Major plans to revamp Manchester Oxford Road station have been revealed. The station would be closed for just over two years under the proposed scheme aimed at reducing rail congestion in Manchester city centre by having fewer but longer platforms.
Network Rail's proposals, which include new lifts and a footbridge, are designed to allow longer trains with an additional 120 seats to stop at the station. While the construction is estimated to close the station for just over two years, project leaders say the timing is 'subject to change'.
Trains will still be able to pass through the station, limiting the impact on the wider rail network, although neighbouring stations are expected to experience increased traffic during the closure. This project follows the quiet scrapping of long-standing plans to construct two new platforms at Piccadilly station in May 2023, over a decade after they were initially promised.
Network Rail had previously labelled the platforms 15 and 16 project as 'hugely expensive' and 'incredibly disruptive', arguing that remodelling Oxford Road was the optimal solution.
A Network Rail review in 2019 concluded that 'no other option comes close' to increasing capacity on the congested Castlefield corridor to 16 trains per hour than the previous plans. The report, which was never published but has been obtained following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, identifies the Castlefield corridor as the 'ruling Manchester network constraint', reports .
It warned that doing nothing would likely worsen services. The report concluded that the full package of work, which included building two new platforms at Piccadilly as well as lengthening platforms at Oxford Road would achieve the required increase in capacity. It stated that 'no other option comes close' to achieving this, unless there are reductions elsewhere, such as fewer trains stopping at certain stations.
Network Rail says its review of the previous plans found that the high cost of the scheme 'wouldn't deliver the necessary benefits'. The public body says the new plans to improve the track and signalling at Oxford Road will improve reliability across the regional network, allowing for an increase from 12 to 14 trains per hour.
The plans for platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly, which were supposed to end rail delays and congestion across the North, went through a public inquiry and had been awaiting final sign off since 2015.
Around £23m of taxpayers' money was spent on developing and consulting on the plans before they were pulled in May 2023, according to figures obtained through an FOI request.
Some £77m was invested in the construction of the Ordsall Chord as part of the ambitious £1bn Northern Hub plan, unveiled by then-Chancellor George Osborne in 2014. The crucial link between Piccadilly and Victoria was successfully completed in 2017.
Now, a fresh consultation has been launched for the proposed upgrades at Oxford Road. Preliminary proposals, put forward by Network Rail, suggest a reconfiguration of the platform layout, resulting in three platforms each capable of accommodating longer trains.
The two extended through-platforms will be able to handle eight-car trains, while a new turn-back platform will accommodate six-car trains; this represents an increase in capacity of two cars per platform. The suggested track layout and signalling enhancements promise to alleviate congestion by eliminating conflicting train movements.
Overhead line equipment is also set to be upgraded, along with the laying of over 900m of new track. The scheme also encompasses improvements to station accessibility, with new lifts providing step-free access to all platforms and plans for a new footbridge.
Wider, resurfaced platforms and upgrades to existing lifts are also on the cards. Network Rail asserts that the design of the footbridge, staircase and canopies takes into account the surrounding architecture, including buildings of historical significance such as the Grade II listed station building and platform canopies at Manchester Oxford Road Station, as well as the broader built environment on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road.
Manchester Council leader Bev Craig has expressed the need for significant upgrades at Oxford Road Station, saying: "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 that the needs of the tens of thousands of people who travel through Oxford Road on a daily basis are being met.
"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."
Officials are in talks with Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester council, and station teams to coordinate potential solutions for managing passenger volumes during anticipated closures. The submission of final proposals is slated for 2026, after two rounds of public consultations.
The primary consultation phase for the Manchester Oxford Road Remodelling scheme started on January 20, and is set to conclude on February 28, 2025. Throughout this window, stakeholders can participate via an online virtual consultation room and feedback form.
Additionally, there will be opportunities for interested parties to attend drop-in events, offering the chance to review the plans and engage with the team directly.
Network Rail has announced a second round of consultation set for before the end of 2025, concentrating on environmental and construction details. Following these consultations, Network Rail plans to submit the necessary applications in 2026 to commence building the scheme.
Senior project lead Pete Winters said: "The Manchester Oxford Road Remodelling Scheme consultation is an opportunity for the public to hear about our exciting plans for the station, which include platform, track and signalling upgrades, alongside improvements to station accessibility.
"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."
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