Passengers using Manchester Piccadilly, the North West’s busiest railway station, are being warned of 'once-in-a-generation' track and signalling upgrades scheduled for February next year.

Network Rail is set to invest nearly £8 million to improve the southern approach to the station, with infrastructure dating back to the 1980s. The work will involve replacing 11 sets of points, renewing 9,000 metres of cabling, upgrading timber sleepers to modern concrete, and updating lineside equipment across six lines, enhancing reliability for both passengers and freight in the future.

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The investment has been long awaited, as ageing infrastructure on this key stretch can disrupt trains running in and out of Manchester.

Nick Smith, Network Rail project manager, said: "Once the work is completed it will provide a huge boost to reliability for passengers."

The scale of the upgrades means no trains from the south and east of the city will run into Manchester Piccadilly for nine days over February half term, from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22. Services across the north and direct trains to Manchester Airport will also be affected.

Trains normally serving Manchester Piccadilly will terminate at alternative stations, including Stockport. While the train shed (platforms 1–12) will close, the station concourse will remain open, and a limited westbound service will operate from platforms 13 and 14.