Manchester Victoria Station to close on Sundays for 12 WEEKS

Manchester's Victoria Railway Station reopened in October following a £44m upgrade. Credit: Network Rail

Victoria station in Manchester is to close on Sundays for 12 weeks while work takes place to construct a railway link between two of the city's stations.

Network Rail says the Ordsall Chord will create a direct rail link between the Victoria and Piccadilly stations for more frequent services across the north of England.

The project, costing more than £1 billion, will see the closure of Victoria station every Sunday from January 24 until April 17 2016.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel and use the city's other stations instead.

The Ordsall Chord will link Piccadilly and Victoria as well as stations in between, including Oxford Road. Credit: Network Rail

Metrolink services are unaffected but most train services will be diverted to other Manchester stations.

Rail replacement bus services will cover Northern Rail services between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria, Rochdale and Manchester Victoria and Salford Crescent and Manchester Victoria.

The Ordsall Chord is expected to open by December 2017. Credit: Network Rail