Work is commencing on a scheme to prevent flooding around Manchester Victoria station. The Department for Transport is investing £1 million in the critical scheme, which will bring drainage systems around the 166-year old station into the 21st century.
Drainage systems in the basement of the station will be connected to the River Irk, which runs underneath the station, providing a more efficient way of draining the station building for the 8.9 million passengers who use it every year.
The drainage system underneath the road in front of the station will be completely replaced, and drainpipes on the historic station façade will be cleaned and maintained to ensure they are working at full capacity.
The work will begin on 28 June and is set to complete in October.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Bringing Manchester Victoria’s drainage system from the Victorian era into the 21st century will help give passengers the reliable services they deserve, reducing frustrating disruptions.
“This is part of a wider £10 million rail investment to reduce the risk of flooding in the Manchester area, which will help protect the city and surrounding area from damage and delay.”
Rory Kingdon, senior sponsor at Network Rail, said: “It’s a testament to Victorian engineering that so much of the infrastructure our predecessors built is still surviving and thriving, but the time is right to bring the drainage systems at Manchester Victoria into the 21st century.
“Carrying out this work now should mean less passengers are affected by any disruption around the station, and we’ll be ready to welcome back travellers to a warm and dry station when it’s safe to do so.”
