Manchester Piccadilly Platform 12

[CJ]

I remember seeing a CrossCountry 4-car Voyager has on a rare occasion used Platform 11.

And just today, I saw a XC Voyager use Platform 12.

Found it on Realtime Trains:

1203 Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads

Realtime Trains | 1203 Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads | 24/02/2024

Real-time train running information for 1203 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads on 24/02/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RikGarner]

Something is afoot - 11 and 12 are currently blocked off to passengers and there's heavy machinery visible. Only caught a glance as I was passing through today

 

[LowLevel]

Something is afoot - 11 and 12 are currently blocked off to passengers and there's heavy machinery visible. Only caught a glance as I was passing through today

I imagine they're repairing the glass roof panels that keep falling down during bad weather.

 

[jfollows]

I imagine they're repairing the glass roof panels that keep falling down during bad weather.

It’s the netting I think.

Means the Alderley Edge stoppers aren’t running at all to ease the pressure on other platforms.

They’re going to work down to platforms 1 & 2 in pairs until done.

 

[The Planner]

I imagine they're repairing the glass roof panels that keep falling down during bad weather.

It’s the netting I think.

Yes, two platforms at a time will be closed across the next few months.

 

[jfollows]

See https://www.networkrailmediacentre....t-manchester-piccadilly-station-for-roof-work

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel from Saturday 15 June while engineers install new netting to the station’s iconic glass roof.

Engineers are installing the additional new netting as a safety feature to keep passengers safe for years to come, as longer-term plans for the station’s maintenance are considered.

The current station netting was installed 25 years ago and is starting to show some signs of wear and tear.

The work will continue until October and is being carried out in phases to reduce the impact on passengers.

However, some platforms will be closed and trains will be diverted to alternative platforms.

Engineers will use raised platforms and rope systems to safely access the station roof and install the new netting.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel as there may be some disruption.

The Stoke extra (mentioned above) which normally hides in platform 12 all day isn’t running either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2024 ==

The implication for this thread being that Platform 12 will see a lot more use than usual once the work there moves and blocks other platforms. And on the frequency of my local service, although I don’t personally use it a lot. The Crewe stoppers are significantly busier, I’m told.

 

[plugwash]

The stations worst affected by the alderly edge stopper not running seem to be cheadle-hulme and handforth, since handforth is down from 2tph to 1tph and while cheadle hulme still has 2tph they are very close together.

Wilmslow has calls from long distance trains.

Alderly edge is down to 2TPH (one via stockport and one via the airport), but they at least seem to be better spread around the hour.

 

[Trackman]

See https://www.networkrailmediacentre....t-manchester-piccadilly-station-for-roof-work

The Stoke extra (mentioned above) which normally hides in platform 12 all day isn’t running either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2024 ==

The implication for this thread being that Platform 12 will see a lot more use than usual once the work there moves and blocks other platforms. And on the frequency of my local service, although I don’t personally use it a lot. The Crewe stoppers are significantly busier, I’m told.

Bird netting?

 

[jfollows]

Other sources, eg https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/ot...etwork-rail-advice-for-passengers/ar-BB1o1xJF

• Stage 1: Platforms 11 and 12 will be closed from 15 June to 6 July 2024
• Stage 2: Platforms 9 and 10 will be closed from 6 July to 27 July 2024
• Stages 3-6: The schedule for the work above platforms 1-8 is to be confirmed

The “safety” stuff in the press release implies that it’s to stop bits of roof glass falling on people. But I’m guessing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2024 ==

Alderly edge is down to 2TPH (one via stockport and one via the airport), but they at least seem to be better spread around the hour.

The Crewe/Alderley via Styal takes an age, but in the up direction at least people use the up Avanti and change platforms at Wilmslow for Alderley Edge, Holmes Chapel & Sandbach. Down the connection works in to the Cardiff-Manchester if it’s on time and not terminating at Wilmslow (so not reliable!).
EDIT The up connection won’t be advertised because it’s <5 minutes at Wilmslow but people have worked it out! If they’re starting from Manchester they’re no worse off if they don’t make it than if they’d caught the Crewe stopper via Stockport from Manchester instead.

 

[M60lad]

Out of interest what will happen (if anything) to the Avanti and Cross Country services once they start working within the platforms they normally use? This is probably the reason why work above Platforms 1-8 have yet to be confirmed because these are the busiest platforms in the station and working out where their going to put trains could prove to be a headache.

