Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) says its teams made “strong progress” in the Huddersfield area during the first half of a 16-day railway closure.
The work – part of a multi-billion-pound railway programme to transform the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York – is due to continue until Sunday 04 October.
Earlier this week, Kirklees Council’s new leaders were invited to see the work at Huddersfield station first-hand and discuss the benefits TRU is bringing to rail users and local communities.
Network Rail said the programme (which involves a “once-in-a-generation” upgrade of Huddersfield station) was having a “transformational impact” on regeneration in the town. A recent Network Rail-commissioned study found that planning applications within 1.5 miles of Huddersfield station had increased by nearly 33 per cent since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020. The programme estimated to generate £1.9 billion in GVA, create nearly 5,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and support the delivery of almost 1,200 new homes.
During the first week of the 16-day closure, TRU teams delivered improvement works including:
- Track and drainage renewals – to will increase the reliability of services passing through the area.
- Huddersfield station upgrade – restoration of the historic roof canopy, and an extension to the subway for improved accessibility.
- Deighton station upgrade – platform extension work.
Before the railway line reopens on Monday 5 October, works will continue on:
- Installation of two new lines of track – to increase capacity and reduce journey times by allowing direct services to overtake stopping services in the future.
- Huddersfield station upgrade – platform extension and track layout work to facilitate more frequent trains with more seats for customers.
- Deighton station upgrade – installation of a new footbridge with lifts for step-free access at the station.
- Overhead line equipment installation – to power electrified trains in the future.
James Richardson, TRU Managing Director, said: “Huddersfield is one of the most significant sites across the TRU footprint. Our work at Huddersfield station and on the wider railway will deliver a once-in-a-generation transformation, that will not only improve connectivity but help drive economic growth and wider investment in the town.
“People can clearly see the progress we’ve made since work started on site in 2023 and the scale of work being undertaken during this ongoing closure, which will pave the way for real benefits for passengers by early 2027.”
Councillor John Hardie, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Highways, said: “Rail travel across Kirklees is changing, and it was fantastic to see first-hand the significant work taking place to transform Huddersfield Railway Station into a station for the future.
“This generational investment in our rail infrastructure will strengthen the connections to towns and cities across the north of England, unlocking new opportunities for education, employment, and training for the people of Kirklees.
“The Transpennine Route Upgrade is creating a railway network fit for Kirklees that supports our position as a vibrant, well-connected place to live and work.”
- TRU aims to transform journeys across the North of England, with work spanning electrification, digital signalling, and station improvements. Twenty-five per cent of the TRU route is now electrified, while new stations have been built at Mirfield and Morley.
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