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Friday 6 Jan 2023

Platform extensions for longer trains on Manchester Airport line

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Platforms at three stations between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are being extended for passengers from this weekend.

Network Rail is investing £8.5m to lengthen Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations to make way for longer trains, providing more seats in future for passengers travelling along the busy airport line.

The work begins on Sunday 8 January and will be complete by the end of March.

To carry out the upgrades, the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport will be closed for six Sundays on:

• January 8, 15 and 22
• February 12, 19, and 26

Replacement buses will be in place to keep passengers on the move but people are being advised to plan ahead at www.nationalrail.co.uk and allow extra time for their journeys to and from the airport on those dates.

Simon Daly, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “The work to extend Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations, and Northern’s planned roll out of longer trains in the future, is crucial to increasing capacity on services across the North West of England.

“This work means that longer trains can transport more passengers from across the North West to Manchester Airport.”

Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “We look forward to the commencement of these works and, upon completion, the improvement they will bring to the customer experience on services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport. It is always important to invest in rail infrastructure to ensure we can keep the region moving, getting people from where they are to where they want to be.”

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express, said: “The improvements taking place at Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations are welcome news, allowing for more customers to travel on this busy route.

“However, until the platform lengthening work is completed, there will be significant disruption for those customers using our services. A rail replacement bus service will be in place and we strongly advise customers planning to travel on these services to plan ahead and allow extra time, as journeys may take longer than usual.”  

People are also advised of important work to Manchester Piccadilly’s roof, which means no trains will run from the station on Sunday 15 January.

Then on Sunday 22 January platforms 13 and 14 will be closed to trains to complete resurfacing work which started over the Christmas break.

Meanwhile Salford Central station is closed for vital upgrade work until summer 2023.