Station set to partially close for upgrades

Manchester Piccadilly will be partially closed while "once in a generation" upgrades take place.

Some trains will still use platforms 13 and 14 but there will be no services in and out of London, to the midlands or to the east across the Pennines for nine days from 14 February.

Network Rail, which owns the track and platforms, says it is aiming to keep disruption down to a minimum.

"Some of this infrastructure dates back to the 1980s so it is vital that we do this work, " Network Rail's North-West route strategy director, Rebecca Rathore, said.

She said: "At least every fortnight there was a fault on the tracks outside Piccadilly. That doesn't neccessarily lead to disruption but what it does do is it can add on time and have an impact beyond Manchester and affect the whole North West.

"All six lines going into Manchester Piccadilly will be affected, it's the biggest station in the North West.

"We recognise the disruption its going to cause to passengers and we really do thank them for baring with us but the work's vital."

She said passengers were being encouraged to check before they travelled as some services would still be operating.

Piccadilly station itself, including the Metrolink station, will also remain open.

Last year, passengers made more than 38 million journeys in and out of Manchester Piccadilly, and nearly a thousand passenger and freight trains pass through the Piccadilly corridor every day.

Paul Malaney, from Central Rail Systems Alliance, the company contracted to complete the work, said it would cost £7.9m.

He said teams will replace 11 sets of points, renew timber sleepers with modern, concrete equivalents and bring lineside equipment up to date.

Paul said staff will be working around the clock to complete the works within the timeframe.

"You can't do a job like this over one weekend. It needs a blockade," he said.

"It's usually about 70 or 80 staff working through the night."

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