Network Rail Awards £115 Million Manchester Airport Station Upgrade

Network Rail has awarded a contract to Kier to lead a £115 million upgrade of Manchester Airport station, with completion scheduled for 2028. The project involves extending platforms one through three to accommodate two six-carriage trains per platform, alongside remodeling track layouts and modernizing signaling systems to increase passenger capacity and service reliability.

The first major phase of the project will occur on December 6, 2026, when the station will close for one day to install a utility bridge for electrical cables. This installation allows for the removal of a bridge used by the Manchester Airport Group in early 2027, with a permanent replacement to be built later that year. During the December closure, rail replacement buses will operate between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, though Metrolink services will remain operational.

Funded by the government as part of the broader Manchester Rail Upgrade programme, the project is presented as a model for the public ownership approach of Great British Railways. While the total investment is valued at £115 million, data provider Glenigan specifies the Kier contract value at £65 million. Officials stated the investment will deliver more reliable services and improve connectivity across the North West.