Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

Freightmaster · 1 Sep 2025

GRALISTAIR said:
Latest Sarah Bell YouTube shows track lifted in Huddersfield station.

They didn't waste any time there! o_O

Out of interest, does anyone have a track diagram for the 'interim' layout in the
Hudderfield area from October onwards?

(I've seen a few diagrams showing the proposed final layout in 2027,
but nothing which covers this Autumn's rationalisation)

MARK

RailUK Forums

Ian Hardy · 1 Sep 2025

Freightmaster said:
They didn't waste any time there!

Out of interest, does anyone have a track diagram for the 'interim' layout in the
Hudderfield area from October onwards?

(I've seen a few diagrams showing the proposed final layout in 2027,
but nothing which covers this Autumn's rationalisation)

MARK

Mark,

The sixth edition of the Trackmaps Eastern (May 2025) shows the temporary layout after the rationalisation work this month on map 38.

It also shows the new Cross Gates West Crossover and the new Uppermill Junction.

https://trackmaps.co.uk/

Freightmaster · 1 Sep 2025

Ian Hardy said:
Mark,

The sixth edition of the Trackmaps Eastern (May 2025) shows the temporary layout after the rationalisation work this month on map 38.

It also shows the new Cross Gates West Crossover and the new Uppermill Junction.

https://trackmaps.co.uk/

Copy ordered! 8-)

MARK

dodecahedron67 · 1 Sep 2025

deleted

Geeves · 2 Sep 2025

Freightmaster said:
Copy ordered!

MARK

Mark, this link below will help. Some bed time reading for you!

Lots of links to the new layout etc

Basically phase one is the Sheffield platform which gets extended under the train shed, plus the previous P2 gets extended out and P4 is Renumbered to P3. Also the lines at the Leeds end get pushed on the new alignment over the viaduct that will eventually form the new fast lines

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/twao-huddersfield-westtown/Huddersfield%20to%20Westtown%20%28Dewsbury%29/02%20TWAO%20Application%20Documents/NR15A%20Huddersfield%20Station%20Design%20and%20Access%20Statement.pdf

luvchocolate · 2 Sep 2025

M60lad said:
During the Huddersfield blockade is there a reason why Piccadilly-Stalybridge shuttle is a 6 car 185? Surely 6 car is a bit overkill considering how many people are going to use the service unless I'm wrong.

If Huddersfield Station itself (The building) is fully closed where are passengers meant to buy tickets from? Mind you with all services being Replacements I suppose its just a case of jump on a bus/coach to wherever your going knowing there probably won't be a check although some drivers and some Co-Ordinators do check passengers have got tickets.

The ticket office is remaining open

D6130 · 2 Sep 2025

luvchocolate said:
The ticket office is remaining open

....but Bolt - the station cat - has been rehomed with one of the staff for his own safety.

YorksLad12 · 2 Sep 2025

Geeves said:
Mark, this link below will help. Some bed time reading for you!

Lots of links to the new layout etc

Basically phase one is the Sheffield platform which gets extended under the train shed, plus the previous P2 gets extended out and P4 is Renumbered to P3. Also the lines at the Leeds end get pushed on the new alignment over the viaduct that will eventually form the new fast lines

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/twao-huddersfield-westtown/Huddersfield%20to%20Westtown%20%28Dewsbury%29/02%20TWAO%20Application%20Documents/NR15A%20Huddersfield%20Station%20Design%20and%20Access%20Statement.pdf

That's really useful (through the swapping between old and new numbering in the early text is a bit confusing). I hadn't realised old P1/new P2 was being extended again, and that the old P2/new P1 will once again be the beneficiary!

How long until the sandwich and coffee carts start to appear...? Pity the two pubs couldn't get platform gardens, like the York Tap has.

Grumpy · 2 Sep 2025

pokemonsuper9 said:
It's not wasted, it's just not in use yet.
Once it's all complete I believe the plan is for Northern to run EMUs to replace the currently Class 185 stoppers

I am sure in the longer term it will be of use. However this has essentially led to more Government borrowing. Government is currently paying approx 6% interest on new borrowing. How many years will it be till new EMU's are available? Meanwhile the interest piles up with no benefits being obtained. The same applies to such as Colton to Church Fenton-how long did that site there for no benefit (and not much now)?
There seems to be a lot of chatter on the costs of electrification but this aspect is never considered.

YorkshireBear · 2 Sep 2025

Grumpy said:
I am sure in the longer term it will be of use. However this has essentially led to more Government borrowing. Government is currently paying approx 6% interest on new borrowing. How many years will it be till new EMU's are available? Meanwhile the interest piles up with no benefits being obtained. The same applies to such as Colton to Church Fenton-how long did that site there for no benefit (and not much now)?
There seems to be a lot of chatter on the costs of electrification but this aspect is never considered.

