Media centre

Wednesday 23 Sep 2020

Passengers warned of changes to journeys for essential railway upgrades in Manchester

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel this weekend during essential railway improvement work on a key route into Manchester Piccadilly station.

A Great North Rail Project investment of £1.8m is being made to improve the reliability of future journeys on a busy section of railway at Ashburys to the east of the city.

The essential upgrades taking place this Sunday (27 September) include:

• Vital work on points (the equipment which allows trains to change tracks)
• Maintaining the 25,000 volt system which power trains
• Upgrades to the track foundation stones known as ballast
• Improving track side drainage at Hattersley station to reduce the risk of flooding

The upgrades mean there will be no Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly and Dinting/Hadfield, with trains replaced by buses instead.

TransPennine Express will run an amended timetable between Manchester Piccadilly and Huddersfield/Hull during the work.

Passengers are urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to see how their journeys will be impacted.

Adam Checkley, senior programme manager for Network Rail, said: “This essential work as part of the Great North Rail Project focuses on one of the busiest sections of railway in the North West. Because it is used by passenger and freight services 24 hours a day, getting access to do vital maintenance is difficult.  So much so we need to close the railway for an entire day to get everything we need to done.

“We try to carry out work like this when the railway is at its quietest and I’d like to thank people in advance for their patience. I’d urge them to allow extra time for their journeys this Sunday and check National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator before travelling.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “This work will see significant changes to our timetables in the area this Sunday and I’m calling on all our customers to plan ahead and check carefully before travel.

“Our routes to Dinting and Hadfield will be particularly affected and customers should allow additional time for journeys as buses will replace trains. The updated timetables can be found on our website www.northernrailway.co.uk.”

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express said: “This work will mean changes to our services this Sunday between Manchester Piccadilly and Huddersfield/Hull and we will be running an amended timetable.

“Our local services between Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly will instead terminate at Manchester Victoria while our Hull to Manchester trains will only operate as far as Leeds. We would urge customers to plan ahead and check before they travel at: www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times.”

Meanwhile, passengers are asked to continue following Government guidance around the use of public transport.

Travellers must wear a face covering on train services and any replacement bus services. Those who fail to do so risk being fined £200.

However, some people are exempt, including young children and people with hidden disabilities or breathing difficulties.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Passengers can plan their journeys by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk.