“Ultimately it’s about making the infrastructure a lot more reliable going forward, that’s always the goal”
07:18, 14 Feb 2026Updated 09:58, 14 Feb 2026
The station will be shut until February 22(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Manchester Piccadilly train station will effectively be closed for nine days from today (February 14) in order for a major revamp to take place. Almost all of the station will be shut throughout half-term, until February 22, while work is undertaken.
No trains from the south or east will run into the station and many other routes will be affected as well. The train shed platforms, one to 12, will close, but the concourse will remain open to the public.
There also will be a limited service heading westbound from platforms 13 and 14.
The track and signalling upgrade – which is costing almost £8m to complete – is being described as a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul. Network Rail is replacing ageing infrastructure on the southern approach to the station – including old tracks, signals, cables, sleepers and points – much of which dates back to the 1980s, in hopes to improve reliability and reduce future disruption for trains.
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Rebecca Rathore, Network Rail route strategy director, North West said: “We’re doing the work now because some of the equipment and the assets that we’ve got outside of Piccadilly is reaching the end of its life cycle – that causes unreliability. By improving the network and investing in it now, that will reduce the amount of incidents that we have and it will make the network more reliable.
The concourse will remain open, and some trains will run from platforms 13 and 14(Image: MEN MEDIA)
“We’ve got a lot of processes in places to make sure we can deliver the work we need to do, we can get in and get out in time but also make sure we can still provide a service for people to travel and make their journeys.
“Ultimately it’s about making the infrastructure a lot more reliable going forward, that’s always the goal.”
Rathore added that in 2024 there was a failure at least once every fortnight on average because the infrastructure on this section of the line is so old. With this work, Network Rail hopes to create a more reliable infrastructure for its customers.
As well as trains from the south and east being cancelled, some northbound services and direct links to Manchester Airport will also be affected. Normal services will be rerouted or terminate at other stations like Stockport, with rail replacement buses and other alternatives running.
Transport for Greater Manchester will also be supporting with ticket acceptance across a range of Bee Network bus and Metrolink services on affected routes. Ben Cookson, TfGM senior control centre manager said: “This is a big team effort across Network Rail, their partners and Transport for Greater Manchester and their partners to keep customers moving as best as possible throughout the Piccadilly rail works.
“Our key message is to check before you travel and plan ahead, because you may experience some additional journey time, but there are options to get you to where you need to go. We have extra buses laid on and we will be accepting rail tickets on the bus and the tram. All our services that serve Piccadilly station are still around. So check before you travel, use online sources such as the Bee Network app and website to plan your journeys.”
While the train shed (platforms 1–12) will close, Manchester Piccadilly’s concourse will remain open to the public. There will be a limited service westbound from platforms 13 and 14. Staff will be on hand to coordinate bus and Metrolink Bee Network journeys.
Andy Doyle, Avanti head of operational readiness, said: “We think that it’s really important that this work gets done, and as such, we’re putting in place a rail replacement operation between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly, where we’ll be running regular buses throughout the engineering work.
No trains will run to platforms 1 to 12(Image: Copyright Unknown)
“There’s never a good time, unfortunately, to do engineering work, but we are supportive of Network Rail taking the time to renew the junction at Ardwick and undertake this work because it’s really important to make sure we’re maintaining our infrastructure and it’s really important for our customers to have a reliable railway.”
Customers are being urged to plan ahead and check with rail operators before they travel. Stuart Taylor, Director of Service Delivery at Northern, said: “We recognise it’s disruptive for customers, but this is a critical part of the railway in one of the busiest stations in the country and these improvement works from Network Rail will improve reliability for all customers for many years into the future.
“We do expect services and rail replacement buses to be busy, so our ask is please check before you travel. You can find information on the Northern website, on our partners, TfGM, Network Rail and other train operators. And keep an eye on socials for the latest updates. I would just thank customers for their patience during this disruption. We recognise it’s challenging, however there will be benefits to Manchester’s railway for years to come.”
Changes to train services
From the south of Manchester
All Avanti West Coast Main Line services to Manchester will terminate at Stockport.All Cross Country services from the south and south west to Manchester will terminate at Stockport.A limited service will call at Manchester Airport from Crewe. All other airport services will be replaced by buses.Services from South Wales to Manchester will terminate at Crewe. Onward connections will be available.
To the east of Manchester
Services from Glossop and Hadfield will terminate at Guide Bridge.Fast services from Sheffield will terminate at Stockport.Stopping services from Sheffield will terminate at Guide Bridge.Services from Leeds and Huddersfield will only travel to Manchester Victoria.
From the north and west of Manchester
Services from North Wales and Chester will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road via Warrington Bank Quay.Services from Liverpool and Warrington Central will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.Trains from Preston and Bolton will terminate at Manchester Victoria or Manchester Oxford Road.TransPennine Express services from Scotland will terminate at Preston.Services from Chester via Northwich will terminate at Altrincham.Rail replacement information
Rail replacement bus services will run between Manchester Piccadilly and:
StockportManchester Airport (some via Gatley/Burnage/East Didsbury)Chesterfield
Rail replacement bus services will run between Manchester Airport and:
Warrington Bank Quay via Warrington CentralPrestonBoltonManchester PiccadillyHuddersfield via Stockport
Rail replacement bus services will run between Manchester Victoria and:
Guide BridgeRose Hill Marple via Romiley
Passengers for Altrincham are advised to use the Bee Network Metrolink connection.