Network Rail, the UK’s rail infrastructure manager, will begin major works in May on the Transpennine route, specifically on the section connecting Huddersfield and Leeds.
The work involves renewing 6.2 km of track and laying over 21,000 tons of ballast. Additionally, 51 foundations will be installed for future electrification equipment, paving the way for the introduction of electric trains and improving the comfort and reliability of travel on the Transpennine route.
A second phase of work is scheduled for June, focusing on Batley and Dewsbury stations. Upon completion of the work, Batley station will reopen with barrier-free access for the first time, modernized facilities, and platforms extended to 150 meters. At Dewsbury station, the platforms will be extended to 200 meters, allowing for the operation of longer trains with more seating.
During this phase of major work on the Transpennine route, 66 work trains will be used to renew over 5 km of track, install over 27,000 tons of ballast, and erect 67 poles for electrification. Additionally, approximately 800 meters of drainage work will be carried out.
Work will also continue at Huddersfield station, including the refurbishment of platforms, excavation for the underpass, and the construction of a new staircase and footbridge. At the same time, work continues on the restoration of the station’s historic “Euston”-style roof (the station developed as part of the HS2 project), part of a major modernization project expected to be completed in early 2027.
Between May and June, a total of 11.5 km of track will be renewed, 50,000 tons of ballast will be laid, and 5,515 sleepers will be installed. During this period, TRU (Transpennine Route Upgrade – the Transpennine Route Upgrade project) teams will take another significant step toward delivering faster and more frequent trains on a greener railway in northern England through a series of engineering works between Huddersfield and Leeds.
Service disruptions on the Transpennine route
To maintain passenger mobility, Brighouse station (in West Yorkshire) will serve as a key transfer point between trains and buses. Alternative routes, previously upgraded through a GBP100 million investment, will also be utilized. Trains will run as close as possible to the areas affected by the works, and replacement buses will be introduced where necessary.
Additionally, during the week, trains between Huddersfield and Leeds will be diverted via Wakefield, and on weekends they will run as close as possible to the usual route, supplemented by replacement buses.
Modernization of the Transpennine Line
The Transpennine route, approximately 113 km long, has been undergoing modernization since 2011, but the current scale of the work has accelerated in recent years, and the project has been significantly expanded and transformed into a major program of electrification and complete infrastructure renewal.
Stretching across northern England between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds, the main Transpennine line serves 23 stations, crosses numerous bridges and viaducts, and passes through tunnels totaling nearly 10 km.
The entire route is electrified to allow for the operation of electric trains, reducing the carbon footprint and improving air quality. The plans aim for savings of up to 87,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, contributing to the government’s Net Zero climate goals.
At the same time, a proposal is being developed to increase rail freight transport by up to 15 additional freight trains per day, which could remove over 1,000 trucks from the roads daily.
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