Ordsall Chord engineering to hit Easter train services

Manchester Victoria and Salford Central stations will be closed over Easter to allow for work on the new Ordsall Chord link across the cities to continue.

The closure will take effect from the end of service on Wednesday 23 March and remain in place for 11 days, reopening for the first train on Tuesday 5 April. Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road will remain open as usual. Bus replacement services will be provided and the Metro service will still operate from both stations.

Engineers will move existing track on the approach to Manchester Victoria station so that once the 300 metre-long new section of track has been completed, it will be able to connect and fit in with the new track layout.

Over the Easter closure arches supporting the railway will be strengthened to enable heavier loads to be carried in future. Other work will involve widening Middlewood viaduct and installing a new bridge in the same area.

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The 11-day closure is necessary to improve the rail network for passengers.

“Once the Ordsall Chord is completed, both Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly will be connected for the first time in history.  This will enable better connectivity and faster journeys between the great cities of the North, including Hull, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester.”