Rail travellers to and from Manchester airport should be prepared to take alternative transport or use rail replacement buses in January and February next year, as the airport’s station will close for improvement works.
Between January 11 and 17 only two of the three platforms will be open, and the station will then close to all trains until February 9.
The disruption is necessary while works are carried out to complete a fourth platform at the station, including the installation of new track and signalling, as well as new CCTV and information screens.
Network Rail said that while “Much of the work to upgrade Manchester Airport station has been completed while trains continue to run,” there is “no other alternative but to close the station while we install the new track and complete the new fourth platform”.
Ian Joslin, area director of Network Rail, said: “While there is never a good time to close the railway we have worked closely with the airport, Metrolink and train operators to complete this work at a time which will impact the fewest numbers of passengers and I apologise for any short-term inconvenience while we deliver these long-term benefits.”
manchesterairport.co.uk, nationalrail.co.uk
Mark Caswell
