OPERATOR CONSTERNATION AT UNCERTAIN TIMESCALES
MODERN RAILWAYS understand that the four-tracking of much of the route between Manchester’s Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations and construction of two additional through platforms at Piccadilly may not now go ahead. It is thought that the work will at best be further delayed or may already have been cancelled. The additional capacity was thought to be vital once additional services are running via the Ordsall Chord over a section that is already struggling to meet demands for capacity.
According to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne: ‘We are awaiting permission from the Secretary of State to go ahead with the construction of Platforms 15 & 16 [at Piccadilly]’, although when pressed further Mr Carne added: ‘Like many things in the portfolio we will then look again at the benefit-cost ratio of the project. When you see the way in which the train service specification changes, which gives a lot of benefits, we have to look at it again.’
The news comes amid growing concern about the entire portfolio of enhancements in the north west, following Network Rail’s announcement that improvements planned to be delivered in December 2017 would instead be pha…
