Ordsall Chord could lead to Christmas travel chaos

RAIL passengers are to expect disruption to their journeys over the Christmas period as the final push for the Ordsall Chord, linking Piccadilly and Victoria, is put into place.

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Passengers are being told to check before they travel between October 29 and December 11 and then December 18 to January 2 as many parts of the services are being replaced by coaches.

Oxford Road and Deansgate will be closed December 27 and 31 and then again January 1 and 2, alongside the usual Christmas Day and Boxing Day close.

Other changes expected will be: 

• December 22 – 24: No trains will be running between Liverpool and Manchester Airport with all services ending at Eccles, for those travelling with Northern Rail.
• December 27- 31:  Travelling between Liverpool and Piccadilly with TransPennine is going to be replaced with coaches.
• December 18, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 30: TransPennine are reducing services to Manchester Victoria.
• December 22-24: Those travelling from Glasgow to Manchester with TPE will have to alight at Preston and board a replacement coach.
• December 27, 31, January 1: Oxford Road and Deansgate stations will be closed
• January 1: No services between Edinburgh and Manchester

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “While I recognise the short-term pain of timetable impacts as we build the Ordsall Chord, I would urge people to keep sight of the long-term gain this scheme will bring them.

“Connecting Manchester’s two main stations removes a pinch-point on the rail network that has existed for more than 100 years. This will improve train travel not just for people in Manchester itself but for passengers across whole of the north of England.

“The Ordsall Chord will also help deliver the key benefits of the Railway Upgrade Plan for the north. There will be quicker, more frequent, more pleasant train journeys between Manchester and Leeds. These improvements will be felt, too, by customers in Newcastle, Hull and other great cities and towns across the region.”

Latest travel information can be checked at www.nationalrail.co.uk and passengers are advised to check up until they have to travel.