Manchester Piccadilly closed Sunday 15th. January 2023

[jfollows]

Manchester Piccadilly to cancel trains for roof repairs

All trains from Manchester Piccadilly are to be cancelled on Sunday, Network Rail says.

www.bbc.co.uk

All trains from Manchester Piccadilly are to be cancelled on Sunday, Network Rail have announced.
Trains are to be replaced by buses on Sunday "due to engineering works on our train shed roof", it tweeted.
Network Rail which owns and manages Manchester Piccadilly station thanked passengers for their patience ahead of the engineering works.
Manchester Piccadilly was the 10th busiest railway station in Britain between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.

I wasn't aware of this; National Rail Enquiries says

Start date15/01/2023End date15/01/2023Route affected
All routes via Stockport
Train operators affectedAvanti West Coast , CrossCountry , Northern , TransPennine Express , Transport for WalesDescription
Engineering work is taking place between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly, closing some lines.

Avanti West Coast:

Buses will replace trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport.

CrossCountry:

Buses replace trains between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.

Northern:

Trains that run between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe / Buxton / Chester will start / terminate at Stockport. A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport.

Trains that run between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport will be replaced by a bus throughout.

TransPennine Express:

There will be no service between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.

Additionally Manchester Piccadilly will be closed all day. All services will be diverted to start / terminate at Manchester Victoria.

Services between Glasgow Central / Edinburgh and Manchester Airport will be diverted to start / terminate at Preston.

A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly / Preston.

Transport for Wales:

Buses will replace trains between Crewe / Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Piccadilly.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use this page.

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Does anyone have more information on the work taking place at Manchester Piccadilly or is it just something like regular maintenance over the entire roof which affects all platforms potentially so the station's closed as a precaution. Why are platforms 13 & 14 closed also, or are they currently still closed for other reasons?

 

[TheGrew]

I don't believe there is any public access to platforms 13/14 without going through the main shed.

 

[jfollows]

I don't believe there is any public access to platforms 13/14 without going through the main shed.

Good point!
The stairs down to Fairfield Street closed rather a long time ago, didn't they?

 

[TheGrew]

Good point!
The stairs down to Fairfield Street closed rather a long time ago, didn't they?

Yeah, it looks like they are still there but not open to the public from what I can see. It does look like an accessible entrance (list) from near the taxi rank would allow you to bypass the main shed but that wouldn't be appropriate for shifting large numbers of people to the platforms.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks like Avanti have blocked all ticket sales for Sunday despite the planners being correct. Are they incapable of handling this sort of thing nicely?

Is this planned work or emergency? What's needing to be done?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't believe there is any public access to platforms 13/14 without going through the main shed.

The lift up to the P13/14 lounge is essentially outside the main structure.
But not very sensible for the usual crowds.

Through trains are turning at Victoria/Oxford Road/Stockport with bus connections, or buses throughout.
TfW turning at Crewe/Warrington BQ.

Find details of current incidents | National Rail

A portal into UK rail travel, including information on ticket purchase and promotions, train times and delays, and more.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[CyrusWuff]

Looks like Avanti have blocked all ticket sales for Sunday despite the planners being correct. Are they incapable of handling this sort of thing nicely?

There's also Engineering Work between Wolverton and Nuneaton, with trains being diverted via Northampton and New Street.

Typical Euston - Stockport Journey time is over three hours as a result, so there's probably some demand management going on as well, as trains are showing as Reservations Compulsory.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's also Engineering Work between Wolverton and Nuneaton, with trains being diverted via Northampton and New Street.

Typical Euston - Stockport Journey time is over three hours as a result, so there's probably some demand management going on as well, as trains are showing as Reservations Compulsory.

It's not demand management - ALL Avanti West Coast trains are blocked for sale on Sunday, even ones which would generally be nearly empty.

Do they not realise just how much this is costing them? I'm going to be using them on a walk-up which I'll buy from the LNR (non planner) TVM on Friday, but lots of people will just see "sold out" and drive.

 

[CyrusWuff]

It's not demand management - ALL Avanti West Coast trains are blocked for sale on Sunday, even ones which would generally be nearly empty.

Do they not realise just how much this is costing them? I'm going to be using them on a walk-up which I'll buy from the LNR (non planner) TVM on Friday, but lots of people will just see "sold out" and drive.

Given DfT are taking the revenue risk, I suspect Avanti don't really care how much it's costing if truth were told!

That said, I'd have thought it would be hitting them when it comes to their performance reviews (and hence their management fee.)

 

[The Planner]

Gable ends on the shed I believe.

 

[Greybeard33]

From the absence of any information to the contrary, I assume Metrolink services will be stopping at Piccadilly as normal. Presumably only the street level entrances to the platforms will be open, with the stairways to the concourse blocked off.

 

[samrammstein]

I assume this type of work would involve an OHLE isolation as well, prohibiting any useful reduced service from operating.

 

[Starmill]

Do they not realise just how much this is costing them? I'm going to be using them on a walk-up which I'll buy from the LNR (non planner) TVM on Friday, but lots of people will just see "sold out" and drive.

