Piccadilly chaos over after four days of major disruption
We're told it will still take a few hours for timetables to get back to normal though
Last updated 19th Apr 2026
Train services have resumed at Manchester Piccadilly after four days of disruption.
Urgent overnight repairs have been continuing ot fix damaged overhead electric wires.
Engineers worked through the night to fix the cables, which power trains into the station, after they failed on Thursday 16th April.
The damage caused widespread disruption over several days, with cancellations and delays affecting thousands of passengers.
What caused the disruption
Network Rail says a section of overhead line equipment was caught and damaged by a passing train, leaving around 400 metres of high-voltage wiring needing repair.
They say because of the complexity of the location, the railway had to be closed for 12 hours to allow specialist teams to carry out the work safely.
The station fully reopened at 11:00 on Sunday 19th April, with all services now able to run through Manchester Piccadilly again.
This includes long-distance trains to and from London.
However, some services started later than usual, and passengers are still being advised to check for updates as timetables return to normal.
Busy day for travel in Manchester
The disruption comes as the city hosts major events, including the Manchester Marathon and a Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Passengers travelling into Manchester are being urged to check the latest information before setting off.
What Network Rail said
Chris Wright, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “I’m sorry to passengers who’ve been impacted by the disruption since the overhead lines failed at Manchester Piccadilly on Thursday. Since that happened our teams of engineers have been working around the clock to repair the damaged 400-metre stretch of high-voltage wires which provide power to electric trains.”
He added: “I’d like to thank people for their continued patience and would advise anyone planning to travel into Manchester today to check National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.”
Passengers can find updates through National Rail or their train operator.