Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[zwk500]

What is the next section of the TRU to be electrified presuming Micklefield-Church Fenton?

According to the December 2025 Enhancements Delivery Plan: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-co...-Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-December-2025.pdf

E1 Church Fenton to York - Current Entry into Service (EIS) Target: April 2026
W3 Huddersfield to Ravensthorpe - Current EIS Target: February 2030
W4 Ravensthorpe to Leeds - Current EIS Target: February 2030
E234 Leeds to Church Fenton: Current EIS Target: April 2030

This is how Network Rail have chosen to present the target dates. I would expect shorter sections within those areas to come into service earlier though (as @GRALISTAIR and @YorkshireBear have mentioned).

Sections being remodelled/rebuilt like Huddersfield to Mirfield will need to wait for the big changes to be made before they can finish off the parts of the electrification work. Also worth noting that the EIS dates mentioned above are for full sign-off, so the wires will be energised in advance of that date to allow testing to take place.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Is it actually a definite that Huddersfield-Stalybridge is getting fully wired? The recent PWI lectures mentioned off hand that some parts that aren't getting wired, probably the long tunnels since i remember a design was made for the tight clearance at Mossley

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is it actually a definite that Huddersfield-Stalybridge is getting fully wired? The recent PWI lectures mentioned off hand that some parts that aren't getting wired, probably the long tunnels since i remember a design was made for the tight clearance at Mossley

The plan for the Stalybridge-Huddersfield upgrade is yet to be confirmed/funded.
I think they'd be crazy not to wire this section. but who knows what the budgetary position will be when the DfT decides on the NR plans.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think Leeds to just beyond Neville Hill will take a while to see much progress until the big blockade (can't remember the year)

Summer 2028.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The plan for the Stalybridge-Huddersfield upgrade is yet to be confirmed/funded.

They are definitely doing planning and some design work though (to give DfT (more) accurate costings) from what I have read elsewhere.

 

[superkev]

Is it actually a definite that Huddersfield-Stalybridge is getting fully wired? The recent PWI lectures mentioned off hand that some parts that aren't getting wired, probably the long tunnels since i remember a design was made for the tight clearance at Mossley

I believe Saddleworth parish council have issues with the proposals
See https://www.saddleworthparishcounci...railway-bosses-must-listen-to-local-concerns/.

Edit. Part extract from link of councils concerns:-
"In particular, the proposed closure of Moorgate Halt is a real issue, particularly when the alternative route involves expensive works on a steep path which leads out on to the main road at a location where there is no footpath.
There are further concerns over the length of the road closures, particularly in Diggle; the lack of a drop-off and pick-up point at Greenfield Station; the number of compounds on green spaces, particularly where they involve cutting down mature trees; and the failure to identify the location of bat roosts in the vicinity of the viaduct."

Not sure how this will affect the TAWO and prigress
K

 

[hwl]

I believe Saddleworth parish council have issues with the proposals including nesting bats and footpath diversions possibly triggering a public enquiry which could delay things. See https://www.saddleworthparishcounci...railway-bosses-must-listen-to-local-concerns/.
K

The PC are going to end up sorely disappointed on most items.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Saddleworth Parish Council is currently putting together its response to the works on the railway line that were submitted to the Secretary of State for the Transpennine Route Upgrade through Saddleworth.
While the Parish Council supports the overall project, in particular the delivery of a longstanding commitment to overcome the limited access to the Huddersfield-bound platform at Greenfield, there are a number of concerns the Parish Council wants addressed.
In particular, the proposed closure of Moorgate Halt is a real issue, particularly when the alternative route involves expensive works on a steep path which leads out on to the main road at a location where there is no footpath.
There are further concerns over the length of the road closures, particularly in Diggle; the lack of a drop-off and pick-up point at Greenfield Station; the number of compounds on green spaces, particularly where they involve cutting down mature trees; and the failure to identify the location of bat roosts in the vicinity of the viaduct.
Parish Council chair Helen Bishop said: “The level of consultation on this has been poor, and we are deeply unhappy with the way that this seems to be being presented as a done deal.

