Network Rail has announced that multi-million-pound railway upgrades will take place in Greater Manchester and the gateway to the Peak District from this weekend. The upgrades, which are part of Network Rail’s summer improvement projects, will mean no trains will run from Manchester stations to Glossop, Hadfield, Rose Hill Marple, and Rochdale on selected dates.
When and where will the railway upgrades take place in Greater Manchester?
From August 8 to 16, Network Rail will be carrying out the work in two locations. On the weekends of August 8-9 and August 15-16, a railway junction will be replaced near Guide Bridge. While the work takes place, no trains can run on the Glossop/Hadfield or Rose Hill Marple lines in or out of Manchester Piccadilly over both weekends.
The second major scheme will see a midweek closure of the line between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale when engineers return to install a new railway turnback. Turnbacks allow trains to head back in a different direction without stopping on and blocking the main line, allowing other trains to pass through. No trains will run from Monday 10 August until the morning of Saturday 15 August.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to plan ahead by checking the National Rail website.
Which train services will be affected?
Northern
August 8, 9, 15 and 16
No trains will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Rose Hill Marple, with a rail replacement bus service running between these two stations. No trains will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield or Glossop.
A rail replacement bus service will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Hadfield, not calling at Hattersley or Broadbottom. Additionally, a minibus service will run between Godley and Hadfield, calling at all stations.
August 10-14
Replacement buses will run between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria. An amended train service will run between Manchester Victoria and Chester, and between Leeds and Rochdale.
Trains that normally run between Stalybridge and Wigan North Western / Southport will be amended to run between Manchester Victoria and Wigan North Western / Southport only. Alternative train services will run between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria.
TransPennine Express
August 10-14
Train services to and from Huddersfield will be diverted to run to and from Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria, and will run to an amended timetable between:
- Manchester Piccadilly – Redcar Central
- Manchester Piccadilly – Newcastle
- Manchester Piccadilly – Hull
- Manchester Piccadilly – York
- York – Scarborough
- Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Victoria
“Both projects at Guide Bridge and in Manchester are major investments to improve rail journeys for passengers and freight in future.”
Lorna Samways, Network Rail senior sponsor, said: “We know there’s never an ideal time to shut the railway, so I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience while we carry out these essential railway improvements next week.
“Both projects at Guide Bridge and in Manchester are major investments to improve rail journeys for passengers and freight in future. I’d advise passengers planning to travel between 8-16 August to check National Rail Enquiries so they know exactly what to expect from their journey.”
