Manchester Airport rail link hit by platform expansion works

Work is taking place this weekend (January 7/8) on extending platforms at three stations between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.

Network Rail is investing £8.5m to lengthen Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations to make way for longer trains, providing more seats in future for passengers travelling along the busy airport line.

The work begins on Sunday, January 8, and will be complete by the end of March.

To carry out the upgrades, the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport will be closed for six Sundays on January 8, 15 and 22, and February 12, 19, and 26.

Replacement buses will be in place to keep passengers on the move but people are being advised to plan ahead at www.nationalrail.co.uk and allow extra time for their journeys to and from the airport on those dates.

Simon Daly, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “The work to extend Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations, and Northern’s planned roll out of longer trains in the future, is crucial to increasing capacity on services across the North West of England.

“This work means that longer trains can transport more passengers from across the North West to Manchester Airport.”

Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “We look forward to the commencement of these works and, upon completion, the improvement they will bring to the customer experience on services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.”

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express, said: “The improvements taking place at Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations are welcome news, allowing for more customers to travel on this busy route.

“However, until the platform lengthening work is completed, there will be significant disruption for those customers using our services. A rail replacement bus service will be in place and we strongly advise customers planning to travel on these services to plan ahead and allow extra time, as journeys may take longer than usual.”

People are also advised of important work to Manchester Piccadilly’s roof, which means no trains will run from the station on Sunday, January 15.

Then on Sunday, January 22, platforms 13 and 14 will be closed to trains to complete resurfacing work which started over the Christmas break.

Meanwhile Salford Central station is closed for vital upgrade work until summer 2023.