Major rail improvements completed in Manchester

Network Rail teams have now finished a major upgrade to track and signalling equipment in Manchester.

More than 100 people carried out the work between Christmas Day and Monday, 3 January 2022. The teams installed four new track components, completed two sections of new electric wiring and upgraded signalling equipment near Manchester Victoria station.

The aim was to bring a more modern, reliable railway and create the capacity for more trains to run in the future, improving connectivity across the North.

This work is part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade which will bring faster, more reliable services for passengers travelling between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester.

Neil Holm, Transpennine Route Upgrade Director for Network Rail, said: “We’re making real progress in delivering better, more enjoyable rail journeys for those travelling in Manchester. The work we’ve completed over Christmas will allow us to run more and faster trains in the future as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

“We’ll need to continue upgrading the railway in and around Manchester throughout 2022 to complete a package of benefits aimed at improving passenger’s experience. I’d like to thank people for their patience as we continue to deliver a better railway for the north of England.”

Further work to renew track in Manchester is planned every Sunday between 9 January and 6 February, which will mean some changes to services.

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