Three train station platforms are set to be extended from this weekend in order to increase capacity on Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport services. Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury, and Gatley are the stations set to benefit as part of an £8.5m investment from Network Rail.
These extensions will mean longer trains are able to stop at each station, increasing capacity on the busy line. The work will lead to disruption on the line between this weekend and the end of March when the work is set to finish.
It will begin this Sunday (January 8) until the end of March. This will require the closure of the Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport line for six Sundays; January 8, 15, and 22 plus February 12, 19, and 26.
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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. It is always important to invest in rail infrastructure to ensure we can keep the region moving, getting people from where they are to where they want to be.”
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."
Replacement buses will be in operation while these works are carried out.
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