Manchester Airport railway station

Manchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.

Description

The station is situated 9+³⁄₄ miles (16 km) south of Manchester Piccadilly at the end of a short branch from the Styal Line. It is accessed via a triangular junction located between Heald Green and Styal.

The station platforms are connected by escalator, elevator, ramps and an elevated covered walkway (known as the "Sky Link") to the airport terminal buildings in which a manned railway ticket office is situated. Throughout the airport complex, the railway station is known as "The Station" and is signposted as such.

In December 2008 a third rail platform opened after a year of construction and a total cost of £15 million. It will allow for extra rail capacity and increasing passenger demand. Arriva Trains Wales are planning to extend some of their Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly services to here.^[1] In 2009 Network Rail stated that the creation of the third platform has meant that the capacity at Manchester airport will become constrained by the layover of the trains and congestion at the throat. To solve this issue they have recommended building a line underneath the Airport towards Northwich in the 2019 to 2024 period. ^[2]

Services

Northern Rail, First TransPennine Express and Arriva Trains Wales are the three current franchise holders that serve Manchester Airport. They operate services between the airport and Crewe (for connections to Southern England); Manchester Piccadilly; various destinations throughout Northern England and, since December 2007, to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley via Carlisle.

There is a frequent service from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly. Services also operate during the night to Manchester Piccadilly and beyond including York; Doncaster; Sheffield; Scotland and Blackpool North.

There are currently nine trains per hour to Manchester Piccadilly. There are no long distance services to the airport from the south; a service from Manchester Airport to Skegness via Derby previously operated but was cut back to Crewe due to poor passenger numbers.^[3]

There are also 3 trains per day to Chester via Warrington Bank Quay (of which one continues to Llandudno, operated by Arriva Trains Wales).

Future

It is planned to extend the Manchester Metrolink light rail network to Manchester Airport as part of Phase 3 of the Metrolink expansion project. Under current proposals, a branch of the Metrolink South Manchester line would connect the airport station via tram lines through Wythenshawe and Chorlton to Manchester City Centre.^[4] A new Metrolink station would be constructed immediately adjacent to the airport station.^[5]

Following a period of uncertainty due to funding problems, the plans were finally given the go-ahead in May 2009. The confirmed route will not complete the full airport loop as proposed, but trams will run along the northern route via Wythenshawe. Completion of the western side of the loop would be subject to further funding in a later project.^[6][7] An opening date of 2016 has been indicated for the Metrolink line.^[8]

At present, the Metrolink byelaws prohibit passengers from entering the system with bicycles and luggage.^[9]

References

External links

• Train times and station information for Manchester Airport railway station from National Rail
• First TransPennine Express Official web site