Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[dodecahedron67]

A PDF of the consultation proposals is available here for anyone who doesn't want the AI app thing.

Big changes are:
- Confirmation of planned 3-tracking Hudds to Marsden
- Marsden and Slaithwaite stations to be completely rebuilt as 150m long 3 platform stations as a result
- Marsden will have an island platform where the current Up/Down lines are, with the Up & Down lines slewed either side and the "loop" platform and line remaining in the same location
- (New) Slaithwate looks to be a mirror image of (New) Marsden, platforms no longer staggered so they are all in line with where the current Down platform is (towards Huddersfield), which would see access to the station be from Crimble Bank only

 

[david_g]

Not sure how this looks but here is a map of the scheme.
View attachment 198289

Pity nobody looked at the labels on that map before they put it out. Golcar Viaduct has slipped two locations east of where it should be, which caused me to do a double-take trying to work out what they meant.

I've always known "Wilson's Footbridge" as Nancy Bridge (and so does my Dad, who's 93). I've never known the footbridge between Low Westwood Lane and Golcar Viaduct (in its proper location) had a name, despite spending hours on it watching trains go by sixty years ago.

Positive news though.

 

[zwk500]

OLE is noticeably present in the Marsden visualisation, but not in the Slaithwaite visualisation.

Slaithwaite Viaduct, Crimble Viaduct, and Milne (Longwood) viaduct have 'Connection of OLE to the outer face of the structure' in their entry on the List of Works proposed though, so maybe this is just a rendering error?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

These posts above are of course route section W2C.

W2B is Stalybridge to Diggle. Added below for completeness and to save everyone scrolling.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This of course is section W2C.
W2B is Stalybridge to Diggle. Added below for completeness and to save everyone scrolling.

So with this excellent W2C detail, are we just waiting for the proposals for Standedge Tunnel itself?
Or with it being solely on NR land, and invisible, maybe it doesn't need a consultation or consents?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Well east of Leeds, sections E2, E3 and E4 seem to have been merged into one project. So I don't think it matters if Standedge is W2B or W2C - they will sort of be merged into one project.

 

[D6700]

Don’t suppose anyone knows if the road bridge at Church Fenton Station requires replacing?

Nope Church Fenton bridge is fine.

"The section of Common Lane that crosses over the railway will be closed to vehicles between late July 2026 and May 2027 while the bridge is reconstructed"

Common-Lane-resident-letter-Nov25.pdf

 

[YorkshireBear]

"The section of Common Lane that crosses over the railway will be closed to vehicles between late July 2026 and May 2027 while the bridge is reconstructed"

Common-Lane-resident-letter-Nov25.pdf

Well, that's me told. Not sure where I got the duff information from....

 

[NorthernSpirit]

A PDF of the consultation proposals is available here for anyone who doesn't want the AI app thing.

Big changes are:
- Confirmation of planned 3-tracking Hudds to Marsden
- Marsden and Slaithwaite stations to be completely rebuilt as 150m long 3 platform stations as a result
- Marsden will have an island platform where the current Up/Down lines are, with the Up & Down lines slewed either side and the "loop" platform and line remaining in the same location
- (New) Slaithwate looks to be a mirror image of (New) Marsden, platforms no longer staggered so they are all in line with where the current Down platform is (towards Huddersfield), which would see access to the station be from Crimble Bank only

From the plans it appears that the current platform 1 at Marsden is getting the axe. Platform 2 is swapping sides (instead of facing north, it'll face south) and platform 3 appears to be retained, the latter makes sense as it currently isn't used unless you count the dwindling numbers of (the badly organised in my opinion) ale trail venturers who end up sat there not realising that the platform isn't in use.

 

[D6130]

unless you count the dwindling numbers of (the badly organised in my opinion) ale trail venturers who end up sat there not realising that the platform isn't in use.

I suspect that they will be the lager trail venturers, TBH!

 

[wilsontown]

Travelled between York and Leeds today and noticed that the steel bridge between Garforth and Cross Gates is no longer under covers, presumably awaiting being lifted back into place.

 

[xdbjacx]

I understand that NR may be busy developing a business case for electrification between Northallerton and Middlesbrough.

This might not seem like the most obvious use of skilled labour and capacity following the wind-down of the currently approved phases of TRU, but were it to include a complete remodelling of Northallerton, including electrified low level platforms and a re-bored dive under, the BCR might actually be very good. Not a long length. No swing bridges or other major complications, apart from Northallerton itself?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Excellent news if true. Probably worth a new thread in speculative as to what is next best project after Transpennine Upgrade.

