Train services to Manchester Piccadilly are back on following nine days of engineering works.

The railway between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly was closed from Saturday 14 February to Sunday, 22, with platforms one to 12 inactive for the duration of the works.

In an 'intense' nine days, crews replaced sleepers, installed new signalling equipment and replaced points, in an effort to 'future-proof' a stretch of track in the Ardwick corridor just outside Piccadilly.

It is the first time the track has been upgraded since the late 1980s, and should improve reliability along the rail network.

Brian Paynter, a director at Network Rail, said: "We would like to say a big thank you to passengers for their patience while this once-in-a-generation upgrade has taken place over the last nine days. 

"Manchester Piccadilly is one of the country's busiest stations and it's a key hub for people travelling to the North West.

"Upgrading the track over six lines in what's known as the Piccadilly corridor will make journeys more reliable and the points and signalling systems less prone to faults - meaning fewer delays for passengers. It's all part of our long-term commitment to invest millions of pounds to make the North West's railway fit for the future."

Engineers from Network Rail working on track in the Ardwick corridor (Image - Network Rail)

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The first rail services rolled into Piccadilly at 5am on Monday 23 February.

Throughout the closure, a whopping 8,922 replacement bus services ran between Stockport and Manchester.

Simon Elliott, network director for rail at Transport for Greater Manchester, added: "This was a once in a generation piece of work that will future-proof journeys for people travelling to and from Manchester Piccadilly train station for years to come.

"By working together with partners across the rail industry we were able to keep people moving and we would like to thank everyone for their patience while these works took place and all of our colleagues who helped people to make their journeys on Bee Network trams and buses."