The work which is currently underway in Central Manchester until Sunday the 15th of August, will bring some travel disruption.

The project is part of the multi-billion pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) which will transform the rail infrastructure for York, Leeds and Manchester providing huge improvements to rail connectivity in the North with this specific part of the TRU project providing quicker journeys and more reliable services for passengers who travel between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds.

Passengers who will be travelling through Manchester Victoria are advised to check their journey on www.nationalrail.co.uk 

Rail engineers are now making headway with the massive upgrade project which will see railway bridges totally reconstructed on Dantzic Street and Queens Road along with strengthening and waterproofing work to rail bridges on Bromley Street and Oldham Road in Manchester.

The 16 day project began on Saturday the 31st of July and is expected to complete during Sunday the 15th of August 2021.

Changes to services are in place between Yorkshire and Manchester with Network Rail, Northern and Transpennine Express putting a plan in place to keep passengers on the move across the Pennines using trains where possible although some journeys may require the use of rail replacement buses, this is mainly journeys taking place between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria. State of the art buses will be provided for passengers to use so they can continue their journey comfortably.

Passengers are again urged to check their journeys during this time on www.nationalrail.co.uk 

Network Rail has released timelapse footage which shows steel beams being positioned using a 650-tonne crane on Dantzic Street. Whilst this massive bridge reconstruction and strengthen project is underway Network Rail will also be upgrading more than 3,000m of track which will give smoother travel and more reliable services.

Changes to services will be in action from Saturday the 31st of  July and Sunday the 15th of August 2021:

• For Leeds to Manchester Victoria via Todmorden and Rochdale
  • Trains will start and terminate at Moston Station with rail replacement express buses running between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria and also between Manchester Victoria and Moston. There will be no calling buses between Rochdale and Moston.
• For Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester
  • Trains will not be running. Metrolink services will be available both to and from Manchester Piccadilly. During Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of August only Metrolink services will not run on the Ashton line which is due to engineering work. Replacement buses will be available for passengers.
• For Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle
  • Trains from Liverpool Lime Street will be diverted and run to and from Manchester Airport via Manchester Piccadilly. Newcastle services will start and terminate at Manchester Piccadilly for onward connections.
• For Manchester to Leeds/York/Hull/Redcar
  • Trains will be diverted to and from Manchester Piccadilly only
• For Stalybridge to Manchester via Guide Bridge
  • Trains between Leeds (via Huddersfield) and Manchester Piccadilly will be diverted via Stalybridge and Guide Bridge. Buses will be running between Stalybridge, Ashton-under-Lyne and Guide Bridge.

Neil Holm, Transpennine Route Upgrade Director for Network Rail, said: “Our improvement work in Greater Manchester is a key part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), which will enable more trains and faster trains to run between Manchester and York in future.

“This major upgrade includes demolishing ageing railway bridges to install new ones, upgrading track and installing new signals. Though we can’t keep these railway lines open through Manchester Victoria while we do this, we’ve created diversionary routes so passengers can still get in and out of Manchester by train as much as possible.

“Thank you to passengers travelling this summer for your understanding while we deliver these much-needed improvements.”

Tricia Williams, Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is welcome news that the railway continues to be invested in and the infrastructure improved upon.

“To complete these initial works there will be some planned changes to our services and our message to customers is very simple – please plan ahead and check your journey before travelling.

“To minimise disruption we will be running state-of-the-art replacement buses, offering clear customer information, including via digital and social channels, and will have more colleagues at stations to provide assistance both before and during the engineering works.”

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express commented: “We’re delighted to see continued investment in the North of England’s railway as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. And with these works this summer, we will see a better, more reliable railway for our customers.

“To complete these engineering works, some of our services will be diverted and customers may have to change trains in Manchester, so we would advise those travelling to check before they travel. To help with those affected, there will be more railway colleagues at stations to help people get to where they need to be.”

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