Manchester Piccadilly to shut for nine days during February half term for major upgrade
Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Manchester Piccadilly, the busiest station in the North West, is set to close for nine days during February half-term as part of a major £7.9m upgrade aimed at improving reliability for passengers.
The once in a generation investment will modernise tracks, points and signalling systems on the southern approach to the station, which has not been updated since the 1980s.
Disruption to passengers
The station closure will run from Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February, during which platforms 1 to 12 will be closed. The station concourse will remain open, and a limited service will continue to operate westbound from platforms 13 and 14. Passengers are being advised to plan ahead, with alternative journeys being run by buses and Metrolink services instead.
The upgrade will cause severe disruption for passengers. Avanti West Coast services to Manchester will instead terminate at Stockport, and a limited service will call at Manchester Airport from Crewe. Other services to the airport will be put on by buses, causing disruption to passengers planning on travelling in the February half term.
Why is the work needed?
Network Rail says that the ageing infrastructure has caused repeated faults and delays in recent years. For example, in 2024 alone, 35 track faults were recorded on the Piccadilly corridor, causing disruption to passengers travelling to and from Manchester. The upgrade is designed to improve reliability across Greater Manchester and along the West Coast main line.
Julien Dehorney, Network Rail’s North West and Central deputy regional managing director, 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 over six railway lines can only take place during a full railway closure and we are working closely with train operators, TFGM and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move”.
Simon Elliott, Network Director Rail at TFGM said: “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”.
Manchester Piccadilly station has 32 million passengers passing through annually, with a daily average of around 87,000 people. This huge footfall often peaks during school holidays such as half-term, and therefore this upgrade is likely to cause severe disruption. Passengers are encouraged to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys during the closure.