Manchester Victoria and Salford Central stations reopened to passengers today, Monday 4 April after a 10-day closure over Easter as part of a £1bn+ railway upgrade.
The new Ordsall Chord railway section will link Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations
Network Rail teams worked day and night to move the track, widen the Middlewood viaduct, install a new bridge and strengthen railway arches.
The work is in preparation for the Ordsall Chord, a new piece of railway which will connect Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations, helping to deliver better, faster and more regular services across the north of England. It is part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ Northern Programme to ensure passengers in the north can access more frequent trains and travel to their destination faster.
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail said.
“Firstly I would like to thank passengers and the train operating companies for their patience and understanding during the 10 day closure.
I realise it caused some disruption but it was absolutely necessary to close both stations so we could take a step closer to providing the train service that passengers in Manchester and across the north of England deserve.
Once complete, the Ordsall Chord will provide many benefits and play a major role in helping us deliver the Northern Programme.
Not only will it link two major stations in Manchester and speed up journey times but it will provide a boost to the local economy, helping create thousands of new jobs”.
As part of the Ordsall Chord, a new railway bridge will be built in the local area. The unique design, known as a Network Arch Bridge, will be a first in Britain and will provide a spectacular sight across the Manchester skyline.
While a new bridge will be built, the scheme will also remember the railway’s heritage. George Stephenson’s Bridge, which is Grade I listed and currently hidden from view, will be refurbished and made visible so it can be fully appreciated once again.
Work on Ordsall Chord is expected to complete in December 2017. Passengers will see congestion at Manchester Piccadilly reduced by a quarter, and a new link between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria for the first time.
