From 14 to 22 February, Network Rail is making significant improvements to the track and signalling systems in the area around Manchester Piccadilly station.
This £7.9 million investment will modernise tracks, points and signalling on the southern approach to Manchester Piccadilly, improving reliability for years to come.
To complete these works, Manchester Piccadilly will be closed to trains from the south and east on the following dates:
- Saturday 14 February – Sunday 22 February
- Sunday 1 March until 13:00
- Sunday 22 March until 13:00
Platforms 13 and 14 will remain open for trains running on a reduced timetable to:
- Liverpool Lime Street via Eccles and Earlsetown
- Blackpool North via Bolton
- Chester via Earlestown (Sundays only)
The station facilities will also stay open, including the ticket office, Passenger Assist lounge, toilets, retail outlets and Metrolink services.
We have worked together with partners to keep you on trains for as much of your journey as possible. Please allow extra time for your journey, as services will be busier and travel times longer. You can find detailed information on specific train routes and alternative travel options below, but as everyone's journey is different, please check before you travel on our app, website or via National Rail.
During this closure, if you are making a local journey around Manchester, you may find it easier to purchase Bee Network tickets rather than rail tickets. Visit here for full Bee Network information, and please be aware when planning your travel, Bee Network services will not appear in rail-based journey planners or apps.
View a map of all the changes to our network during the Manchester Piccadilly closure here, and see our leaflet about the changes here, which you can also download at the bottom of this page.
Changes to train routes
Please see below for detailed information about which train routes on our network will change during these improvement works, and any alternative travel arrangements that will be in place.
Liverpool to Manchester Airport
Monday to Sunday
Trains will run between Liverpool and Manchester Piccadilly.
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
North Wales to Manchester Airport
Monday to Sunday
Trains will run to Warrington Bank Quay.
We will provide buses instead of trains between Warrington Bank Quay, Warrington Central and Manchester Airport.
Manchester to Crewe via Stockport
Monday to Sunday
Trains will run from Stockport to Crewe.
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport.
Manchester to Wilmslow via Manchester Aiport
Monday to Saturday
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
Trains will run between Manchester Airport & Crewe, via Wilmslow.
Sunday
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport and from Manchester Airport and Wilmslow.
Ticket Acceptance on Bee Network
- 43/103 Piccadilly Gardens to Didsbury and East Didsbury
- 50/51 St Peter's Square to East Didsbury
- 142 Piccadilly Gardens to Didsbury and East Didsbury
- Metrolink Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre
Monday to Saturday
Trains will run to a reduced timetable between Altrincham and Chester.
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport.
For travel between Stockport and Altrincham, please take Bee Network buses 370 and 371.
Sunday
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport and between Stockport and Chester.
Travel between Manchester and Altrincham
If travelling between central Manchester and Altrincham, please use Metrolink at all times – trains run every 12 minutes from 0600 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 0700 to midnight on Sundays. Allow up to 30 minutes travel time.
Ticket acceptance on Bee Network
- 192 Stockport to Piccadilly Gardens
- 370 / 371 Altrincham to Stockport
- Metrolink Altrincham and Manchester city centre
Monday - Sunday
Trains will run on a reduced hourly timetable between Buxton and Stockport.
We will provide buses instead of trains from Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly.
For Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel stations, please use Bee Network 192 bus.
Northern
Our trains are subject to changes, making additional stops at Widnes in place of East Midlands Railway trains, which will not run between Sheffield, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool.
TransPennine Express
A revised timetable will be in operation with trains running between:
- Liverpool Lime Street, Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road
- Stockport, Sheffield, Doncaster, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes
Please use rail replacement buses between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
East Midlands Railway
Trains between Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich will only run between Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich.
Rail replacement buses will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Chesterfield to connect with trains to/from Nottingham and Norwich.
Between Liverpool, Manchester and Stockport, please use other operators’ services, changing as required.
Monday to Saturday
Trains will run to a reduced timetable between Guide Bridge and Hadfield.
We will provide buses instead of trains for stations between Guide Bridge and Manchester Victoria.
To travel between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria, please use Metrolink, Free Bus or walk if you are able.
Sunday
We will provide buses instead of trains for stations between Manchester Victoria and Hadfield.
To travel between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria, please use Metrolink, Free Bus or walk if you are able.
For journeys to Broadbottom or Hattersley, please change at Godley for a minibus.
Ticket acceptance on Bee Network
- 201/202 Piccadilly Gardens and Belle Vue
- 203/205 Piccadilly Gardens, Belle Vue and Reddish
- 219/220/221 Piccadilly Gardens, Ardwick, Ashburys, Gorton, Fairfield and Guide Bridge
- Metrolink between Ashton Moss and Manchester city centre
Monday to Sunday
We will provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Victoria, Ashburys, Bredbury, Romiley and Rose Hill.
We will also provide buses instead of trains between Manchester Victoria, Ashburys, Gorton, Fairfield and Guide Bridge.
Trains will run between Guide Bridge, Hyde North, Hyde Central, Woodley, Romiley, Chinley and stations along the Hope Valley to/from Sheffield.
Ticket acceptance on Bee Network
- 201/202 Piccadilly Gardens & Belle Vue
- 203/205 Piccadilly Gardens, Belle Vue and Reddish
- 219/220/221 Piccadilly Gardens, Ardwick, Ashburys, Gorton, Fairfield and Guide Bridge
- Metrolink between Ashton Moss & Manchester city centre
Changes to TransPennine Express and EMR trains
A revised timetable will be in operation with trains running between:
- Liverpool Lime Street, Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road (TPE)
- Stockport, Sheffield, Doncaster, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes (TPE)
- Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich (EMR)
Rail replacement buses will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport/ Chesterfield.
