Railway upgrades in Salford

We’re building an additional platform at Salford Crescent station, and working with Transport for Greater Manchester to upgrade Salford Central

Project timeline

Work at both stations started in early 2025. At Salford Crescent, the third platform will be open in 2026.

What work is taking place?

Salford Crescent

We’re building a new extra platform at Salford Crescent, which will improve passenger flow and reduce train delays. This will allow more flexibility for trains travelling through central Manchester and across the country.

We’ll also install a new exit ticket gate line, which will improve passenger flow.

Salford Central

We’re working with Transport for Greater Manchester to upgrade Salford Central station.

Following on from the upgrades to the platforms, a new roof has been built on the upper level of the Salford Central station building. A canopy extension has been installed on Platform 1, and Platform 2 has been substantially widened. A glazed ramp roof has been installed to improve accessibility for disabled people, those carrying heavy luggage, and parents or carers with buggies and pushchairs to access the lift.

Work continues, as we modernise the station building, installing new accessible toilets and improving the ramps to the platform. A new ticket office is also being built on the lower level of the station, set to open soon. In the meantime, passengers will still be able to purchase tickets from the ticket machine, station staff, online or via the Northern app.

This is part of a £10m overhaul at the station to boost accessibility and improve the passenger experience. Work at the station will continue until October 2025, with the station remaining open throughout this time.

When is the work taking place?

Salford Crescent

We arrived on site over Christmas 2024. The main work began in March 2025, with some weekend work needed, until autumn 2025.

The work at the station will continue until October 2025.

Salford Central

Work at Salford Central began in January 2025 and will be completed by October 2025.

How will this work affect me?

Rail closures

To carry out the work, Salford Crescent station will close for several weekends between March and September 2025. The work will be complete in early 2026.

There will be no rail services at Salford Crescent on the following dates:

May 2025

• Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 May

September 2025

• Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 September

We’re working with Northern and TfGM to make sure people in Salford can travel as conveniently as possible during the work.

Ticket acceptance for anyone holding a valid rail ticket will be in place for passengers to use any Bee Network bus service between Salford Crescent – Salford Central – Manchester City Centre – Manchester Oxford Rd station (for V1, V2 and 50 services). This will be in place from 10 February to 21 April 2025, and then weekends 26/27 April and 03/04 May. Please plan your journey on Northern’s website.

Road closures

A section of University Road West, near Salford Crescent station, will be closed during the project to allow the team to safely carry out the work.

From 6 January 2025, a section of University Road West will be closed for around 12 months. There will be a diversionary route in place to minimise local disruption and access to properties will be open at all times.

Why is the work needed?

Salford Crescent station is on the busy Manchester to Preston line. Services call from across the North West into Manchester and Manchester Airport.

In 2022/23 the station handled almost 1.2 million entries and exits, making it one of the busiest stations in Greater Manchester.

The platform will give signallers more options to ease “traffic jams” through the station. As well as through the busy central Manchester rail network.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or need assistance with a specific issue, please contact Network Rail’s helpline on 0345 711 4141 or online at www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/contact-us.

Our community relations team will log your request with the project team, and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

We’ve also introduced a new, digital lineside notification service, which can keep you informed of railway work happening nearby. To sign up, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/sign-up.