Major Upgrades Proposed for Manchester Oxford Road Station

Network Rail is proposing significant upgrades to enhance passenger experience and the broader rail network as part of the Manchester Oxford Road Station Remodelling Scheme.

Starting today (Monday, 20 January), a public consultation will explore various upgrades, including extended platforms, improved track and signalling, and a new station footbridge with lifts serving all platforms. The proposed changes include reconfiguring the platform layout to create three platforms, each capable of accommodating longer trains. Two through-platforms will handle eight-car trains, while a new turn-back platform will accommodate six-car trains, increasing capacity by two cars per platform.

The consultation aims to gather public feedback on these proposals to inform further design stages. Key proposed improvements include:

Reducing congestion with improved track layout and signalling, eliminating conflicting train movements.
Upgrading overhead line equipment and laying over 900 meters of new track.
Enhancing station accessibility with a new footbridge, wider platforms, and improved lifts, ensuring step-free access to all platforms.

Benefits of the scheme:

Longer platforms will add 120 extra seats on services stopping at the station.
Improved track and signalling will enhance flexibility and reliability, increasing train frequency from 12 to 14 per hour.
Station upgrades will create a more accessible and welcoming environment for passengers.
Longer platforms will support other projects like the Transpennine Route Upgrade, allowing longer trains on the network.
The design of the footbridge, staircase, and canopies will respect the surrounding historic buildings, including the Grade II listed station building and platform canopies.

Feedback is invited on all aspects of the scheme, including design, construction, and its impact on the rail network, environment, and community. The first round of consultation will run from 20 January to 28 February 2025, with a virtual consultation room and feedback form available online.

Pete Winters, Senior Project lead for Network Rail, 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."

Craig Harrop, Regional director for Northern in the North West, said: "We're really excited about the redevelopment of Manchester Oxford Road station and the enhanced experience this will provide our colleagues and customers.

"It's an iconic station and one of the main gateways to the city and so I would encourage local residents and rail users to get involved and voice their opinion on the plans."

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: "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."

A second round of consultation is due to take place before the end of 2025, which will focus on environmental and construction information.

Once both consultations have been considered, Network Rail will submit the applications needed to build the scheme in 2026.

Image credit: Network Rail