 

[zwk500]

I understand that NR may be busy developing a business case for electrification between Northallerton and Middlesbrough.

Excellent news if true. Probably worth a new thread in speculative as to what is next best project after Transpennine Upgrade

Already has one

Saltburn to Darlington via Middlesbrough electrification business case?

I might have misunderstood this query. Has the battery/off wire range of these units been specified? Has the minimum unit length been set (eg 2, 3 or 4 carriages) Regarding the North East, it will depend how much time they need under the wires to run for the day. Am I right in thinking that all...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Grumpy]

The proposals for Marsden and Slaithwaite stations show the same abysmal facilities for passengers as the project has provided at Morley and Mirfield.
Obviously the weather cant be bad up the Pennines in the winter. Meanwhile new stations being opened in the West Midlands seem to be provided with canopies and covered footbridges.

 

[59CosG95]

The proposals for Marsden and Slaithwaite stations show the same abysmal facilities for passengers as the project has provided at Morley and Mirfield.
Obviously the weather cant be bad up the Pennines in the winter. Meanwhile new stations being opened in the West Midlands seem to be provided with canopies and covered footbridges.

Perhaps that's because the project for those stations falls squarely within the WMCA's jurisdiction, and they're (presumably) paying through the nose for it?
Sure, the bins aren't being collected but at least they get a canopy, eh?

 

[zwk500]

The proposals for Marsden and Slaithwaite stations show the same abysmal facilities for passengers as the project has provided at Morley and Mirfield.
Obviously the weather cant be bad up the Pennines in the winter. Meanwhile new stations being opened in the West Midlands seem to be provided with canopies and covered footbridges.

Uncovered footbridges are a particularly bad "economy" for that part of the world. Especially as the modular concept which both bridges are using has the option very much available. It's mad that NR can't/won't do (/haven't yet done) the modular concept for platform canopies though.

 

[edwin_m]

Canopies aren't much use when it's windy, which happens now and again in the Pennines. It really needs some kind of shelter with four walls and a door.

 

[YorksLad12]

It is disappointing that a 'station design philosophy' couldn't have been created, but this is lots of different projects moving at different speeds so I can see why it would be difficult.

What's being proposed is fairly typical though, if you look at Wakefield's two stations. Westgate has a new (relatively) footbridge and stairwell, enclosed. Get to the bottom of the stairs and there's a gap before you reach the older canopy. It's only a few feet, would it have cost so much to have complete coverage?

Over at Kirkgate, there's nothing at all when you reach platforms 2 & 3; the covering over the ramp stops when the ramp does. Big sprint in the rain, wind or snow to reach the shelter.

Canopies aren't much use when it's windy, which happens now and again in the Pennines. It really needs some kind of shelter with four walls and a door.

I sort-of agree. Canopies have advantages; people will spread out along the platform, for one. You can see from one end to another, for another, so somewhat safer than an eclosed shelter. Shelters can get blocked as they're not designed for wheelchair users at one end and pram users at the other, with no way past them. And people don't always want to sit in the middle (see also 3+2 seating).

But we could design a modern canopy, with a return edge at the non-exit side (wind baffle), solar panels on the roof, glass panels over 2m to the roof, to allow light in... they'd also provide shade if we had a summer like the last one!

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I think there is a Modular Design standard made by Network Rail and some other design companies that definitely includes canopies. This website looks like the kind of thing I remember seeing with clocktowers and pedestrianised space. Here's Network Rail's webpage on it. In this rather classy document (station design guidance 03/2021) they say canopies are optional for category F stations, highly desirable for E and D, and mandatory above that. I'm a big fan on the NwR modular station design, it's just that nothing is ever built with it!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Feb 2026 ==

This document (design manual for small-medium stations) is a bit more specific about the modular-ness of the design standard and has some more visual details.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Already has one

Saltburn to Darlington via Middlesbrough electrification business case?

I might have misunderstood this query. Has the battery/off wire range of these units been specified? Has the minimum unit length been set (eg 2, 3 or 4 carriages) Regarding the North East, it will depend how much time they need under the wires to run for the day. Am I right in thinking that all...

www.railforums.co.uk

Thanks. Just visited the thread.

 

[Leedslad_]

Not sure if it's new news or relevant to tunnel electrification...

