Manchester Airport Station improvements
A major £115 million investment into Manchester Airport station will start this winter to improve future connectivity at one of the Britain’s most important transport hubs.
Working with our principal contractor, Kier, we will extend platform 1,2 and 3, remodel the railway junction outside the station and upgrade the signalling systems. This will take place between the end of 2026 and the middle of 2028.
Once complete, the improvements will allow longer trains to serve the station and improve the way trains move in and out of it. The upgrades will strengthen Manchester Airport’s role as a gateway for business, tourism and international travel and support future passenger growth.
The work forms part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade, our programme to create a bigger, more reliable and better-connected railway across Greater Manchester and the North West.
What work are we carrying out?
Working with Kier, we will be improving the station and the railway around it including:
- Extending platforms 1, 2 & 3
- Remodelling the railway junction outside the station
- Upgrading the track layout on the approach to the station
- Modernising the signalling system used to manage train movements
Remodelling the junction and modernising the signalling system will improve how trains move into and out of the station, providing greater operational flexibility and helping to increase reliability.
When is the work taking place?
The programme will be delivered between the end of 2026 and the middle of 2028.
Railway upgrades of this scale cannot be completed safely while trains are running. Some stages of the programme will therefore require temporary changes to train services or closures of the station and surrounding railway.
The first piece of this programme will commence on Sunday 6 December 2026, when Manchester Airport station will be temporarily closed for one day only to allow our engineers to begin work safely. Following this, there will be a number of weekend closures over 2027 in preparation for 10-weeks of upgrades at the start of 2028.
We’re carefully planning the programme with Manchester Airport Group, Transport for Greater Manchester, train operators and other transport partners to reduce disruption as much as possible.
Information about future engineering work will be provided in advance to help passengers and anyone using the airport plan their journeys ahead of time.
How will this work affect me?
There will be some changes to services while we carry out these major improvements, with rail replacement buses operating between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport. Additional customer-handling teams will be available to support passengers throughout the day.
If you’re travelling to or from Manchester Airport by rail on Sunday 6 December 2026, please:
- Check your journey before travelling
- Allow additional time
- Be aware that replacement buses may take longer than your usual train journey
- Follow the latest advice from your train operator and National Rail Enquiries
- Check any onward flight or travel arrangements before setting off
Manchester Airport will remain open during the railway closure.
Details of future changes to train services will be added to this page once they are confirmed.
Why is this work needed?
Manchester Airport station is a key transport interchange, connecting passengers from across the North West and beyond with one of the country’s principal international gateways.
As demand for rail and air travel grows, the station and surrounding railway need to be able to accommodate more passengers and longer trains.
The current railway layout limits how trains can move into and out of the station. The length of the existing platforms also restricts the trains that can use them.
Extending the platforms, remodelling the junction and modernising the signalling system will create more capacity and flexibility. This will allow the railway to better meet future demand and help improve the reliability of services.
Working with our partners
We’re working closely with Kier, Manchester Airport Group, Transport for Greater Manchester, the Department for Transport, train operators and other transport partners throughout the project.
Together, we’re coordinating the engineering programme, alternative travel arrangements and passenger information to keep people moving while the improvements are delivered.
We’ll continue to update passengers, airport users, local communities and stakeholders as the programme progresses.
Part of the Manchester Rail Upgrade
The Manchester Airport station improvements form part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade.
This major investment programme will increase future railway capacity across Greater Manchester and the North West, supporting more seats and more reliable journeys.
Projects already delivered as part of the wider programme include:
- Electrification of the railway between Wigan and Bolton, which entered passenger service in summer 2025
- Platform extensions at Mauldeth Road, Gatley and East Didsbury to accommodate longer
Other work being delivered includes:
- A third platform and passenger improvements at Salford Crescent station
- A new turnback sidings at Oldfield Road and Brewery Junction
- New signalling for the sidings and platforms at Salford Crescent, Brewery Junction and Oldfield Road
- Overhead electric line equipment across parts of Manchester
Together, these projects will help create a bigger, more reliable and better-connected railway for millions of passengers.
Further information
For the latest information about your journey, please check with your train operator or visit www.nationalrailenquiries.co.uk.
If you have a question about the project, please contact us at www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus.