Improvement works at Manchester Victoria and Salford Central stations is now complete, Network Rail has announced.

Works included moving the track, widening the Middlewood Viaduct, installing a new bridge and strengthening railway arches.

The 10-day project was carried out in preparation for Ordsall Chord, a new piece of railway connecting Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations.

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As part of the scheme, a new railway bridge will be built in the local area known as Network Arch Bridge. In addition, the Grade I-listed George Stephenson's Bridge will be refurbished.

Overall, the project is part of Network Rail's £1 billion Northern Railway Upgrade Programme.

Martin Frobisher, route MD of Network Rail, said: "Once complete, the Ordsall Chord will provide many benefits and play a major role in helping us deliver the Northern Programme. Not only will it link two major stations in Manchester and speed up journey times but it will provide a boost to the local economy, helping create thousands of new jobs."

(LM)