and pass through more quickly.
Between Manchester Piccadilly, Rose Hill Marple and Hadfield, engineers will replace old track with a new, modern equivalent, which will make journeys more reliable and provide a smoother ride on board.
Lorna Samways, senior sponsor for Network Rail, said: “In recent weeks, we’ve started building a new turnback outside Manchester Victoria that will improve the station’s flexibility and reliability.
“We would like to thank passengers for their patience as we close the line to Rochdale again and continue our work upgrading Greater Manchester’s railway."
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience and Transformation Director, at TransPennine Express, said: "We'd like to thank customers for their patience while these vital improvements are carried out, helping to create a better and more dependable railway for the future.
"While the work is taking place, some journeys will be affected. We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for travel, and check before they travel using the TransPennine Express website, app, or National Rail Enquiries.”
For the latest travel information, please visit nationalrail.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
The following service changes will be in place from 10 to 14 August.
Northern:
Replacement buses will run between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria.
An amended train service will run between Manchester Victoria and Chester, and between Leeds and Rochdale.
Trains that normally run between Stalybridge and Wigan North Western / Southport will be amended to run between Manchester Victoria and Wigan North Western / Southport only. Alternative train services will run between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria.
TransPennine Express:
Train services to and from Huddersfield will be diverted to run to and from Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria, and will run to an amended timetable between:
- Manchester Piccadilly - Redcar Central
- Manchester Piccadilly - Newcastle
- Manchester Piccadilly - Hull
- Manchester Piccadilly - York
- York - Scarborough
- Liverpool Lime Street - Manchester Victoria
The following service changes will be in place on 15 and 16 August.
Northern:
No trains will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Rose Hill Marple, with a rail replacement bus service running between these two stations.
No trains will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield or Glossop.
A rail replacement bus service will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield, not calling at Hattersley or Broadbottom.
Additionally, a minibus service will run between Godley and Hadfield, calling at all stations.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
North West and Central Media Relations
Press Office
Network Rail
NWCmediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
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