Disruption warning over two-year station closure
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Plans to shut a city centre railway station for two years could lead to major passenger disruption, a council has warned.
Network Rail is consulting on a project to redevelop Manchester Oxford Road to boost capacity by increasing the size of platforms and improve accessibility.
Manchester City Council has welcomed the planned overhaul but in a report said the knock-on impacts needed to be "sensitively" handled.
"The last thing we want is 10 years of delays," council leader Bev Craig told councillors at a recent meeting.
Trains will continue to pass through Oxford Road when work takes place between 2029 and 2031, but none will stop at the station.
Neighbouring stations will become busier as a result, but Network Rail said the overhaul would lead to major improvements to the reliability of services in the city.
Construction traffic
Craig said councillors had long called for Network Rail to invest in Oxford Road.
But she confirmed the authority had concerns about the impact of construction work and "what happens in the meantime when it's closed, particularly when Northern closes Deansgate at 6pm, or when it's busy".
Network Rail previously said it would work with local authorities and the station team to "manage increased passenger flows" while the work takes place.
In its response to the Network Rail consultation, Manchester City Council has outlined those concerns about the impact along Oxford Road, which council officers describe as "one of Europe's busiest bus routes".
The council said: "Given the proximity of the station to the key Oxford Road bus and active travel corridor, construction traffic would need to be very carefully managed.
"While some local highway and construction traffic impacts from the scheme are inevitable, the council intends to stress the sensitivity of these potential impacts."
Further concerns have been raised about how air quality issues and work taking place at night could impact businesses including the 02 Ritz, Home and the Palace Theatre, as well as residents in MacIntosh village.
An initial consultation on the plans will be open until 28 February, with Network Rail hoping to submit finalised plans by spring 2026.
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