“While there are significant improvements to the line as a whole and access to Greenfield Station – which is to be welcomed – we want to make sure that this work delivers the most for the people of Saddleworth, and in the best way.”
The Parish Council will also look for a commitment from the railway companies to two stopping trains per hour at Greenfield, and a combination of routes to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.
A public meeting about the works will be taking place at Saddleworth Civic Hall on Tuesday 2nd December at 6pm.
The meeting is aimed at informing local residents and businesses about the The Transport and Works Act Order(TWAO) application, what it means for Saddleworth and how to comment on it.
The Transport and Works Act Order(TWAO) is available to view online here, https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...gle-saddleworth-transport-and-works-act-order and in hard copy format at Greenfield library.

This bit in particular caught my eye. ----------its response to the works on the railway line that were submitted to the Secretary of State for the Transpennine Route Upgrade through Saddleworth.----

So long story short, I read that as major planning work has already taken place which is good news.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

A delay for some more arbitration is frustrating but at least it's moving. I'm just apprehensive of government just deciding to un-wire parts

 

[Nottingham59]

I read that as major planning work has already taken place which is good news.

I assume that's the TWAO application from November 2025. All the planning documents are here:

Stalybridge to Diggle (Saddleworth) scheme - Network Rail

As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, we are proposing a number of changes between Stalybridge and Diggle (Saddleworth)

www.networkrail.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I assume that's the TWAO application from November 2025. All the planning documents are here:

Stalybridge to Diggle (Saddleworth) scheme - Network Rail

As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, we are proposing a number of changes between Stalybridge and Diggle (Saddleworth)

www.networkrail.co.uk

Thanks for that. I knew I had read it somewhere that some major planning work had already taken place.

Basically just awaiting new for Diggle to Huddersfield now aiui .

 

[cats_five]

The PC are going to end up sorely disappointed on most items.

Had a quick read. They should be happy if trains no longer stop anywhere near Saddleworth...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Had a quick read. They should be happy if trains no longer stop anywhere near Saddleworth...

In the immortal words of Steve Jobs - "If you want to please all the people all the time - go and sell ice cream"

 

[zwk500]

I assume that's the TWAO application from November 2025. All the planning documents are here:

Stalybridge to Diggle (Saddleworth) scheme - Network Rail

As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, we are proposing a number of changes between Stalybridge and Diggle (Saddleworth)

www.networkrail.co.uk

As an aside, comparing the relative file sizes of the Environmental report to the deposited plans is shocking.

However,

The plan for the Stalybridge-Huddersfield upgrade is yet to be confirmed/funded.
I think they'd be crazy not to wire this section. but who knows what the budgetary position will be when the DfT decides on the NR plans.

Some of the drawings in the TWAO application only shown 'OLE drawn indicatively', however within the estimate of costs is more than £100 million on Electrical plant and equipment. So the suggestion is that it will be wired, but at the time of the TWAO the final designs for things within the railway boundary was not yet finished.

The Draft Order authorises electrification (of course NR aren't obligated to do everything they have permission for):

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Some of the drawings in the TWAO application only shown 'OLE drawn indicatively', however within the estimate of costs is more than £100 million on Electrical plant and equipment. So the suggestion is that it will be wired,

Might be reading into the wording too deeply but a big cost in E&P could suggest long feeder cables between electrictrified sections. So instead of wiring the section they would be piping the 25kV from Stalybridge to wherever the limit of wiring could be around Huddersfield. Potentially for providing alternate feeding options for the Huddersfield section that would normally be provided by the overhead line. Just because I'm fairly sure E&P doesn't necessarily include OLE, could be wrong on that point.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Feeders of course are Heyrod and Ravensthorpe.

 

[zwk500]

Might be reading into the wording too deeply but a big cost in E&P could suggest long feeder cables between electrictrified sections. So instead of wiring the section they would be piping the 25kV from Stalybridge to wherever the limit of wiring could be around Huddersfield. Potentially for providing alternate feeding options for the Huddersfield section that would normally be provided by the overhead line. Just because I'm fairly sure E&P doesn't necessarily include OLE, could be wrong on that point.

Very true, but the TWAO applied for is from Stalybridge to Diggle Only. Would you really need £100m for an 'extension cord'? I get that 25KV substations aren't cheap, nor is the cabling for that voltage. But we're looking at 8 miles of double track. £100m would still represent £3.8m/stkm.

If £100m *isn't* including the OLE, what is it buying? How much does a feeder station cost nowadays?

