Work set to begin on £6.1 million project to make Greater Manchester railway station fully accessible

The upgrade, led by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in partnership with Network Rail and Northern Trains, will include the installation of two passenger lifts and the replacement of a stepped ramp, creating step-free access to and from both platforms.

As part of the improvements, station lighting and CCTV will also be enhanced around the lift and assistance areas to provide a safer and more welcoming environment for passengers. The project follows recent step-free access schemes at Daisy Hill and Irlam, and forms part of Manchester’s broader effort to address accessibility barriers across the city region’s rail network.

The work at Bryn is part of a rolling programme of station upgrades that will see the proportion of step-free rail stations rise from 43% to 63% by March 2028. That represents a doubling of accessibility upgrades in the next three years compared to the previous decade.

I’m proud Greater Manchester is leading the way

“I passionately believe that everyone should have access to our rail network and the opportunities it opens up right across our growing city-region,” said Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

“There should be no barriers for those with disabilities or people travelling with pushchairs or luggage and I’m proud Greater Manchester is leading the way with this accelerated programme of improvements, which will ensure two-thirds of our stations are step-free by spring 2028.

“It's all part of our vision to ramp up standards and make our stations more attractive, safe and accessible places, with 64 Greater Manchester stations joining the Bee Network by 2028, and the remaining 32 following by 2030.”

During construction, which will take place on weekdays between 7am and 6pm, Bryn station will remain open and train services will not be affected. Some road closures may be required in 2026 for the installation of the lifts, with further details to be confirmed nearer the time.

Additional accessibility works are scheduled to begin next year at Hindley, Reddish North, and Swinton, with further improvements planned at Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Bredbury, and Levenshulme.

Local people deserve a public transport system that gets them from A to B

Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield, said: “Transport around the area is bought up again and again by residents I speak to at coffee mornings, at their doors, and out and about. I know the local councillors and the Mayor have been pushing hard to make sure that this station gets the upgrades it needs to work for local people and to be accessible so that everyone can use it easily.

“I'm very pleased that the money has been provided to get this going - local people deserve a public transport system that gets them from A to B as easily as possible.”

The Bryn upgrade supports Greater Manchester’s wider ambition to bring eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network by 2028, delivering a more inclusive, integrated, and passenger-focused transport system.

This forms part of a broader commitment to the Greater Manchester Strategy, which aims to develop a world-class public transport network that enhances connectivity and opens up opportunity for everyone in the city region.

Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “We’re really pleased to see that this project to improve accessibility at Bryn station is about to get underway. Providing step-free access at stations is incredibly important as it makes a real difference to customers with disabilities and limited mobility, giving many the confidence to travel by train.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners Transport for Greater Manchester and Network Rail to improve accessibility at stations across our network.”