Views sought on Manchester Oxford Road reset
Longer platforms, accessibility improvements, and track upgrades are under consideration in outline proposals brought forward by Network Rail that could see the station close for two years.
Network Rail has identified the need to address the current bottleneck between Deansgate and Piccadilly stations. To do so, the organisation is planning a reconfiguration of Manchester Oxford Road station’s layout; elongating platforms to accommodate longer trains and thus boost passenger capacity by 120 seats and two cars per platform.
Outline plans indicate two longer through-platforms capable of taking eight-car trains as well as a third turn-back platform that could accommodate six-car trains.
Altering the track layout and refining signalling would reduce congestion by removing conflicting train movements, improving reliability, and providing space for two more trains an hour, according to Network Rail.
The Oxford Road Station Remodelling Scheme would also deliver a roomier replacement footbridge with accommodating lifts for station-wide step-free access.
In addition, overhead line equipment would be upgraded and more than 900m of track laid.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said the plans are long overdue.
“We have said for a long time that Oxford Road Station is in need of a range of improvements from easing the congestion, increasing capacity, improving reliability, and ensuring that the station is accessible for all commuters.
“This consultation will be a positive step in achieving those goals and ensuring the needs of tens of thousands of people who travel through Oxford Road on a daily basis are being met.”
She added: “Any future development will be a long-term project but infrastructure upgrades like these are essential if we are to continue growing Manchester as the leading city of the North.”
Pete Winters, senior project lead for Network Rail, said: “We want to bring all station users, as well as the local community, with us on the journey of improving this important station.
“I urge the local community and station users to let us know their thoughts so that they can be taken into account as the designs progress.”
The first round of consultation on the Manchester Oxford Road Remodelling scheme will run from 20 January to 28 February 2025.
Have your say: manchesteroxfordroad.consultation
There will also be drop-in events to view the plans and speak with the team:
- Event one: Saturday 1 February 2025, 11am to 4pm
- Event two: Monday 17 February 2025, 2pm to 7pm
Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS
A second round of consultation is due to take place before the end of 2025, which will focus on environmental and construction information.
Network Rail will submit the applications needed to build the scheme in 2026.
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No expense spared with London Labour. Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves is finding billions for new runways at Gatwick and Heathrow. You know ,the Chancellor who has no money.
By Elephant
great, now do Piccadilly
By anon
Two years, then add in another two years for the usual unforeseen issues etc. No wonder the country is going to the dogs!!
By Tannoy
Yet more money being thrown at Manchester. How about reducing pressure on its infrastructure by allowing other economies to grow. As opposed to throttling them.
The ordsall chord was a con and should be taken out of service. Problem solved.
By Jeff
Jeff has the biggest vendetta against Manchester because it’s the only regional city to stand up against London and try and do things for itself. Such a shame that we have these useless people trying to constrict the growth of a forward thinking city because their council won’t pull their leg out and do something of their own. Point the finger at those in Westminster and London who gobble up all the funds for the country, not Manchester who’s actively trying to make progress and bridge the gap.
By Jeff Hater
Elephant, as both Heathrow and Gatwick are privately owned I would expect no public money to be spent on these projects.
By Anonymous
Unambitious rubbish I’m afraid. Moving the deck chairs instead of building new lines won’t change the economic fundamentals of the north I’m afraid.
By Anonymous
‘Two more trains per hour’
By Chris
No Jeff.
By Everyone
Could Jeff define con please? The only problem with it is that there hasn’t been the necessaryI lnvestment in the rest of the corridor to maximise its potential
By Anonymous
@January 21, 2025 at 11:37 am
By Elephant
Quite. Remember, a significant chunk of the Labour membership reside in London.
You could spend the Heathrow third runway money on numerous tram systems in the North.
By Rye
Jeff, Greater Manchester (GM) has, over the last 30 years, been very successful in attracting both private and public investment. This success is due to having local councillors and officers who are prepared to be agile, take risks and work with partners to get stuff done. Rather than criticising Government and councillors in Greater Manchester perhaps you should be asking why other authorities cannot match the investment success of GM.
By Anonymous
How about actually do what needs to be done – platforms 15 and 16. This might be nice to do, but it’s still just more window dressing without tackling the real issues.
By Anonymous
I for one like this idea as a frequent traveller to oxford road. This would make travel easier
By Anonymous
This would never happen in London; nothing short of a total remodel would be accepted/ acceptable. The proposals are merely tinkering with the structural problems affecting rail travel across central Manchester. More surface level track/ platforms or an underground tunnel are the only viable (and economic) long term solution.
By Anonymous
2 years seems a very long time for the station to be shut.
That said, the work definitely improve the service in to Manchester and across the North. Upcoming improvements to Salford Crescent and Salford Central will help too. If we can move freight trains out of Manchester too that would be progress. Platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly would be massive, but I won’t hold my breath on that one.
By Nick
sounds like magic, less platforms, more trains… crazy value engineered solution and clearly means platforms 15 and 16 are never going to see the light of day
By concerned