Date: 07/02/2014

A £600m upgrade to the rail network in the north is to officially start later as work on a fourth platform at Manchester Airport gets under way. The £20m airport project is part of the Northern Hub, which aims to electrify lines and improve the network in and around Manchester by 2019. Northern Hub is expected to increase passenger capacity by 44 million a year and create 20,000 jobs. Chancellor George Osborne will announce the start of the project later. As part of the Northern Hub plans, two new platforms will be built at Manchester Piccadilly and track widening at Oxford Road station will allow longer and more frequent trains. [From Richard Buckby]

External links

Northern Hub rail upgrade begins

BBC News

A £600m upgrade to the northern rail network begins with work on a fourth platform at Manchester Airport.

Related images

An artist's impression showing one of the proposals for the Ordsall Chord. See news item.
Location: Ordsall Chord
Company: Ordsall Chord (Network Rail)
20/11/2012 Network Rail

High above Fairfield Street, Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly sees TPE 185112 call with the 0900 Manchester Airport - Glasgow Central. The lengthy, elevated island platforms 13/14 handle all through trains at Piccadilly and are very busy throughout the day.
Location: Manchester Piccadilly
Company: Manchester and Birmingham Railway
03/08/2011 Mark Bartlett

185139 stands at Manchester Airport with the 1327 service to Edinburgh Waverley on 6 March 2008. The extensive construction work is in connection with the provision of a third platform at the station The additional platform is scheduled to open in January 2009.
Location: Manchester Airport
Company: Manchester Airport (British Rail)
06/03/2008 David Burrell