I suppose they could always terminate Avanti services at Stockport while the work above the platforms they normally use goes on.

 

[jfollows]

Out of interest what will happen (if anything) to the Avanti and Cross Country services once they start working within the platforms they normally use? This is probably the reason why work above Platforms 1-8 have yet to be confirmed because these are the busiest platforms in the station and working out where their going to put trains could prove to be a headache.

I suppose they could always terminate Avanti services at Stockport while the work above the platforms they normally use goes on.

My guess is that they'll use platforms 11 & 12 for (some of) the Crewe locals, Stoke locals, Buxtons and Chesters to free up lower numbered platforms, along with the cancellation of the Alderley Edge stoppers this should free up enough space in the platforms that remain. Terminating at Stockport and reversing over the viaduct isn't very nice, plus most passengers don't want to be dumped at Stockport for an onward connection.

 

[The Planner]

Out of interest what will happen (if anything) to the Avanti and Cross Country services once they start working within the platforms they normally use? This is probably the reason why work above Platforms 1-8 have yet to be confirmed because these are the busiest platforms in the station and working out where their going to put trains could prove to be a headache.

I suppose they could always terminate Avanti services at Stockport while the work above the platforms they normally use goes on.

They will run to Picc.

 

[jfollows]

Next week platforms 9 & 10 will be closed (as above) and a few services will use platforms 11 & 12:

Platform 11
Hazel Grove a. xx.16 d. xx.51 Buxton

Platform 12
Crewe a. xx.28 d. xx.36 Crewe
Buxton a. xx.47 d. xx+1.20 Hazel Grove

Nothing exactly intensive, then.

The Alderley Edge stoppers remain cancelled.

2K50 17:12 Oxford Road platform 1 to Stoke-on-Trent replaces the normal 2K50 working from platform 12 (today it's booked to run from platform 9, however it was cancelled in the end for lack of train crew), running empty as 5T50 from Longsight to Oxford Road. Would be a welcome improvement if it were made permanent, based on my previous experience.

 

[Bevan Price]

I think TFW may have used Platform 3 and definately platform 5. Never known it to go from 1 or 2, thats almost always local Northern services or TPE services to Leeds.

I had a feeling 10 was more common now, often there is a Northern train in front.

Looking at RTT for the past week, the vast majority of ATW (Cardiff) services have used Piccadilly Platform 5. An early morning service uses Platform 3 and some late evening services used Platform 10. Platforms 4, 8 & 9 were used only occasionally.

 

[jfollows]

Platform 12 will be kept busy for a while yet; the remaining planned platform closure pairs are:

• STAGE 3: Platforms 1 and 2 closed – 27 July- 17 August (3 weeks)
• STAGE 4: Platforms 3 and 4 closed – 17 August to 7 September (3 weeks)
• STAGE 5: Platforms 5 and 6 closed – 7 September 28 September (3 weeks)
• STAGE 6: Platforms 7 and 8 closed – 28 September to 20 October (3 weeks)

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Seemed quite a few off 12 today when I was at Picc for a couple of hours.

 

[jfollows]

Seemed quite a few off 12 today when I was at Picc for a couple of hours.

Looks like the hourly Chester service is using p12 today. Later on some Buxton services, but these are ‘booked’ to use p11.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2024 ==

2K50, the Stoke extra stopping service, has gone back to p12 now. For a while it started from Oxford Road platform 1, but presumably with all the platforms 5-12 currently being open it could move back to its usual starting place. The Alderley Edge stoppers remain cancelled.

 

[ReturnToSPT]

Looks like the hourly Chester service is using p12 today. Later on some Buxton services, but these are ‘booked’ to use p11.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2024 ==

2K50, the Stoke extra stopping service, has gone back to p12 now. For a while it started from Oxford Road platform 1, but presumably with all the platforms 5-12 currently being open it could move back to its usual starting place. The Alderley Edge stoppers remain cancelled.

What’s happened to the Alderley Edge services?

 

[jfollows]

What’s happened to the Alderley Edge services?

They're all cancelled. Some discussion from post 34 onwards above.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What’s happened to the Alderley Edge services?

Today, Alderley Edge seems to be served by trains (starting mostly from platforms 9 + 10 at Manchester Piccadilly) which are then continuing on to Crewe.

