Major changes to services at Manchester Piccadilly: Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February 2026
Network Rail is investing £7.9 million in a once-in-a-generation upgrades to the track and signalling system on the southern approach to Manchester Piccadilly station.
This essential investment will deliver better, more reliable journeys for passengers and freight using the North West’s busiest station.
When and how are services affected?
The main work takes place over nine days during February half term. During this time, there will be no trains leaving platforms 1-12 at Manchester Piccadilly.
The station concourse will remain open and a limited westbound service will run from platforms 13 and 14.
Travel options during the closure (PDF)
If you are travelling from the south or east of England:
- Long distance services will continue to operate, but some trains will start and terminate at different stations, with rail replacement buses in operation.
- Avanti West Coast services to Manchester will terminate at Stockport (two trains per hour to/from London Euston).
- CrossCountry services will terminate at Stockport (two trains per hour to/from Bristol or Bournemouth).
- TransPennine Express services from Cleethorpes via Sheffield will terminate at Stockport.
- East Midlands Railway services from Norwich and Nottingham will terminate at Sheffield.
- A replacement bus will operate between Chesterfield and Manchester Piccadilly for this connection.
- Transport for Wales services will terminate at Crewe, with other services available to Stockport.
- Rail replacement buses will run between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
Local services in south and east Manchester
- Rail replacement buses will run between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly calling at all local stations.
- Buxton services will terminate at Stockport.
- Crewe services will terminate at Stockport and Manchester Airport (one train each per hour).
- Stoke-on-Trent services will terminate at Stockport (except on Sundays where rail replacement buses will operate between Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke-on-Trent).
- Rail replacement buses will run between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
- For Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel, please use the 192 bus service between Manchester city centre and Stockport. Rail tickets will be accepted.
- Chester services will terminate at Altrincham (except on Sundays where rail replacement buses will operate between Stockport and Chester). Please use Metrolink services between Altrincham and Manchester city centre, or bus services between Altrincham and Stockport.
- Glossop and Hadfield services will terminate at Guide Bridge.
- Stopping services from Sheffield (via Hyde Central) will terminate at Guide Bridge.
- Rail replacement buses will run between Guide Bridge and Manchester Victoria.
- Rail replacement buses will run between Rose Hill Marple and Manchester Victoria via Bredbury.
- TransPennine Express services from York via Castleford (for local stations via Huddersfield) will terminate at Manchester Victoria.
If you are travelling from the north or west
- Services from the north and west will continue to operate, with most services starting and terminating at Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Piccadilly (platforms 13 and 14).
- Blackpool North and Liverpool (via Earlestown) services will terminate at Manchester Piccadilly.
- TransPennine Express services from Liverpool (via Warrington Central) will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.
- North Wales and Chester services (via Warrington Bank Quay) will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road.
- Cumbria and Scotland services will terminate at Preston, with other services available to Manchester city centre.
- TransPennine Express services from Redcar Central will terminate at Manchester Victoria.
If you are travelling to or from Manchester Airport
- There will be no rail services between Manchester Airport and Manchester city centre. Rail replacement buses will be in operation, including express buses avoiding the city centre for faster and smoother journeys.
- Buses to and from Manchester Airport: Express buses will run to Manchester Piccadilly. Express buses will run to Bolton and Preston. Express buses will run to Huddersfield via Stockport.
Express buses will run to Warrington Bank Quay via Warrington Central.
- A stopping bus service will operate for all local stations to Manchester Piccadilly.
- A train service will operate to Crewe via Wilmslow.
Planning your journey
Staff will be on hand at stations to help coordinate bus and Metrolink connections.
Plan your journey in advance at nationalrail.co.uk
24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41
CITYCO | CITY CENTRE BID MEMBERS: The CityCo Operations Team are liasing with Network Rail and TfGM. For any general enquiries, email operations@cityco.com