'Ardwick Blockade' - February 2026 (timetable alteration updates)

[AndrewE]

Are MkIVs cleared to the Airport? Obviously cleared via Styal but unsure if cleared into the station itself. 197s obviously are but if MkIVs aren't then that may explain it?

Fair enough about MkIVs to the airport, but this is not a TfW thread...

No. But No crews sign the 3rd side of the Heald Green triangle anyway so they couldn't go into the Airport

That is just wrong, as I pointed out...

It was in response to a question about TfW stock at the airport so it refers to TfW crews. Maybe was a rushed reply but still hardly ridiculous.
No trains can be conducted to Piccadilly via the Airport as that section is still shut.
As it stands all TfWs will be turning round at Crewe, not even reaching Wilmslow so any diversion to Manchester Airport isnt going to happen anyway.

Irrelevant. I remember one railway. ASLEF and NUR (as-was) are single unions and don't obstruct sensible working. There is no way that just because a train is TfW stock and traincrew it can't be diverted to a slightly different destination with conductors provided. Can you prove otherwise?
Some trains are definitely running through P13/14 at Picc, so I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

 

[31160]

So basically no really interesting workings are likely?

 

[greatkingrat]

Irrelevant. I remember one railway. ASLEF and NUR (as-was) are single unions and don't obstruct sensible working. There is no way that just because a train is TfW stock and traincrew it can't be diverted to a slightly different destination with conductors provided. Can you prove otherwise?
Some trains are definitely running through P13/14 at Picc, so I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

No trains are running through P13/14. They are terminating there and returning back towards Oxford Road.

 

[sd0733]

Fair enough about MkIVs to the airport, but this is not a TfW thread...

That is just wrong, as I pointed out...

Irrelevant. I remember one railway. ASLEF and NUR (as-was) are single unions and don't obstruct sensible working. There is no way that just because a train is TfW stock and traincrew it can't be diverted to a slightly different destination with conductors provided. Can you prove otherwise?
Some trains are definitely running through P13/14 at Picc, so I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

No I can't prove it cant possibly happen but its certainly not planned to for this block and there's very little benefit when there are already trains running on the route.
The TfW services are planned to turn at Crewe, so wont even make it to Wilmslow. The only trains going to the Airport from any TOC are the hourly Crewe Manchester Airport shuttles.

13/14 has no through trains, just a few turning round in Platform 13. In any case if they were aiming for Piccadilly, they would just be running via the Styal line, avoiding the Airport completely and running the same route as with the Stockport blockade with no need at all for any route conductors.

 

[dggar]

Fair enough about MkIVs to the airport, but this is not a TfW thread...

That is just wrong, as I pointed out...

Irrelevant. I remember one railway. ASLEF and NUR (as-was) are single unions and don't obstruct sensible working. There is no way that just because a train is TfW stock and traincrew it can't be diverted to a slightly different destination with conductors provided. Can you prove otherwise?
Some trains are definitely running through P13/14 at Picc, so I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

During the blockade no passenger trains are working between the Airport and Piccadilly. I believe the blockade is from just south of the platform ends at Piccadilly to Slade Lane Junction. I believe there is a special arrangement to allow the container traffic to pass through towards the latter half of the blockade.

 

[Starmill]

I remember one railway.

And how long ago was that?

There is no way that just because a train is TfW stock and traincrew it can't be diverted to a slightly different destination with conductors provided. Can you prove otherwise?

Why go to so much trouble for such a minor benefit? There's already an alternative train to Manchester Airport.

I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

It's been explained to you nicely several times that no trains will be running between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport or between Manchester Piccadilly and Longsight.

 

[The Planner]

Some trains are definitely running through P13/14 at Picc, so I would have thought that if these can be fitted in then they could have been conducted to Heald Green and continued head-on to Newton-le-Willows, which somebody has already pointed out is a regular route-knowlege retention routing anyway.

Only freight is going through 14, and thats single line working with pilots.

 

[thealexweb]

Presumably Oxford Road will be rammed with terminating services. Will we see some rare Platform 1 use?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Presumably Oxford Road will be rammed with terminating services. Will we see some rare Platform 1 use?

You can see the Oxford Road platforming here:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026

Train information at Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

As far as I can see, P1 does not see any loaded passenger trains.
The Chester/North Wales train, which in the past has used P1, is using P2.
TfW could have run South Wales-Crewe-Warrington-Oxford Road but are choosing to turn at Crewe (maybe there was not enough capacity to reach Oxford Road).
EMR are turning on the other side of the Pennines at Chesterfield.

 

[tumbledown]

EMR are turning on the other side of the Pennines at Chesterfield.

To correct a mistake I also made: EMR are turning at Sheffield, change for TPE trains to Stockport or Northern for Guide Bridge. Express bus Chesterfield to Man Picc.

 

[ayubdaud]

You can see the Oxford Road platforming here:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026

Train information at Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

As far as I can see, P1 does not see any loaded passenger trains.
The Chester/North Wales train, which in the past has used P1, is using P2.
TfW could have run South Wales-Crewe-Warrington-Oxford Road but are choosing to turn at Crewe (maybe there was not enough capacity to reach Oxford Road).
EMR are turning on the other side of the Pennines at Chesterfield.

Fairly certain those platform workings will change as TPE presumably are 6-car and therefore cannot turn back in platform 3. Nonetheless everything mainly crams in platform 2 or runs via 4 to Piccadilly.

 

[Chiltern006]

Any rare track being used in passenger service for this blockade?

 

[The Planner]

Any rare track being used in passenger service for this blockade?

No. Everything is just terminating short.