To be fair this is just the norm now for any kind of engineering work, and not specific to this weekend. They'll probably have something on sale a few days beforehand.

It's basically like burning money, but that's just the way it is now. It goes on sale when it goes on sale and not before. And until then it says "sold out" despite that not being correct.

That said, I'd have thought it would be hitting them when it comes to their performance reviews (and hence their management fee.)

As long as they can show they opened bookings at the earliest opportunity it won't reflect negatively on their quality score, even if that's literally just two or three days in advance. The DfT don't seem too worried about the "sold out" message showing when it's incorrect.

 

[Trackman]

Good point!
The stairs down to Fairfield Street closed rather a long time ago, didn't they?

Trying to figure out when that happened, photos I have suggest 1989 with the platform extensions but something happened before that, in fact I have a photo of the stairs down on p13/14 somewhere from the 70's... I will report back.

Yeah, it looks like they are still there but not open to the public from what I can see. It does look like an accessible entrance (list) from near the taxi rank would allow you to bypass the main shed but that wouldn't be appropriate for shifting large numbers of people to the platforms.

Where does it go? p13/14 stairs up to the platform are capped off. Not thinking of the lift are you?

 

[CE142]

From the absence of any information to the contrary, I assume Metrolink services will be stopping at Piccadilly as normal. Presumably only the street level entrances to the platforms will be open, with the stairways to the concourse blocked off.

That was the case on Strike days, once the Rail service had wound down, only the entrance by the Taxi Rank was open.

 

[wilbers]

I assume this type of work would involve an OHLE isolation as well, prohibiting any useful reduced service from operating.

ah, so that would be what is preventing trains for platforms 13/14 continuing to run, but without stopping.

 

[Thomas6187]

I believe that still ongoing resurfacing work on PLT 13/14, hence why no train through 13/14. There is still several more weekends worth work to complete

 

[Man_with_beard]

Why aren't XC running to Manchester Victoria like they've done before? They always used to run to Man Victoria during Piccadilly closures. Seems now a days they just can't be bothered and would rather disrupt the passenger. Its very bad planning to run a bus into a major city when there's an alternative stop in that city that's only less than a mile away that can be easily reached with a simple diversion.

 

[800001]

Why aren't XC running to Manchester Victoria like they've done before? They always used to run to Man Victoria during Piccadilly closures. Seems now a days they just can't be bothered and would rather disrupt the passenger. Its very bad planning to run a bus into a major city when there's an alternative stop in that city that's only less than a mile away that can be easily reached with a simple diversion.

Do XC even sign into Victoria now a days?

 

[Man_with_beard]

Do XC even sign into Victoria now a days?

If they can sign then why can't they sign now?

 

[The Planner]

If they can sign then why can't they sign now?

Money, time and having to keep the knowledge up. There is no guarentee there is even capacity to do it.

 

[TheGrew]

I doubt there is the capacity to do it these days tbh. Especially with them doubling up units I think they would have to use one of the 4 through platforms which really can't hold trains for a prolonged period of time. I would have thought turning them at Crewe (which I believe is still signed) would make more operational sense with platform capacity and abundant sidings to hold the trains.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did we manage to clarify if this was planned or emergency work?

 

[IrishDave]

Did we manage to clarify if this was planned or emergency work?

It's planned work, the possession has been in the Engineering Access Statement for 2023 since version 1, which would have come out around November 2021 I think, certainly over a year ago.

 

[CE142]

Why aren't XC running to Manchester Victoria like they've done before? They always used to run to Man Victoria during Piccadilly closures. Seems now a days they just can't be bothered and would rather disrupt the passenger. Its very bad planning to run a bus into a major city when there's an alternative stop in that city that's only less than a mile away that can be easily reached with a simple diversion.

No XC Driver or Guard will sign Manchester Victoria anymore, they would need a day or two to sign it again, if the DFT had stopped pissing about with RDW agreements then it could have been done. Unfortunately thanks to No.10 and the DFT it hasn't been.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Polystyrene platforms bridge the gap during Piccadilly roof repairs

Passengers are being advised of a full station closure at Manchester Piccadilly this Sunday when specialist teams carry out essential roof repairs.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Passengers are being advised of a full station closure at Manchester Piccadilly this Sunday when specialist teams carry out essential roof repairs.

No trains will be running on Sunday 15 January as the 25,000-volt overhead lines which usually power trains need to be switched off for engineers to work at height.

They are continuing strengthening work to the Victorian-built train shed’s gable end which began over Christmas.

Today (Tuesday 10 January) Network Rail has released pictures of that first phase of the work.

Polystyrene blocks were used to bridge the gaps between platforms to build a temporary route along the width of the station so that mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs) could reach the roof structure.

Twelve 'splice plates' - which join the bottom chords of the steel trusses - are being replaced. They have been specially designed in keeping with the heritage features of the building.

With work continuing on Sunday, rail replacement buses will be operation to keep people on the move.

