Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[neil65]

Can't see from the latest Sara Bell video but are all the new spans (is it 3?) in place allowing the hire of the huge crane to finish. Must be costing a fortune.
K

The huge crane will be dismantled starting on the 19th September, see my latest post for updates on work

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2025 ==

I went to see how the work was progressing around Huddersfield station, i was told the site had been handed back to the main contractor Amey from the Bridge replacement teams, so they now have 10 days to lay the new track into Platforms 1,2, & 3, finish off the platform surfaces and do all the signalling.

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

This was the scene of the new bridges, you can see 1 small span yet to be lifted in, this will be done at a later date

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

The roof that was over Platform 8 is now removed with just a small part yet to be pulled down

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Huddersfield Railway Station Closure Day 19 Wednesday 17th September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[Spartacus]

In other news I’ve noticed more uprights have gone up East of Leeds, and there’s a couple of supports gone in on Batley viaduct, photos below.

 

[Snow1964]

I think the huge crane has now dismantled itself so if there is an outstanding third span over John William Strret it will probably have to be done later.
K

Sometimes the massive cranes are only used for the big heavy main beams, and some cross beams to ensure all rigid and in right place.

Then the smaller infill parts are lifted in with lower capacity smaller (and much cheaper) cranes afterwards.

 

[Freightmaster]

I was told the site had been handed back to the main contractor Amey from the Bridge replacement teams, so they now have 10 days to lay the new track into Platforms 1,2, & 3, finish off the platform surfaces and do all the signalling.

No pressure!



MARK

 

[hwl]

Sometimes the massive cranes are only used for the big heavy main beams, and some cross beams to ensure all rigid and in right place.

Then the smaller infill parts are lifted if with lower capacity smaller (and much cheaper) cranes afterwards.

It is worth noting that the 2 decks in so far (southern and central) are both twin track and need to be in before the end of the blockade (central bridge deck supports platform 3 (/4) over the road). The Northern most bridge deck is single track and doesn't need to be completed before trains start running again.

So the northern deck should be a quicker and fairly easy when it happens as there is no demolition (no protection for road/wall needed) and all the bases and bearings are in place so it could be a Saturday night job with minimal road closures if assembled off line or assembled from parts in-situ as it is smaller and lighter.

 

[Snow1964]

Latest video of Huddersfield station with new platforms taking shape and all the canopies previously on platforms 5-8 now gone

 

[josh-j]

It's really quite impressive that they're presumably planning to finish the (reduced number of) platforms, put in new tracks and set up the signalling within now less than two weeks!

Very rapid all of this.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It's really quite impressive that they're presumably planning to finish the (reduced number of) platforms, put in new tracks and set up the signalling within now less than two weeks!

Very rapid all of this.

That is the result mainly, of good planning!

 

[superkev]

Can't help bring very impressed by the coordination of the Huddersfield shutdown.
Also it would interesting to see what's happening with all the pointwork on the viaduct. Are they installing the points to accomodate the future four tracking of just a temp connection to the existing
K

 

[neil65]

It looks eerily quite at the West end of the station not one digger or truck or men to be seen, all hands must be working on the new bridge at the east end

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/September-2025/TPU-day-20/i-nkWzbCP/A

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/September-2025/TPU-day-20/i-hpMtjNN/A

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/September-2025/TPU-day-20/i-CSs3G75/A

The roof has now been removed from the old Platform 8

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/September-2025/TPU-day-20/i-CSs3G75/A

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/September-2025/TPU-day-20/i-hSs7L4G/A

Neil

 

[Revaulx]

It is worth noting that the 2 decks in so far (southern and central) are both twin track and need to be in before the end of the blockade (central bridge deck supports platform 3 (/4) over the road). The Northern most bridge deck is single track and doesn't need to be completed before trains start running again.

So the northern deck should be a quicker and fairly easy when it happens as there is no demolition (no protection for road/wall needed) and all the bases and bearings are in place so it could be a Saturday night job with minimal road closures if assembled off line or assembled from parts in-situ as it is smaller and lighter.

On my last visit a couple of days ago it looked like all three steel spans were in. What is missing is the concrete platform extension on the west side; i.e. next to The Sportsman. Since the platform that this will form the end of hasn’t been built yet I suppose it can wait; also the metal part of the viaduct immediately to the north of the bridge needs work.

Watching the progress has been absolutely fascinating, and given the depressingly glacial pace of other work on the project, especially the Colton Jn to Church Fenton electrification, really heartening to see.

 

[hwl]

On my last visit a couple of days ago it looked like all three steel spans were in. What is missing is the concrete platform extension on the west side; i.e. next to The Sportsman. Since the platform that this will form the end of hasn’t been built yet I suppose it can wait; also the metal part of the viaduct immediately to the north of the bridge needs work.

Watching the progress has been absolutely fascinating, and given the depressingly glacial pace of other work on the project, especially the Colton Jn to Church Fenton electrification, really heartening to see.

I suspect there will be lots of work going on to sort the platforms, but in the short term they only need to be ~150 m not the final ~185m

 

[YorksLad12]

On my last visit a couple of days ago it looked like all three steel spans were in. What is missing is the concrete platform extension on the west side; i.e. next to The Sportsman. Since the platform that this will form the end of hasn’t been built yet I suppose it can wait; also the metal part of the viaduct immediately to the north of the bridge needs work.

I suspect there will be lots of work going on to sort the platforms, but in the short term they only need to be ~150 m not the final ~185m

There is a further station closure in October, I think - nine days?

 

[Revaulx]

Please ignore the first paragraph of #9,611 - having looked further at the plan of the completed layout it’s obvious that there isn’t a platform on the western edge of the bridge and a track span is indeed still missing.

 

[Monkeyhead]

Away from Huddersfield, I noticed that the cast iron bridge between Cross Gates and Garforth has started to be dismantled. Also, the new enormous footbridge that will replace a foot crossing has taken shape too - looks like it could add 1/4 mile onto a walk!

 

[swt_passenger]

Away from Huddersfield, I noticed that the cast iron bridge between Cross Gates and Garforth has started to be dismantled. Also, the new enormous footbridge that will replace a foot crossing has taken shape too - looks like it could add 1/4 mile onto a walk!


View attachment 188746View attachment 188749View attachment 188747

Is that the bridge that’s intended to be dismantled and fully overhauled then reinstalled on higher piers to give OHLE clearance?

 

[Tractor37]

Is that the bridge that’s intended to be dismantled and fully overhauled then reinstalled on higher piers to give OHLE clearance?

Yes.

 

[swt_passenger]

Yes.

Thanks.

 

[kmc1962]

Great progress on tracklaying at Huddersfield Station. I got a photo of 66719 crawling slowly into the station from the west with a train of ballast hoppers, and a couple before the train appeared.

 

[waverley47]

Great progress on tracklaying at Huddersfield Station. I got a photo of 66719 crawling slowly into the station from the west with a train of ballast hoppers, and a couple before the train appeared.

I know it's probably the long lens, and I don't know if that is the final position for the track through platform 2, but that reverse curve looks quite sharp for a 40mph run.

Do we know if subsequent blockades will ease that curve or is that the final position?

 

[YorksLad12]

I know it's probably the long lens, and I don't know if that is the final position for the track through platform 2, but that reverse curve looks quite sharp for a 50mph run.

Do we know if subsequent blockades will ease that curve or is that the final position?

When would trains pass (new) P2 at 50mph? And yes, it does look odd; they could have left P1 (old) where it was if the curves in and out are so pronounced .

 

[Revaulx]

When would trains pass (new) P2 at 50mph? And yes, it does look odd; they could have left P1 (old) where it was if the curves in and out are so pronounced .

Yeah everything stops there and I can’t see that ever changing.

I don’t think the Penistone bay could have been lengthened without moving P1 (old).

 

[waverley47]

When would trains pass (new) P2 at 50mph? And yes, it does look odd; they could have left P1 (old) where it was if the curves in and out are so pronounced .

Sorry, my mistake, 40mph as opposed to 50mph.

From 44 minutes in the now biblical PWI lecture, it's mentioned that a 40mph clear run is needed from the up slow, through Huddersfield, through the tunnel and up the bank towards Standedge, ostensibly to allow a freight train to hit the bottom of the climb at the fastest possible speed, and also to clear the station in the shortest time.

Obviously freight is non existent now, however earlier in that lecture they outline that one of the driving principles of the upgrade is to allow a minimum of 18 freight paths per day through the Huddersfield route, and at 44:15 they talk about the work needed at Huddersfield to allow freight to traverse the layout as quickly as possible.

(Link is to the PWI lecture entitled "better layouts for a better railway" and discusses the full TRU scheme, including the future layout of Huddersfield station and the flexibility it allows)

 

[hwl]

I know it's probably the long lens, and I don't know if that is the final position for the track through platform 2, but that reverse curve looks quite sharp for a 40mph run.

Do we know if subsequent blockades will ease that curve or is that the final position?

The P2 track alignment will change at the west end when the new S&C goes in the at the western end of the station so it will look awkward for the moment (because it is!).

 

[YorkshireBear]

Assume the platform got moved out so far to allow it to be extended onto the road bridges on the east end?

Impressive work, great pictures. They will be able to work completely separated on the North side allowing quick progress.

 

[josh-j]

Yes, I like the way they're doing this. It feels really pretty efficient.

Good job the roof will have a lantern now that P2 is going to be directly under the hole!

 

[TBY-Paul]

I’ve just came across a video on YouTube which includes drone footage from Huddersfield station to the new sidings.

 

[neil65]

Some photos taken this morning of Huddersfield station on day 24 showing track now fitted into station over the new bridge decks and onto the viaduct
View over the viaduct

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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The view through the train shed

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Tango meeting!!

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Tango meeting over

Tango meeting over !!

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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The massive Mammoth crane being dismantled

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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First new signal installed at the end of the Sheffield train bay now new Platform 1

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

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Overall view

Huddersfield Station closure Day 24 Monday 22nd September 2025 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[superkev]

Great pictures thanks Neil.
Looks just about looks ready to reopen apart from final testing and clearing up.
Still can't see why the new platform 2 had to be widened do much.
K

 

[neil65]

Great pictures thanks Neil.
Looks just about looks ready to reopen apart from final testing and clearing up.
Still can't see why the new platform 2 had to be widened do much.
K

To cope with all the new customers they are expecting!!!
Seriously though i have no idea why it has been widened so much, maybe a outdoor area for the 2 pubs?
I believe the widening is for the new footbridge that will be installed at a later date