Monday to Sunday
Trains will run between Blackpool North, Preston, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.
Trains will run between Barrow-in-Furness/Windermere, Preston, Manchester Airport and Manchester Oxford Road.
TransPennine Express trains between Glasgow/ Edinburgh, Carlisle and Manchester Airport will also be affected and will run between Glasgow/ Edinburgh, Carlisle and Preston.
Travelling to or from Manchester Airport from stations north of Bolton?
If you are travelling to or from Manchester Airport, please use the following direct rail replacement buses and do not travel through Manchester Piccadilly.
- Stations between Glasgow/Edinburgh/Windermere/Barrow-in-Furness/Blackpool North and Preston - use rail replacement buses between Preston and Manchester Airport.
- Stations between Leyland and Bolton - use rail replacement buses between Bolton and Manchester Airport.
Alternative travel information
Whilst we have worked hard to keep you on trains for as much of your journey as possible, due to the scale of these improvement works, buses will be provided instead of trains in some parts of our network, and tickets will be accepted on some Bee Network buses and Metrolink services.
Will there be rail replacement buses linking central Manchester stations?
No. There will be no rail replacement buses linking central Manchester stations. If you need to change between Deansgate, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly, you will need to make your own way by Free Bus, Metrolink services or walking. If you need assistance when travelling between these stations, Passenger Assist will be available.
Which central Manchester station will rail replacement buses leave from?
To help reduce congestion in Manchester city centre and around Manchester Piccadilly station, rail replacement buses will operate from Manchester Victoria instead of Manchester Piccadilly on the following routes:
- Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield & Glossop
- Manchester Piccadilly to Romiley & Rose Hill
- Manchester Piccadilly to Chinley & Sheffield
Please allow extra time when travelling through central Manchester and make sure you go to the correct departure station.
Rail replacement bus stops
Rail replacement bus stop locations will be displayed on dedicated green posters at all stations directly impacted by the works.
During these works, the bus stop at Gorton station will be moved to Ashton Old Road (A635) at the junction of Lees Street rather than the lay-by on Lees Street near the station.
Rail replacement bus services will not serve Levenshulme or Heaton Chapel stations. If you are travelling to or from these stations, please use the Bee Network bus 192 towards Manchester or Stockport, as appropriate.
At Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel, buses stop at the bus stops on A6 Stockport Road.
In Manchester, buses stop at Piccadilly Gardens or on London Road, next to Manchester Piccadilly station.
In Stockport, buses stop on Wellington Road, a five-minute walk from Stockport station.
Valid rail tickets will be accepted on at no extra cost on the following Bee Network services during the closure of Manchester Piccadilly station:
Buses
- 43/103 Piccadilly Gardens to Manchester Airport
- 50/51 St Peter’s Square to East Didsbury
- 142 Piccadilly Gardens to East Didsbury
- 192 Piccadilly Gardens to Stockport
- 219/220/221 Piccadilly Gardens, Ardwick, Ashburys, Gorton, Fairfield and Guide Bridge
- 201/202 Piccadilly Gardens and Belle Vue
- 203/205 Piccadilly Gardens, Belle Vue and Reddish
- 370/371 Stockport to Altrincham
Metrolink
- Manchester city centre stops to Altrincham
- Manchester city centre stops to Ashton Moss
- Manchester city centre stops to Manchester Airport
A change of tram may be required at St Peter’s Square in Manchester city centre for some journeys.
Changes to other train operators
Please see below for an overview of changes to trains run by other operators. Plan your journey before you travel on our app, website or via National Rail.
Two trains per hour will run between Stockport and London Euston, with one train per hour running via:
- Wilmslow, Crewe, Stafford and Nuneaton
- Macclesfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Rugby and Milton Keynes Central
For travel between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly, please use rail replacement buses.
Two trains per hour will run between Stockport, Macclesfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, with one train per hour continuing to and from:
- Oxford, Reading, Southampton and Bournemouth
- Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads
For travel between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly, please use rail replacement buses.
Trains between Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich will only operate between Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich.
Rail replacement buses will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Chesterfield to connect with trains to and from Nottingham and Norwich.
Between Liverpool, Manchester and Stockport, please use other train operators or rail replacement buses, changing as required.
The Liverpool Lime Street, Sheffield, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes train will be revised to run between:
- Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Oxford Road
- Stockport, Sheffield, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes
Please use rail replacement buses to travel between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
The Manchester Piccadilly to York trains via Huddersfield, Wakefield Kirkgate and Castleford will be diverted to run to and from Manchester Victoria.
The Manchester Airport to Redcar train via Huddersfield, Leeds and York will also run to and from Manchester Victoria. Customers travelling to or from Manchester Airport should use the dedicated direct rail replacement buses between Huddersfield and Manchester Airport.
Manchester Airport to Glasgow/Edinburgh trains will run to and from Preston. Customers travelling to or from Manchester Airport should use the dedicated direct rail replacement buses between Preston and Manchester Airport.
The South Wales to Manchester Piccadilly train via Crewe and Stockport will operate between South Wales and Crewe only. Please use alternative services to and from Manchester, changing where necessary.
The North Wales to Manchester Airport train via Warrington Bank Quay will run to and from Manchester Oxford Road.
Customers travelling between North Wales, Chester, Warrington and Manchester Airport should use the dedicated direct rail replacement buses between Warrington stations and Manchester Airport.
Manchester Piccadilly closure leaflet
PDF leaflet with information on the Manchester Piccadilly station closure
Download Manchester Piccadilly closure leaflet.pdf
file size 1.09mb
Manchester Piccadilly closure map
Map showing all changes to the Northern Rail Network during the Manchester Piccadilly closure.
Download Manchester Piccadilly closure map.pdf
file size 332.11kb
Northern App
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Northern App
Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.