Rail services have resumed into Manchester Piccadilly after damage to high-voltage overhead wires and subsequent repairs caused major disruption from 16th to 19th April.
Urgent repairs to the overhead wires which power trains have been completed after cables failed on Thursday 16th April. Lines were then caught and damaged on a passing train, causing major delays for passengers travelling between Stockport and Manchester.
Due to the complex area where this took place on the approach to Manchester Piccadilly, with over 400 metres of damaged wires, an extended 12-hour closure of the railway was needed for overhead line specialists to carry out the urgent repairs.
The railway fully reopened for all services at 11am on Sunday 19th April.
Chris Wright, Network Rail North West route director, said:
“I’m sorry to passengers who’ve been impacted by the disruption since the overhead lines failed at Manchester Piccadilly on Thursday. Since that happened our teams of engineers have been working around the clock to repair the damaged 400-metre stretch of high-voltage wires which provide power to electric trains.
“I’d like to thank people for their continued patience and would advise anyone planning to travel into Manchester today to check National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.”
