Manchester Braced for Event Surge Amid Piccadilly Station Closure

Passengers are being urged to prepare their journeys in advance as Manchester braces for a busy Saturday of sport and entertainment during the ongoing nine-day closure of Manchester Piccadilly.

Network Rail is carrying out £7.9 million worth of track and signalling upgrades, with services heavily reduced until Sunday 22 February. During the works, only a limited number of trains are operating to and from platforms 13 and 14.

The disruption coincides with a major line-up of events at the Etihad Campus on Saturday 21 February. Manchester City host Newcastle United at 8pm, singer James Arthur performs at the nearby Co-op Live arena with doors opening at 6.30pm, and the British National Track Championships take place at the National Cycling Centre with sessions scheduled for 10am and 5pm.

With many rail services unable to run into Piccadilly as usual, alternative travel arrangements have been put in place. Options include rail replacement buses, Bee Network bus services and Metrolink trams, with rail ticket acceptance in place on selected bus and tram routes. There is also a walking and cycling route between the city centre and the Etihad Campus.

For onward journeys, passengers can use the Free Bus from Stop E on Whitworth Street West or catch direct Ashton line trams from Deansgate-Castlefield or St Peter’s Square.

Steve Gilholme, Head of Events at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said:

“Saturday is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy day across the Etihad Campus, and with the temporary closure of Manchester Piccadilly affecting many regular rail journeys, it’s really important that people plan ahead. We’re working closely with our partners to make sure everyone can get to and from their event reliably, whether that’s by using rail replacement services, Bee Network buses, Metrolink or walking and cycling routes from the city centre. The dedicated travel information on the Bee Network website is the best place to check your options before setting off, so your journey is as smooth as possible.”

Image: Transport for Greater Manchester