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We all know about the ‘much-loved’ trek to Manchester Piccadilly’s platforms 13 and 14, located far away from the station’s main concourse. However, a recent Manchester City Council report has addressed plans to alleviate the overcrowding on these relatively remote platforms with a potential new bridge, platform canopy and possible additional platforms.
In an Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in January 2025, it was reported that Manchester Piccadilly station is expected to play a key role in “facilitating increased capacity on the network in the future, including unlocking the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) outputs”. The TRU aims to deliver faster, more frequent, and more reliable services, increase capacity for passengers and freight, and support electrification for greener travel by the early to mid-2030s; therefore, a solution to improve passenger flows and tackle overcrowding is required.
Credit: Network Rail What is the potential solution to overcrowding on Manchester Piccadilly’s Platforms 13 and 14?
According to a report, as part of an Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee meeting this month, Network Rail is “continuing to explore early-stage feasibility for delivering additional terminal platform capacity next to platform one and addressing passenger platform capacity on Platforms 13 and 14”. Network Rail has more recently improved the ‘Sky Lounge’ with improved customer information signage, asking passengers to wait before accessing the platforms, but platform passenger congestion at peak times remains a persistent challenge on these narrow platforms.
Platforms 13 and 14 are the only two through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly and serve a significant number of both passenger and freight services compared to platforms 1 to 12, which are termini. Despite significant use serving as the main route for trains to destinations such as Manchester Airport, Liverpool, and Blackpool, the platforms are far removed from the main station concourse and sit upon the Victorian railway viaducts.
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Network Rail is aiming to address the current deficiencies of platforms 13 and 14, and early stage feasibility work is considering a potential new bridge with new lift access points, and a new platform canopy to improve passenger flows, safety and general comfort. Plus, to ensure the TRU unlocks its full potential, Network Rail is also reportedly in the early stages of assessing options for additional platforms to the north of the existing station.
What’s next?
The report states that Network Rail is expected to submit an outline business case during 2026. Manchester City Council will continue to work closely with Network Rail to ensure any scheme “maximises its beneficial impacts for the city whilst minimising disruption and respecting the heritage of the station”, which is Grade II Listed. The business cases for these potential interventions are yet to be made, but the Council expect these to “progress rapidly in the coming year”.