Locals worry about being overlooked by Manchester station remodel plans. Direct routes to Piccadilly and the airport may be impacted.
Locals worry about a transportation “desert”. Network Rail plans to remodel Oxford Road station, and a consultation is currently underway. They want to reduce congestion. The plan shortens platforms from four to three, but longer ones fit trains with 120 more seats. New lifts and a footbridge are also planned.
Construction should start in 2029 and is expected to finish around 2031. The station will close during much of this work. Preparations begin in 2026, before closure.
A travelers group opposes the station plans. They represent rail users west of Wigan. They fear losing direct Southport trains to Piccadilly. The area might be “overlooked”, they claim.
Southport once had two daytime Manchester services. One went north to Victoria, and the other went south through Piccadilly, then continued to Manchester Airport. The southern service was cut in May 2018. After a campaign, it came back in December 2019.
The group feels current services aren’t good enough. Direct trains connect Southport to Manchester, and they are working with MPs, councils, and businesses. They want to change the present Manchester plan.
The group worries the plan removes a key route. This route is the only Northwestern one removed. They noticed their area is often ignored. Plans forget their Southport line. Also, why don’t they ever get new trains?
The group criticizes specific changes. Four tracks will become three. Network Rail says this helps trains turn around. The group fears the Southport line will always end there. They want direct routes to Piccadilly and the airport. The plan fails to meet travel needs, they claimed.