Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

Phillipimo · 22 Sep 2025

neil65 said:
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?

There are probably a few reasons, more space for the new extended Penistone line platform, enabling the platform to be extended to the East over the bridge, and this will be the main circulating space for passengers to access all platforms so probably a good idea to give space to avoid congestion. I imagine there many more I haven't thought of.

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YorksLad12 · 22 Sep 2025

Phillipimo said:
There are probably a few reasons, more space for the new extended Penistone line platform, enabling the platform to be extended to the East over the bridge, and this will be the main circulating space for passengers to access all platforms so probably a good idea to give space to avoid congestion. I imagine there many more I haven't thought of.

I'd like to think that they'll eventually move the gateline to be where the doors are, with the doors then removed, so more gates can be added. I guess that if the old P2 was simply extended back into the train shed it would have been a very narrow platform at that point, so extending the main platform out (again) makes sense - even though it seems wide enough for two tracks.

Andyh82 · 22 Sep 2025

I’d be in favour of moving the barriers onto the platform. The main ticket hall hasn’t really worked since they split it lengthways with the barrier line.

I suppose the wide gap between Platform 1 and 4 wasn’t doing anything and was never going to do anything, so you might as well create more platform space

Starmill · 22 Sep 2025

I think the platform position has also been led by the profile of the "new" pair of lines in and out of the station, combined with the need for the platforms to meet an adequate minimum length.

Tim_UK · 22 Sep 2025

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

The platform gets narrower at the eastern end. So I think that’s why it looks like a huge stick out at western end.

superkev · 22 Sep 2025

Latest excellent Sara Bell Youtube video as well as showing Huddersfield station progress shows the Leeds Road bridge phase 1 span beams were lifted in over the weekend as well as a huge crane ready to lift in the replacenent Greenway bridge near Bradley junction.

Apart from Baker Viaduct I think that just leaves Leeds Road part 2 and Deighton bridge spans to do.
K

Spartacus · 23 Sep 2025

I suspect a good deal of the wideness is to help passenger flow, so passengers going to and from the subway won't be having to get through so many passengers waiting for trains. Might as well use that space for passengers instead of it being 'dead' space between the two lines.

GhostManDN91 · 23 Sep 2025

From the pictures I've seen, it looks like the new P2 & 3 are shorter than before?

YorkshireBear · 23 Sep 2025

The scale of the work at Deighton was very clearly visible from the plane on take off from Leeds Bradford interestingly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2025 ==

Spartacus said:
I suspect a good deal of the wideness is to help passenger flow, so passengers going to and from the subway won't be having to get through so many passengers waiting for trains. Might as well use that space for passengers instead of it being 'dead' space between the two lines.

Hadn't thought of that good point.

Alexd · 23 Sep 2025

GhostManDN91 said:
From the pictures I've seen, it looks like the new P2 & 3 are shorter than before?

When completed, the platforms will extend eastwards onto the viaduct, hence will be longer than before

neil65 · 23 Sep 2025

GhostManDN91 said:
From the pictures I've seen, it looks like the new P2 & 3 are shorter than before?

They now extend onto the new bridge over John William St, and will fit a 8 coach train, i dont think P3 has been extended yet, they only have to take a 6 car 185 at the moment which P3 can

Earle Grey · 23 Sep 2025

neil65 said:
They now extend onto the new bridge over John William St, and will fit a 8 coach train, i dont think P3 has been extended yet, they only have to take a 6 car 185 at the moment which P3 can

The existing and new lengths for the platforms at Huddersfield are published in Section 5.4 of The Timetable Planning Rules for the current timetable and highlight the changes when 1 becomes 2 (+35m), 2>1 (+22m) , 4>3 (-1m/+40m depending on direction) and Platforms 5, 6 and 8 disappearing when the station reopens as part of the next phase.

swt_passenger · 23 Sep 2025

Tim_UK said:
The platform gets narrower at the eastern end. So I think that’s why it looks like a huge stick out at western end.

The platform edge will also have to be over 3m from the new footbridge supports. But I’m sure the main reason is to give the best overall track alignment and minimum curvature along the new bit at the eastern end and over the bridge. I’m sure it was also discussed earlier this month, and it’s probably mentioned in that PWI video about the project, people have linked to it a few times earlier in the thread.

Geeves · 23 Sep 2025

Quite likely it's already known but for those who want to pay their last respects to the old Ravensthorpe station the final day of service is Saturday 13th of December until sometime in 2028 when the new one opens.

josh-j · 23 Sep 2025

If Diggle box is gone now, I wonder if that means the signalling upgrade is finished ready for the reopening of Huddersfield. Roughly from Greenfield to Huddersfield I think?

Freightmaster · 23 Sep 2025

josh-j said:
If Diggle box is gone now, I wonder if that means the signalling upgrade is finished ready for the reopening of Huddersfield. Roughly from Greenfield to Huddersfield I think?

The resignalled section is from the new crossovers at Uppermill (just west of Saddleworth viaduct) to Deighton.