But appendix 2 within point 6 has Sept 26 Gledholt tunnel 16 day blockade...

WYCA - Modern Gov

westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk

 

[fishwomp]

Not sure if it's new news or relevant to tunnel electrification...

But appendix 2 within point 6 has Sept 26 Gledholt tunnel 16 day blockade...

WYCA - Modern Gov

westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk

Thanks for sharing - the specific relevant bit is in an attachment linked to from a PDF ( https://westyorkshire.moderngov.co....pendix2InfrastructureandEnhancements.docx.pdf ) - here it is :

* May 2026: 24-day Bradley Junction (between Deighton and Mirfield) Blockade. Like the Huddersfield Blockade in September 2025, trains will divert via the Calder Valley, and rail replacement will operate between Huddersfield and Brighouse, and local stations. During this blockade, Huddersfield station is open from the west. Weekend and Weekday plans vary
• June 2026: 28-day Dewsbury Blockade, with weekday arrangements the same as those during mid-week closures. Weekends are more disruptive, as they are coupled up with closures East of Leeds, and at Mirfield.
• September 2026: 16-day Gledholt Tunnel Blockade. Like the Huddersfield Blockade in September 2025, trains will divert via the Calder Valley, and rail replacement will operate between Huddersfield and Brighouse.
• December to January 2026: Huddersfield Blockade #2, like the first Huddersfield Blockade in September 2025, trains will divert via the Calder Valley, and rail replacement will operate between Huddersfield and Brighouse. Finer details of this closure are not yet available.
• Weekend closures will take place throughout 2026 across the entire TRU route in addition to the above blockades.

.. and also (if anyonee wants to share w White Rose thread..)

• White Rose: funding approved to resolve legacy issues; project re-mobilisation planned.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for sharing - the specific relevant bit is in an attachment linked to from a PDF ( https://westyorkshire.moderngov.co....pendix2InfrastructureandEnhancements.docx.pdf ) - here it is :

I think “Huddersfield Blockade #2” should really be December 2026 - January 2027? I’m assuming it‘s a bad way of explaining a period spanning the year end in the original?

 

[GhostManDN91]

Sounds like major work is happening then with all these long closure periods planned this year?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Sounds like major work is happening then with all these long closure periods planned this year?

Which I am sure has been the plan for quite a while now.

 

[Leedslad_]

Lots of ballast laid between the two lines at Cross Gates station...

Also many posts for OLE in place or process of being erected between Cross gates and Neville Hill now.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Did a turn over the TRU route today, the first time for several months.
Massive progress. Possibly the most unexpected sight was a couple of twin-track cantilevers over the yet-to-be-built new Up Fast at Bradley Jn.
There were also lines of single cantilevers on the new fast line deviation at Heaton Lodge.
The new fast route at Neville Hill, south of the current one, is cleared but no track or OHL gear yet.
Plenty of wiring up west of Church Fenton towards Micklefield, but a gap, with steelwork still to go up, on the 3-track section through Church Fenton station.

Good to see the new fast line's bridge beams in place over the Calder & Hebble Navigation (though not yet over the River Calder itself) at Ravensthorpe.
On the Huddersfield-Marsden section there will need to be a lot of remodelling for the third track to go in.
The present track pair wander from side to side of the old 4-track solum, and presumably they will have to be slewed to the north side, leaving room for the new third track on the south side. There's a lot of lineside kit in the way, on both sides of the track, some of it installed only a few months ago for the resignalling.

The OHL mast identification plates are a bit confusing.
Coming from York they are plated CFM (km from York), presumably meaning Church Fenton-Micklefield.
At Micklefield they change to HUL (km from Hull); both of these prefixes are the engineers line references (ELR) for those lines.
The HUL plates end approaching Neville Hill, when the prefixes become EB which appear to be from the original 1990s Leeds electrification from Doncaster.
From Leeds towards Huddersfield where new masts have gone up they are prefixed GFL with km from Manchester Victoria.
I can't decode GFL, but presumably the L is for Leeds. Anybody know the logic here?

 

[dodecahedron67]

GFL - Greenfield Line?

 

[Phillipimo]

Another great cabride update from Ben Elias on YouTube.

Welcome aboard 153311 for a trip from Manchester Victoria to York via Ashburys and Huddersfield. Filmed on 18th February 2026. See how the line has changed since my last video in August - it's really taking shape with changes in many places along the route.