A £115 million investment will begin at Manchester Airport station this winter, with Network Rail and contractor Kier delivering the upgrades through 2028. The work is part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade programme, aimed at building a larger, more reliable and better‑connected railway for millions of passengers across the North West. The improvements will create additional capacity, support the operation of more trains and help deliver more reliable and efficient journeys, thereby strengthening Manchester Airport’s role as a gateway for business, tourism and international travel.
The first major stage of the programme will take place on Sunday 6 December 2026, when the station will be temporarily closed for one day. Engineers will install a utility bridge across the railway to house electrical cables. This will allow a bridge structure used by Manchester Airport Group to be removed at Easter 2027, before a new one is constructed later in the year. The station will reopen as normal on Monday 7 December. During the closure, rail replacement buses will operate between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, with additional staff on hand to assist customers; Metrolink services will not be affected.
Network Rail, Manchester Airport Group, Transport for Greater Manchester and train operators are working closely to minimise disruption and keep customers moving throughout the closure. The £115 million upgrade is described by Network Rail Senior Sponsor Simon Daly as a major commitment to improving one of the country’s most important transport interchanges, creating more capacity for passengers, allowing longer trains to serve the station and improving the reliability of services for years to come. The project is supported by Great British Railways, with Rail Minister Lord Hendy highlighting the investment as an example of how public ownership can deliver for passengers and grow the North’s economy.