Manchester Piccadilly’s station concourse and retail units will stay open, but passengers will be directed to the buses on Station Approach to complete their journeys.

People are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and check National Rail Enquiries at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their individual train operator* before they travel.

Kara Wood, Network Rail’s North West head of performance and customer relationship, said: “We’ve been carrying out a lot of essential work to improve Manchester Piccadilly station over Christmas and New Year and this weekend the teams are coming back to complete the second phase of roof maintenance.

“Because we have to turn the power lines off to safely carry out the structural work it means we can’t run any trains all day on Sunday. I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience while we keep people on the move with rail replacement buses and urge people to check National Rail Enquiries so they know how it will impact on their journey.”

Meanwhile further railway upgrades in Greater Manchester will also see changes to journeys in the coming weeks.

On 15 January and 22 January, resurfacing works will be taking place on platforms 13 & 14 and tactile studs are being installed to make it safer for blind and partially sighted people.

Both platforms will be closed to trains to complete the resurfacing work which started over the Christmas break.

Then upgrades on the Manchester Airport line which started last weekend will continue on Sundays in January and February.

Three stations (Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley) are having platforms extended to allow for longer trains to call there in the future.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So, broadly speaking, what's happening with Manchester Piccadilly services on Sunday? Diversions to Manchester Victoria; starting short/stopping at Stockport or Manchester Oxford Road, or just the widespread use of rail replacement buses, such as when the journeys are to/from Sheffield, Manchester Airport and/or Glossop /Hadfield?

 

[Bletchleyite]

So, broadly speaking, what's happening with Manchester Piccadilly services on Sunday? Diversions to Manchester Victoria; starting short/stopping at Stockport or Manchester Oxford Road, or just the widespread use of rail replacement buses, such as when the journeys are to/from Sheffield, Manchester Airport and/or Glossop /Hadfield?

Stockport to Picc and Airport to Picc is RRB. TPE are operating buses from Preston but Northern are running hourly to Oxford Road (the duplicative TPE buses seem a bit pointless). Southports Vic only on Sundays anyway. From Liverpool it's two Northerns (one CLC, one Chat Moss) and a TPE terminating at Oxford Road. Via Marple appears to be buses all the way to Sheffield (other engineering I guess?). Rose Hill no Sunday service anyway. Hadfield line all buses (surprised it's not going into Vic via the curve at Ashburys using DMUs, or is that no longer in use?). TPE all going to/via Vic. Anything normally running via Stockport terminates there.

I think that covers it all?

 

[plugwash]

Anything normally running via Stockport terminates there.

That's going to be "fun", IIRC there is no signaling to allow bringing a train into stockport station from the south and reversing it there, they have to go through the station and reverse further north.

 

[jfollows]

TfGM saying

Rail update
On Sunday [15 January], Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street – Wilmslow will start/terminate at Manchester Oxford Road with a replacement bus running between Deansgate – Manchester Airport.
Also on Sunday, no TransPennine Express services will operate between Manchester Airport – Manchester Piccadilly with services diverted to start/terminate at Manchester Victoria.

which is a bit less helpful than "Piccadilly station is closed all day on Sunday" or similar.
It goes on to say (https://tfgm.com/travel-updates/rai...avel+Update:+Friday+13+to+Thursday+19+January)

On Sunday 15 January

• Avanti services between London Euston – Glasgow Central will be diverted via Northampton/Birmingham New Street on an amended timetable.
• CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly – Reading and Southampton Central – Bournemouth will not call at Basingstoke/Winchester/Southampton Airport Parkway with a replacement bus between Reading – Basingstoke – Winchester.
• Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly – Hadfield – Glossop will be replaced by bus throughout.
• Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street – Wilmslow will start/terminate at Manchester Oxford Road with a replacement bus running between Deansgate – Manchester Airport.
• Northern services between Manchester Airport – Blackpool North will not operate.
• Northern services between Manchester Airport – Windermere – Barrow-in-Furness will start/terminate at Manchester Oxford Road additionally calling at stations between Salford Crescent – Preston with bus replacement running between Manchester Airport – Bolton and Preston – Blackpool North.
• Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly – Sheffield will be replaced by bus throughout.
• TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport – Glasgow Central – Edinburgh will start/terminate at Preston with replacement bus running Manchester Airport – Manchester Piccadilly – Preston.
• No TransPennine Express services will operate between Manchester Airport – Manchester Piccadilly with services diverted to start/terminate at Manchester Victoria.
• TransPennine Express services to/from Redcar Central will run to an amended timetable with northbound services not calling at Thirsk.
• TransPennine Express services will run between Sheffield – Cleethorpes will bus replacement between Manchester Piccadilly – Sheffield

which is a bit better, but still seems to miss the point, I don't feel so bad about missing the planned closure that much given the lack of information available.

That's going to be "fun", IIRC there is no signaling to allow bringing a train into stockport station from the south and reversing it there, they have to go through the station and reverse further north.

Yes, I think there's going to be a lot of reversing ECS over the viaduct.