Link to Estimate of costs:

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/twao-stalybridge-diggle/Stalybridge%20to%20Diggle%20(Saddleworth)/TWAO%20Application%20Documents/NR06%20Estimate%20of%20Costs.pdf

 

[GraphitProjekt]

That is a good point. I would believe Ravensthorpe could cost that much, 132kV grid connection plus SFC equipment. However, Ravensthorpe isn't on this section and Heyrod grid connection has been in operation for years now. 8 miles or OLE including the arrangement ar Mossley sounds about right for £1bn. Maybe it's Diggle Tunnel they won't wire. I realise now i might be getting E&P mixed up with P&D (power and distribution)

 

[nr758123]

A delay for some more arbitration is frustrating but at least it's moving.

I would have expected that the public enquiry phase would have been built into the timeline for the project.

Had a quick read. They should be happy if trains no longer stop anywhere near Saddleworth...

Maybe you should read it again then, because it doesn't say anything of the sort. It actually says that the parish council want to see the project enable more frequent trains at Greenfield, which seems a reasonable enough thing to want from a once-in-a-generation project.

 

[59CosG95]

Micklefield to Church Fenton back up and running today. Looking forward to seeing the final extents of any changes.

 

[Tetragon213]

The rather unfortunate news of a fire in Standedge Tunnel isn't exactly welcome. I wonder if this will cause any lapses in the project for TRU while they investigate the causes and any possible damage?

 

[YorkshireBear]

The rather unfortunate news of a fire in Standedge Tunnel isn't exactly welcome. I wonder if this will cause any lapses in the project for TRU while they investigate the causes and any possible damage?

Well the cause doesn't need investigating. It was an RRV fire.

I don't think TRU were due at Standedge for quite a while so shouldn't have too much impact unless the repair prevents W12 or electrification due to clearance in which case a more permanent repair will be required.

 

[neil65]

Regarding wiring Standedge & Morley tunnels if its going to cost a fortune why not purchase Bi-mode electric units for the line, main power taken from overhead, but during the tunnel sections run on battery power, TPE fitted a 802 with batteries and it was a success

 

[hwl]

Regarding wiring Standedge & Morley tunnels if its going to cost a fortune why not purchase Bi-mode electric units for the line, main power taken from overhead, but during the tunnel sections run on battery power,

Comparatively it isn't. The main issue with wiring is the curvature at the eastern end combined with the list portal.

TPE fitted a 802 with batteries and it was a success

Hitachi fitted an 802 with batteries and Hitachi said it was a success...

 

[takno]

Regarding wiring Standedge & Morley tunnels if its going to cost a fortune why not purchase Bi-mode electric units for the line, main power taken from overhead, but during the tunnel sections run on battery power, TPE fitted a 802 with batteries and it was a success

There's no evidence that it's going to cost a fortune, and it would massively reduce flexibility. This is a mixed-use line which sees several different fleets of passenger trains every day, as well as a significant and increasing amount of heavy freight.

There are many places where discontinuous wiring offers a potentially good cost-saving solution, but this absolutely isn't one of them.

 

[Spartacus]

Regarding wiring Standedge & Morley tunnels if its going to cost a fortune why not purchase Bi-mode electric units for the line, main power taken from overhead, but during the tunnel sections run on battery power, TPE fitted a 802 with batteries and it was a success

I don't know why the idea of Standedge & Morley being difficult to wire keeps coming up, they're not. No, the ram-arch installed in Standedge as a result of the fire and damage to the brickwork do take up a little space, but they're a pretty standard thing now, I don't know if they've been used in conjunction with electrification before, but that's one for the engineers.

 

[neil65]

It was just i thought i had regarding the tunnels, as i heard the track bed would have to be lowered through Standedge, true or false? i dont know sorry

 

[josh-j]

Stalybridge Tunnel may need that, but it's a lot shorter than Standedge. I seem to remember reading that Stalybridge was the hard one on the West side of the Pennines - that and Scout Tunnel (Mossley). I don't know about Morley.

 

[hwl]

It was just i thought i had regarding the tunnels, as i heard the track bed would have to be lowered through Standedge, true or false? i dont know sorry

False.

 

[zwk500]

It was just i thought i had regarding the tunnels, as i heard the track bed would have to be lowered through Standedge, true or false? i dont know sorry

Even if it was requried, a track lower isn't that difficult a job though. But even at Farnworth, where they needed to rebore the tunnel completely, it was judged better to do that than to have a tiny gap in otherwise continuous OLE.

Discontinuous electrification as a concept is best aligned to what Scotland are doing on the Fife Circle - having approximately equal length sections of electrified and non-electrified track as part of a comprehensive BEMU local service that can operate as a cohesive whole.