01.04.15
Easter closure at Manchester Victoria for signalling transfer
Manchester Victoria station will be closed from 00.01 on Friday 3 April to 05.00 on Tuesday 7 April while the signalling control is transferred from the Manchester North Signalling Control Centre near Salford Crescent station to the new route operating centre (ROC) at Ashburys.
Work will also be taking place between Manchester and Bolton via Farnworth, strengthening one of the Farnworth Tunnels in preparation for work to electrify the line for services from December 2016. That closure is from 00.30 on Friday to 06.00 on Tuesday, and there will be a subsequent full line closure from 2 May to 4 October 2015.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “Both of these sets of work are part of our ongoing investment to provide a more reliable and efficient railway in the north west of England.
“Relocating the signalling controls is an important step in the modernisation of the railway in and around Greater Manchester and is part of a national strategy to make the railway more reliable and efficient.
“I apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause but the result will be a better railway for passengers from across the north west.”
Spokespeople for Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express also apologised for the disruption but promised as much extra help and information as possible, and said the works would improve the railway in the long run.
Separate Easter works on the West Coast Main Line near Euston will affect train travel to and from London. Visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk/easter