Rail passengers wishing to travel to London next February will face long delays.
There will be no direct trains to London for an 11-day period from 13th to 24th February 2016 due to the closure of the Crewe to Manchester line.
The closure is to enable Network Rail will carry out vital refurbishment works to bridges and two viaducts as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan.
During this period, services to Manchester from London and South Wales (and vice-versa) will temporarily by-pass Crewe and be diverted via Macclesfield and Stockport.
Local rail services will also be affected between Wilmslow, Stockport and Crewe. Replacement bus services will be provided and alternative routes will be signposted for all passengers who are affected.
Network Rail will be investing £7 million to upgrade the Grade II listed Holmes Chapel viaduct, also known locally as the 'Twemlow viaduct', which was built in 1841 and £3 million to upgrade the Grade II listed Peover viaduct which was built in 1842. Both viaducts carry the electrified line from Crewe to Manchester.
As part of the works, enhancements will be made to the interior of the subway at Wilmslow Station which will involve the walls being waterproofed to make the subway more presentable and welcoming for passengers.
A spokesperson on behalf of Virgin Trains, Northern Rail, CrossCountry trains and Arriva Trains said: "We understand that improvement works impact on passengers. This investment is vital and will deliver real benefits in helping to provide customers with a more reliable railway. All affected train operating companies are working closely with Network Rail to ensure alternative travel arrangements are in place wherever possible and to keep disruption to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out. Our advice to all customers travelling between Manchester and Crewe is to check their journey before they travel."
To ensure that passengers can continue to travel during the 11 day closure in February 2016, the affected train operating companies will be running the following amended services:
Northern Rail:
Monday 15 – Friday 19 February and Monday 22 -Tuesday 23 February
· Train services to operate from Manchester Piccadilly – Alderley Edge via Stockport and via Manchester Airport
· Regular replacement buses to be provided between Wilmslow and Crewe calling at all stations.
Saturday Sunday (13-14 and 20-21 February)
· Train services operate Manchester Piccadilly – Wilmslow via Manchester Airport.
· Train services operate Manchester Piccadilly – Stockport
· Regular replacement buses to be provided between Stockport and Crewe calling at all stations.
Virgin Trains:
Manchester Piccadilly – London Euston via Crewe services are diverted via Stoke and Macclesfield and will not call at Wilmslow.
Arriva Trains Wales
South Wales – Manchester services generally diverted via Warrington to terminate/start at Manchester Oxford Road
CrossCountry
Those services which normally operate via Crewe will be diverted via Stoke and Macclesfield.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.