When major station on routes to and from Liverpool will shut for two years

Oxford Road railway station in Manchester
-Credit:Universal Images Group via Getty Images


Plans to upgrade one of the North West's major train stations would mean it will close for at least two years and new details have revealed when that will begin. Manchester Oxford Road, which is a stop on many train services between Liverpool and Manchester, could see upgrades including longer platforms, track and signalling improvements, as well as construction of a new station footbridge with lifts serving all platforms.

The plans for fewer but longer platforms - taking the total to three - would allow trains with an extra 120 seats to call at the station. New lifts and a footbridge are also planned as part of the scheme which aims to reduce rail congestion through the city centre.

The proposal, which was unveiled earlier this week, replaces previous plans to build two new platforms at Manchester Piccadilly station. The long-held plans for platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly were scrapped in May 2023 after bosses said the work would be 'incredibly disruptive'.

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The plans to remodel Oxford Road were part of the previous Piccadilly project. Network Rail said that trains will still run through Oxford Road while the work happens, but they will not stop at the station for just over two years.

The MEN has now reported that the main phase of construction is expected to begin in 2029 and set to finish in 2031. Oxford Road station will be shut for most of this period with preparatory work starting in 2026 before the station has to close.

Passengers have been warned that other city centre stations will be busier than usual during the closure. Network Rail says it is working with Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester council to develop 'passenger handling plans' at Deansgate and elsewhere.

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According to Network Rail, £11.6m of funding has been allocated for the project so far, covering the costs of the design, consultation and 'constructability work'. The final cost plan will be submitted to the government once designs are finalised after the consultation.

It comes after around £23m of taxpayers' money was spent on the previous plans, including the two new platforms at Piccadilly station before they were pulled in May 2023. At the time, Network Rail said the old plans, which also included remodelling Oxford Road, would have been 'hugely expensive' and 'incredibly disruptive' and argued that they 'wouldn't deliver the necessary benefits'.

Northern rail trains serve Manchester Oxford Road
Northern rail trains serve Manchester Oxford Road -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Outline proposals for the Oxford Road upgrade, which have been brought forward by Network Rail, include reconfiguring the platform layout, leaving a total of three platforms each capable of accommodating longer trains. The two, longer through-platforms will be able to take eight-car trains, while a new turn-back platform will accommodate six-car trains; an increase in capacity of two cars per platform. Track layout and signalling improvements also promise to reduce congestion by removing conflicting train movements.

Improvements to accessibility at the station are also planned with new lifts allowing step free access to all platforms and a new footbridge as well as wider, resurfaced platforms. Overhead lines will also be upgraded while over 900m of new track would be laid.

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The final proposals are expected to be submitted in 2026 after two public consultations on the plans have been considered. The first round of consultation on the Manchester Oxford Road Remodelling scheme will run from today (January 20) to February 28, 2025.

A second round of consultation is due to take place before the end of 2025, focusing on environmental and construction information. Network Rail's senior project lead Pete Winters said: “The Manchester Oxford Road Remodelling Scheme consultation is an opportunity for the public to hear about our exciting plans for the station, which include platform, track and signalling upgrades, alongside improvements to station accessibility.

“We want to bring all station users, as well as the local community with us on the journey of improving this important station. I urge the local community and station users to let us know their thoughts so that they can be taken into account as the designs progress.”