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Friday 7 Nov 2025

Manchester Piccadilly set for once-in-a-generation upgrade

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Passengers using the North West’s busiest railway station are being given advance notice of once-in-a-generation track and signalling upgrades taking place in February next year.

Network Rail will invest nearly eight million pounds (£7.9m) to improve tracks, points and signalling systems on the southern approach to Manchester Piccadilly station which date back to the 1980s.

Teams will replace 11 sets of points, renew 9,000m of cabling, upgrade timber sleepers with modern concrete equivalents and bring lineside equipment bang up to date across six lines to improve future journeys for passengers and freight.

Investment in this critical stretch of track has been long awaited, as any issues with the ageing infrastructure can disrupt all trains running in and out of Manchester.

Once the work is completed it will provide a huge boost to reliability for passengers.

The vast scale of the work spanning all main lines means no trains from the south and east of the city will run into Manchester Piccadilly for nine days over February half term (Saturday 14 - Sunday 22).

Some trains from across the north will also be impacted during the essential upgrades as well as direct connections to Manchester Airport station.

Services normally running to and from Manchester Piccadilly will terminate at other stations, including Stockport.

While the train shed (platforms 1-12) will close, Manchester Piccadilly’s concourse will remain open to the public. There will be a limited service westbound from platforms 13 and 14. Staff will be on hand to coordinate bus and Metrolink Bee Network journeys.

Julien Dehornoy, Network Rail’s North West & Central deputy regional managing director, said: “We’re investing £7.9m in renewing the Piccadilly corridor, a stretch of track critical to the journeys of around 400,000 trains into Manchester every year.

"This work is going to significantly reduce disruption for the many passengers who regularly use this route. 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 and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move, the full details on which will be published in mid-November." 

Network Rail – along with train operators, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council – have developed detailed alternative travel plans to keep people on the move over the nine-day closure.

These will be released in the coming months so anyone planning to travel over February half-term will know exactly what they can expect from their journey.

In Greater Manchester, the Bee Network will once again be used to keep passengers on the move, as seen during the recent successful Greek Street blockade, as Network Rail works with partners like TfGM to continue to support an integrated public transport system in the region.

Simon Elliott, Network Director Rail at TfGM, said: “This investment in Manchester Piccadilly’s rail infrastructure is a crucial step forward in delivering a reliable and resilient railway for passengers, freight and supporting the city-region’s continued economic growth.

“While unfortunately there will be some short-term disruption due to the nature of the works, through the Bee Network we’re committed to working with rail industry colleagues to ensure people can still move easily across Greater Manchester while these essential upgrades take place.”

A spokesperson for train operators said: “This work will improve the reliability of trains running into the region’s busiest station.

“In the coming months, passengers can expect more detailed information about their specific journeys and any potential disruption.

“We would urge people to check with their operator or with National Rail Enquiries to plan their travel in advance.”

For updates about the project, visit the webpage: Piccadilly corridor renewal - Network Rail.