A signalling fault occurred at Manchester Piccadilly station early on 22 September 2026, causing cancellations and operational changes across several train services. The incident was reported at 06:06 BST and was linked to a cabling issue affecting platform 8, leading to its temporary closure.
Affected Services and Route Disruptions
Four Avanti West Coast services between Manchester and London Euston were cancelled due to the fault. These included departures at 06:02 and 06:23 from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, and return services at 09:13 and 10:13 from London Euston to Manchester.
Northern cancelled trains running between Manchester Piccadilly and Hazel Grove, as well as those between
Piccadilly and Alderley Edge. Other Northern routes from Manchester Piccadilly were not impacted. The fault also affected services operated by CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales.
Network Rail Response and Operator Actions
Network Rail engineers worked on resolving the cabling problem at platform 8 to restore signalling functionality. Clare Waller, Network Rail’s area director for Manchester, issued an apology to passengers and stated that teams were actively working to resolve the issue and resume regular service operations.
Passenger Impact and Alternative Travel Options
Passengers were advised to verify their travel plans before journeying through Manchester Piccadilly during the disruption window, which was expected to last until 10:00 BST.
Northern tickets were accepted on Avanti West Coast services between Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow to provide alternatives for affected travellers.
For the cancelled routes to Hazel Grove, Northern tickets were valid on the Bee Network 192 bus service between Manchester and Hazel Grove. Alternative Northern services towards Buxton and Crewe via Stockport remained available.