It isn't just a straight 'recontrol' either - there are lots of entirely new signals, including four within
Standedge tunnel similar to the ones in Morley tunnel, plus signals to allow access to/from the new
carriage sidings at Hillhouse and Hillhouse East siding.

I'm having to completely redraw my Huddersfield/Mirfield map virtually from scratch!

MARK

josh-j · 23 Sep 2025

Thanks, I hadn't realised it extended beyond Huddersfield but it does make sense considering Hillhouse!

Snow1964 · 24 Sep 2025

video of the new Wheatley Colliery bridge which was lifted into place last night, alongside the old stone arch overbridge.

There are also few other locations where work has been going on, including view into Huddersfield station later in the video

superkev · 24 Sep 2025

I think that just leaves the Bridge span beams at Baker Viaduct, Deighton and Leeds Road part 2. Progress indeed.
K

66C · 24 Sep 2025

At Huddersfield is there a single track bridge span still to go in over John William's St for the platform 6 turn back for the Leeds services. I've yet to catch it on any of the terrific pictures and videos posted by our intrepid enthusiasts who are recording this engineering feat for posterity.

neil65 · 24 Sep 2025

66C said:
At Huddersfield is there a single track bridge span still to go in over John William's St for the platform 6 turn back for the Leeds services. I've yet to catch it on any of the terrific pictures and videos posted by our intrepid enthusiasts who are recording this engineering feat for posterity.

yes there is one still to be lifted in, which according to staff on site will be done at a later date as a smaller road crane will be able to lift it in place over a weekend and will not need a full line posession

Charlie978 · 24 Sep 2025

When I have been past Huddersfield station recently it looks like only the new platforms 1,2, and 3 will be in use at the end of this month long possession. Is the work on the far side of the station (platforms 4-6) going to be carried out while the rest of the station is open or will there be smaller closures before the big Christmas one?

Alexd · 24 Sep 2025

Charlie978 said:
When I have been past Huddersfield station recently it looks like only the new platforms 1,2, and 3 will be in use at the end of this month long possession. Is the work on the far side of the station (platforms 4-6) going to be carried out while the rest of the station is open or will there be smaller closures before the big Christmas one?

Work will be ongoing on the new sections whilst the station is in operation in its interim state. There is another 30 day closure planned for sometime in early 2027, when the new section should be completed and the new layout brought into operation

66C · 24 Sep 2025

The centre section of the train shed roof over new platforms 2 and 3 still requires attention. Will they be erecting the scaffolding before this week ends I wonder.

neil65 · 24 Sep 2025

66C said:
The centre section of the train shed roof over new platforms 2 and 3 still requires attention. Will they be erecting the scaffolding before this week ends I wonder.

I doubt that very much. The aim is to get a working railway through Huddersfield by Sunday night/Monday morning

LittleAH · 24 Sep 2025

neil65 said:
I doubt that very much. The aim is to get a working railway through Huddersfield by Sunday night/Monday morning

Scaffolding going up today

GRALISTAIR · 24 Sep 2025

neil65 said:
I doubt that very much. The aim is to get a working railway through Huddersfield by Sunday night/Monday morning

LittleAH said:
Scaffolding going up today

Sounds like they are on schedule or even slightly ahead then. Great news.

Revaulx · 25 Sep 2025

GRALISTAIR said:
Sounds like they are on schedule or even slightly ahead then. Great news.

Well I suppose we won’t know for certain till the trains start running again on Monday morning, but right now the whole project has been exemplary. Lots of forward planning obviously, but it’s clear that they haven’t skimped on resourcing it properly either.

Aside from the actual project work, every one of the RRBs I’ve caught has been bang on time, with staff on hand at locations with multiple routes (e.g. Huddersfield) giving out clear guidance on which bus to get. The last Stalybridge blockade (when the junction was reconfigured to increase speed to Victoria) was better than previous ones but nothing like as good as this.

I think a lot of people have had their faith restored in the rail industry’s ability to undertake major work in an efficient manner 8-)

Tim_UK · 25 Sep 2025

66C said:
The centre section of the train shed roof over new platforms 2 and 3 still requires attention. Will they be erecting the scaffolding before this week ends I wonder.

They used the hole in the roof to lift out the signalling cable bridge.

superkev said:
think that just leaves the Bridge span beams at Baker Viaduct, Deighton and Leeds Road part 2. Progress indeed.

For bridge decks.

There is still potentially a new bit over Bradford road on south side. The old one lifted out in the last few weeks. Either needs a new span or a decent hanging wall. The viaduct was 5 tracks wide here at this point.

And there is still an old metal span over Fitzwilliam street, right next to the new spans in Huddersfield. I presume that is coming out at some stage.

neil65 · 25 Sep 2025

Not much to report today on day 27, lots of prep work on the platforms going on, plus work on the track on the viaduct
Inside Huddersfield station straight down the middle showing the dog leg approach off the viaduct