Manchester Piccadilly set to close for £8m upgrades
Network Rail will improve tracks, points, and signalling systems on the southern approach to the station, aiming for a step-change in the reliability of the 400,000 trains that service it every year.
Work will replace 11 sets of switches, renew 9,000 metres of cabling, and swap timber sleepers with concrete equivalents, as well as modernise lineside equipment across six lines.
The £7.9m upgrades will take place over nine days between 14 and 22 February 2026. During this time, no trains from the south and east of the city will run into Manchester Piccadilly.
Access to Manchester Airport will also be temporarily disrupted.
Stockport will temporarily be the main terminus for those arriving from the south on the West Coast Mainline.
Platforms 1-12 will be shut while work is ongoing, though a limited westbound service will run from platforms 13 and 14.
Julien Dehornoy, North West and Central deputy regional managing director at Network Rail, 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 of six railway lines can only take place during a full railway closure, and we are working closely with train operators, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move, the full details of which will be published in mid-November.”
Simon Elliott, Network Director for TfGM, added: “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.”
