Platforms at three stations between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are being extended for passengers from this weekend.
Network Rail is investing £8.5m to lengthen Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations to make way for longer trains, providing more seats in future for passengers travelling along the busy airport line.
The work begins on Sunday 8 January and will be complete by the end of March.
To carry out the upgrades, the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport will be closed for six Sundays on:
January 8, 15 and 22
February 12, 19, and 26
Replacement buses will be in place to keep passengers on the move but people are being advised to plan ahead at www.nationalrail.co.uk and allow extra time for their journeys to and from the airport on those dates.
Simon Daly, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “The work to extend Mauldeth Road, East Didsbury and Gatley stations, and Northern’s planned roll out of longer trains in the future, is crucial to increasing capacity on services across the North West of England.
“This work means that longer trains can transport more passengers from across the North West to Manchester Airport.”
Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “We look forward to the commencement of these works and, upon completion, the improvement they will bring to the customer experience on services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport. It is always important to invest in rail infrastructure to ensure we can keep the region moving, getting people from where they are to where they want to be.”
