December start for £115m Manchester Airport station upgrade
Network Rail has engaged Kier as main contractor to deliver an overhaul including extended platforms and improved track layouts, to support capacity growth.
The £115m investment programme will start this winter and run until 2028.
The programme will see:
- Platforms 1, 2 and 3 extended to allow more trains to serve them
- Upgrades to track layouts on the approach to the station
- Signalling systems for trains upgraded and modernised
The intention is that the upgrades will support the operation of more trains and help deliver more reliable and efficient journeys.
The project is part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade – formerly the Manchester North West Transformation Project – which is a programme covering station, sidings and other improvement schemes across Greater Manchester.
Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Manchester Airport is a vital transport hub and this £115m investment from government will deliver more reliable services, increase capacity, and improve connections for the millions of passengers who use the station every year.
“This is the sort of improvement Great British Railways will be designed to deliver. By bringing track and train closer together under public ownership, we can take a more joined-up approach to investing in the railway, improving performance, putting passengers at the heart of every decision and growing the economy in the North.”
The first major stage of the programme will take place on Sunday 6 December 2026, when Manchester Airport station will be closed for one day. Rail replacement buses will run to and from Wilmslow on this day.
During this time, engineers will install a utility bridge across the railway which will house electrical cables – this will allow a bridge structure used by Manchester Airport Group to be removed at Easter 2027, before a new one is constructed later in the year.
Simon Daly, Network Rail senior sponsor, said: “Manchester Airport station plays a vital role in connecting people across the country so these improvements will create more capacity for passengers, allow longer trains to serve the station and improve the reliability of services for years to come.
“The station closure on 6 December is an important first step in delivering these benefits. We recognise that any disruption is inconvenient and have worked closely with our partners to put plans in place, so passengers are kept on the move.”
Chris Nutton, TransPennine Express major projects & TRU director, said: “We’d like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while this major investment is delivered at Manchester Airport station.”
