£115 Million Upgrade to Increase Rail Capacity at Manchester Airport

A major programme of rail infrastructure improvements is set to get underway at Manchester Airport, with £115 million being invested in the airport’s railway station and surrounding network.

Network Rail and contractor Kier are preparing to begin the works this winter, with the wider programme scheduled to continue through to 2028.

The investment is designed to increase rail capacity at the airport and support more reliable services as passenger demand grows. It forms part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade, which is focused on improving rail connectivity and performance across the North West.

Longer Platforms and Rail Infrastructure Improvements

Several elements of the railway infrastructure serving Manchester Airport will be modified as part of the project.

Platforms 1, 2 and 3 will be extended, enabling longer trains to serve the station. Changes will also be made to the track layout approaching the station, while signalling infrastructure will be modernised.

Together, the improvements are intended to provide additional capacity for train services and strengthen Manchester Airport’s rail connections with destinations across the region and elsewhere in the UK.

First Major Works Scheduled for December

An important early stage of the project is planned for Sunday, 6 December 2026, when Manchester Airport station will close for one day.

Engineers will use the closure to install a new utility bridge over the railway. The structure will carry electrical cables and facilitate subsequent work on an existing bridge used by Manchester Airport Group.

The existing bridge is scheduled for removal during Easter 2027, with a replacement structure expected to be constructed later that year.

Arrangements are being made to limit the impact of the December closure on passengers. Network Rail is coordinating with Manchester Airport Group, Transport for Greater Manchester and train operators, while rail replacement buses will operate between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport.

Additional staff will also be available to assist passengers during the closure. Manchester’s Metrolink services are expected to continue operating as normal.

Once completed, the wider programme is expected to provide Manchester Airport station with greater capacity for passengers and trains while improving the reliability of rail services serving the airport.

Source