If that's the approach then this applies to basically any infrastructure which is ready before it's fully utilised and we would never build anything, or really bother to spend any money.

It's not like NR are off electrifying random bits of route. It's about a long term programme to upgrade the transpennine route.

GRALISTAIR · 2 Sep 2025

YorkshireBear said:
It's not like NR are off electrifying random bits of route. It's about a long term programme to upgrade the transpennine route.

Exactly! But by bit nice and steady

LNW-GW Joint · 2 Sep 2025

YorkshireBear said:
It's not like NR are off electrifying random bits of route. It's about a long term programme to upgrade the transpennine route.

It's not really NR's problem, it's the TOC's.
When the government talks about quick wins, and checking the benefits achieved for the spend, it seems sorely lacking in this case.
TPE and Northern are both in direct government hands but don't seem to see any urgency to use the wires, despite EMUs being available.
It seems the same with Wigan-Bolton.

YorkshireBear · 2 Sep 2025

LNW-GW Joint said:
It's not really NR's problem, it's the TOC's.
When the government talks about quick wins, and checking the benefits achieved for the spend, it seems sorely lacking in this case.
TPE and Northern are both in direct government hands but don't seem to see any urgency to use the wires, despite EMUs being available.
It seems the same with Wigan-Bolton.

Lack of joint up thinking that I hope GBR will at least improve... I remain to be convinced though.

Andyh82 · 2 Sep 2025

Geeves said:
Mark, this link below will help. Some bed time reading for you!

Lots of links to the new layout etc

Basically phase one is the Sheffield platform which gets extended under the train shed, plus the previous P2 gets extended out and P4 is Renumbered to P3. Also the lines at the Leeds end get pushed on the new alignment over the viaduct that will eventually form the new fast lines

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/twao-huddersfield-westtown/Huddersfield%20to%20Westtown%20%28Dewsbury%29/02%20TWAO%20Application%20Documents/NR15A%20Huddersfield%20Station%20Design%20and%20Access%20Statement.pdf

I’m probably way late but I hadn’t realised there would be a platform 6 bay, I thought they were just having 4 through platforms and the penistone line

It’d be nice if the ‘space for future car park’ where the TRU compound is was started with a nice multi storey being built as soon as the site was vacated. I hope they build the extension of the subway under platform 6 to future proof an entrance at this side

Wyrleybart · 2 Sep 2025

Grumpy said:
I am sure in the longer term it will be of use. However this has essentially led to more Government borrowing. Government is currently paying approx 6% interest on new borrowing. How many years will it be till new EMU's are available? Meanwhile the interest piles up with no benefits being obtained. The same applies to such as Colton to Church Fenton-how long did that site there for no benefit (and not much now)?
There seems to be a lot of chatter on the costs of electrification but this aspect is never considered.

Is the rolling stock actually a side issue ?
From what I understand Northern are considering their new rolling stock in three tranches, but won't they be procured by Roscos and GBR nee Northern lease from them ? The huge upfront cost will be borne by the Roscos rather than GBR nee Northern / TPE

LittleAH · 3 Sep 2025

LNW-GW Joint said:
It's not really NR's problem, it's the TOC's.
When the government talks about quick wins, and checking the benefits achieved for the spend, it seems sorely lacking in this case.
TPE and Northern are both in direct government hands but don't seem to see any urgency to use the wires, despite EMUs being available.
It seems the same with Wigan-Bolton.

No urgency to use the wires? Plenty of things need to be signed off to do so. Let’s take Manchester Victoria - Stalybridge: Northern did use the wires with 769s, but the 769s are awful and fail more often than they run. TPE also needed ratification to use APCO. There’s lots of hurdles and we don’t live in a world where you switch everything straight away.

FWIW, I was told Northern would be using EMUs on Stalybridge to Wigan services from December.

neil65 · 3 Sep 2025

I took some phone camera photos of the work going on at Huddersfield station involving new bridges, new platforms new track
So far everything is being ripped out as you can see in the following photos
This was day 5 of the 30 day closure
https://railway-photography.smugmug...tember-2025/Hellifield-Huddersfield/i-PmJMsb5

Everything to the left of the refurbished roof (in Blue) will be demolished to make way for new platforms
https://railway-photography.smugmug...tember-2025/Hellifield-Huddersfield/i-p5NfBRX

also 2 photos taken from a passing train was on of the new bridge across the River Calder at Ravensthorpe
https://railway-photography.smugmug...tember-2025/Hellifield-Huddersfield/i-6gSvNCK
and the new cutting at Heaton Lodge Jct
https://railway-photography.smugmug...tember-2025/Hellifield-Huddersfield/i-KpHFsN2

Neil

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2025 ==

Overnight of the 3rd/4th September the wide spans over John William St in Huddersfield were removed