Concur with @jfollows, that nothing is currently terminating at Alderley Edge.

 

[ReturnToSPT]

Today, Alderley Edge seems to be served only by trains which are continuing on to Crewe, mostly from platforms 9 + 10 at Manchester Piccadilly. As @jfollows has hinted, nothing is currently terminating at Alderley Edge.

Hadn’t realised these services had been suspended completely, interestingly there’s no information about it on the northern website or at affected stations along the route eg Heaton Chapel

 

[jfollows]

The Alderley Edge terminators have been removed from the timetable for the duration of the Piccadilly platform works, which has the unfortunate effect that their cancellation does not appear on JourneyCheck etc. because they're not short-notice cancellations.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2024 ==

Hadn’t realised these services had been suspended completely, interestingly there’s no information about it on the northern website or at affected stations along the route eg Heaton Chapel

Agreed, I only worked it out in probably the same way as you did.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2024 ==

I'm fortunate that I don't use the Alderley Edge terminators often, anyway, but that's because I only get them if I just miss the fast Cardiff service from Manchester and there's usually an 8-minute window each hour during which the Alderley Edge stoppers are the best option for me. Handforth is probably the main loser, because there's an option for Alderley Edge changing at Wilmslow off the xx.55 Euston service which people seem clued into - and, of course, reduced service frequency at Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hadn’t realised these services had been suspended completely, interestingly there’s no information about it on the northern website or at affected stations along the route eg Heaton Chapel

Currently still a clockface, hourly, train service from Heaton Chapel direct to Alderley Edge throughout the day. Appreciate though that it's normally 2 t.p.h.

 

[ReturnToSPT]

Disappointing northern have not communicated the reduced frequency clearly, could easily have been included with the information re platform closures at Pic. Again passengers expected just to figure it out for themselves

 

[jfollows]

Disappointing northern have not communicated the reduced frequency clearly, could easily have been included with the information re platform closures at Pic. Again passengers expected just to figure it out for themselves

Yes.
I can't remember actually seeing something from Northern about it, I only twigged when I noticed the cancellations on real time trains etc. and inferred it was to free up platforms.
Northern and others seem to think people plan their travel through journey planners, not timetables, and since the services have been removed from journey planners, that's OK then.
There is this (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/engineering/haugebar):

Manchester Piccadilly roof improvements - 28 July – 17 August*

Platforms at Manchester Piccadilly will be closed at different times, with trains using different platforms. There will also be alternative walking routes around the station.

From Sunday 28 July, the following services have been suspended and customers should use alternative services:

Hourly services between Manchester Piccadilly and Alderley Edge
Peak-time extra services between Manchester Piccadilly and Marple
There may be slight changes to arrival and departure times for other services, so please double-check your train times.

but the timetable PDF "02 June - 14 December" at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables still shows all the Alderley Edge stoppers.

 

[plugwash]

Handforth is probably the main loser,

As I mentioned earlier, Cheadle hulme is also a big loser. It currently has 2TPH but at least in the inbound direction they are very close together on the hour.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Disappointing northern have not communicated the reduced frequency clearly, could easily have been included with the information re platform closures at Pic. Again passengers expected just to figure it out for themselves

I've seen posters at Wilmslow detailing the roof work/platform closures at Piccadilly, and the subsequent (temporary) removal of the Alderley Edge terminators.

 

[plugwash]

IIRC I saw posters at my local station, but the end date on them has long passed. Either the work is taking much longer than expected, or the posters were based only on the first phases of the work and haven't been updated as subsequent phases have been scheduled.

 

[jfollows]

IIRC I saw posters at my local station, but the end date on them has long passed. Either the work is taking much longer than expected, or the posters were based only on the first phases of the work and haven't been updated as subsequent phases have been scheduled.

I think it's the latter, the original notification I posted above (post 36) said

The work will continue until October

and the latest update (post 45) gives October 20 as the completion date I think.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2024 ==

Platform 12 currently just being used by the Chester service; arrive xx.25, depart xy.10. Plus ad-hoc occasional other services, today there’s been a Cleethorpes and a Buxton I think.

 

[plugwash]

What’s happened to the Alderley Edge services?

The alderly edge terminators (with the apparent exception of the 23:01) are suspended. The local trains to crewe via alderly edge (1TPH via stockport, 1TPH via the airport) are running more or leas as normal.