All trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly are to be cancelled this Sunday so “essential roof repairs” can be carried out.
After what has been weeks of significant disruption on rail networks across Greater Manchester and the North West due to thousands of workers striking over the festive season, Network Rail is now warning passengers of a full station closure at Manchester Piccadilly this weekend.
This is so specialist teams can carry out “essential repairs” to the roof.
As the 25,000-volt overhead lines which usually power trains need to be switched off for engineers to work at height, this means that no trains will be running in and out of the the city‘s main station on Sunday 15 January.
Network Rail says engineers are continuing strengthening work to the Victorian-built train shed’s gable end – which began over the Christmas period.
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🚌 Buses replace trains this Sunday (15 Jan)
🔧 We’re doing some essential roof repairs & need to close the platforms to keep the team safe.
We started this work over Christmas where we used polystyrene blocks to move between the platforms👀
“We’ve been carrying out a lot of essential work to improve Manchester Piccadilly station over Christmas and New Year, and this weekend the teams are coming back to complete the second phase of roof maintenance,” said Kara Wood, Network Rail’s North West head of performance and customer relationship.
“Because we have to turn the power lines off to safely carry out the structural work it means we can’t run any trains all day on Sunday.”
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Rail replacement buses will instead be operation this Sunday to “keep people on the move”.
Manchester Piccadilly’s station concourse and retail units will stay open, Network Rail has confirmed, but passengers will be directed to the buses on Station Approach to complete their journeys, so people are being advised to allow extra time, and check the National Rail website or with their individual train operator, before they travel.
Manchester Piccadilly / Credit: Network Rail
Network Rail says it’s keen to “thank passengers in advance for their patience” while rail replacement buses are in place.
Further railway upgrades in Greater Manchester are also set to see changes to journeys in the coming weeks.
You can find out more about how this will impact services here.
Featured Image – Network Rail
News
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
News
Seven people arrested in Salford over plans to conduct coordinated mass shoplifting campaign
Emily Sergeant
Seven people have been arrested in Salford over plans to be part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign of ‘high end’ retailers and supermarkets across the country.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), it is believed the group had been training for ‘non‑violent direct action’ in Salford as part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign, where they were intending to steal goods from high‑value stores and major supermarkets across the country, and then redistribute them to places such as food banks.
Working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service, officers arrested one male and six females in Salford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 April) on suspicion of conspiracy to steal.
They all remain in police custody for questioning.
It has been reported in multiple sources, such as the BBC and the MEN, that the individuals arrested are believed to be part of the Take Back Power Action Group.
Take Back Power Action Group describes itself on its website as a ‘nonviolent civil resistance group’ that is aiming to ‘put the 99% in charge’ through citizen’s assemblies.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, taxing the rich is an essential first step, and we want ordinary people to decide how,” a statement on the group’s website declares.
Speaking following the arrests over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “This joint operation with the Metropolitan Police has resulted in the arrests of seven individuals who we believe were planning to take part in coordinated national activity targeting high‑value retail stores.
“We are taking robust action to disrupt this type of organised criminality, and it will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2023 