 

[tumbledown]

The early morning train that usually goes to Man. Airport via Stockport and Piccadilly is instead going to Man Vic by a roundabout route:

Realtime Trains | 1B59 0320 Sheffield to Manchester Victoria | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 1B59 0320 departure from Sheffield to Manchester Victoria on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Not sure if any of that is rare nowadays.

 

[Fokx]

Fairly certain those platform workings will change as TPE presumably are 6-car and therefore cannot turn back in platform 3. Nonetheless everything mainly crams in platform 2 or runs via 4 to Piccadilly.

They'll be single set shuttles as per previous engineering work.

 

[IrishDave]

The early morning train that usually goes to Man. Airport via Stockport and Piccadilly is instead going to Man Vic by a roundabout route:

Realtime Trains | 1B59 0320 Sheffield to Manchester Victoria | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 1B59 0320 departure from Sheffield to Manchester Victoria on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Not sure if any of that is rare nowadays.

Sheffield to Manchester via Moorthorpe, Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield is the standard diversionary route for TPE when the Hope Valley is blocked.

However, that particular train combines a couple of other diversionary routes with the above:

• Sheffield to Aldwarke Jn via Tinsley, rather than via Meadowhall
• Heaton Lodge Jn to Manchester Victoria via the Calder Valley (Hebden Bridge / Rochdale), rather than via Huddersfield and Stalybridge

 

[317 forever]

Presumably Oxford Road will be rammed with terminating services. Will we see some rare Platform 1 use?

Platform 1 is certainly available. Due to the closure of the line from Piccadilly to Airport yesterday, my train from Eccles yesterday pulled into platform 1 at Oxford Road to terminate there.

Oh. this means my 3000th post has been about an irregular working

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Platform 1 is certainly available. Due to the closure of the line from Piccadilly to Airport yesterday, my train from Eccles yesterday pulled into platform 1 at Oxford Road to terminate there.

Not much using platform 1 at Oxford Road, mind you. BTW, can you only leave the platform using the staircase and overbridge?

 

[317 forever]

Not much using platform 1 at Oxford Road, mind you. BTW, can you only leave the platform using the staircase and overbridge?

Yes, we did all head to the exit that way. It must be the first time I'd used platform 1 there.

 

[Peter749]

You can see the Oxford Road platforming here:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026

Train information at Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The Freight services don't seem to have been amended yet
1N54 starts from P13 at 07.33 as 4L60 07.20 Trafford Park - London Gateway passes thru P13 in the opposite direction

 

[The Planner]

The Freight services don't seem to have been amended yet
1N54 starts from P13 at 07.33 as 4L60 07.20 Trafford Park - London Gateway passes thru P13 in the opposite direction

It won't be doing either, the single line working doesn't start then.

 

[Peter749]

At Stockport XC an NT have shunts to from Heaton Norris Jn to Change platforms but AWC Don't have anything in RTT yet

 

[The Planner]

At Stockport XC an NT have shunts to from Heaton Norris Jn to Change platforms but AWC Don't have anything in RTT yet

They will go to Longsight.

 

[Howardh]

You can see the Oxford Road platforming here:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026

Train information at Manchester Oxford Road all day on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

As far as I can see, P1 does not see any loaded passenger trains.
The Chester/North Wales train, which in the past has used P1, is using P2.
TfW could have run South Wales-Crewe-Warrington-Oxford Road but are choosing to turn at Crewe (maybe there was not enough capacity to reach Oxford Road).
EMR are turning on the other side of the Pennines at Chesterfield.

I'm expecting to use Bolton - Oxford road without using replacement buses; have Northern provided an amended schedule (online and paper) and also Realtimetrains suggests train movements from Manchester to Bolton and beyond will start from Piccadilly - looking at the above link - but I'm assuming no pax will be able to board there at all?

This would be my ideal train home and it appears to be the "usual" departure time https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L07252/2026-02-16/detailed
Altered WTT schedule
SSuX - 16/02/2026 to 20/02/2026

 

[Thomas6187]

but I'm assuming no pax will be able to board there at all?

Platforms 13/14 are still open for passenger use, but only 3tph will start/terminate at Piccadilly.

 

[Howardh]

Platforms 13/14 are still open for passenger use, but only 3tph will start/terminate at Piccadilly.

Ah, thanks, I misunderstood, although looking at network rail's map it does appear some trains will run to 13/14.

To be honest I'm expecting those two trains to Blackpool North that leave after 2300 to be more reliable than usual; could be a nice bonus!!

 

[td97]

I'm expecting to use Bolton - Oxford road without using replacement buses; have Northern provided an amended schedule (online and paper)

There is no amended timetable. The same 4tph service will run (1x Southport, 2x Blackpool North, 1x Barrow).
The Blackpool North service starts at Piccadilly, whilst the Barrow starts at Oxford Road (and of course the Southport, like usual).

 

[The Planner]

Platforms 13/14 are still open for passenger use, but only 3tph will start/terminate at Piccadilly.

14 shouldn't be.

 

[Peter749]

There is no amended timetable. The same 4tph service will run (1x Southport, 2x Blackpool North, 1x Barrow).
The Blackpool North service starts at Piccadilly, whilst the Barrow starts at Oxford Road (and of course the Southport, like usual).

The timetable is amended otherwise the trains to/from Blackpool would run to Manchester Airport instead of Piccadilly.
Same with the service from Liverpool via Chat Moss

 

[craigybagel]

TfW could have run South Wales-Crewe-Warrington-Oxford Road but are choosing to turn at Crewe (maybe there was not enough capacity to reach Oxford Road).

It's very awkward to time that. You either have an extremely tight turnaround at Oxford Road, or add an extra diagram onto the route (which incidentally would play havoc with the MKIV/197 alternate hours diagrams). The former is undesirable on such a long route even if you can make the paths work, and the latter blocks a valuable platform virtually all day.