Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[QueensCurve]

Is the location at about 00:24:30 destined to be a feederr station?

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Maybe? That is exactly where the Heyrod feeder station actually is down the bank. But I imagine, along with the HOIF, there's another cable currently going to the new TSC at Stalybridge (which you can see at 20:39 quite some distance away from Stalybridge station itself) feeding the OLE from Miles Platting and from Ardwick so there wouldn't really be a need to further feed the line, unless concerns about being able to isolate the tunnel are a big enough reason.

 

[Jamesrob637]

An excellent video: thank you for posting. I look forward to my trip along the line next Tuesday.

 

[Leedslad_]

Another great cabride update from Ben Elias on YouTube.

After Cross gates toward Garforth the video shows a number of OLE posts. I had understood there were plans for future 4 track here, yet the posts appear "too close" to the other existing line to allow for this?

 

[quantinghome]

After Cross gates toward Garforth the video shows a number of OLE posts. I had understood there were plans for future 4 track here, yet the posts appear "too close" to the other existing line to allow for this?

You can see the same for Leeds - Crossgates as well. But it's interesting (ok... not that interesting) to look at the detail:

Some of the OLE foundations are definitely too close for four-tracking (1:14:45). But in other locations (1:16:51) they are set right back into the cutting or are predominantly twin-cantilever (1:20:03 - see also the space under the new footbridge), which strongly indicates provision of space for future four-tracking. The provision for four-tracking appears to start at the footbridge at 1:16:15 (750m west of Crossgates) and to finish at 1:21:10 (400m west of Garforth station, the point at which the track becomes built up at both sides). That's a 5 km stretch of track with two stations that local trains would call at (Crossgates and the future Thorpe Park station).

Those more familiar with railway alignment planning than I may want to comment on whether this is sufficient distance for a viable dynamic loop. Presumably there's not much point extending four-tracking further west towards Leeds if the Leeds eastern approach remains two track and all trains are travelling at the same speed.

 

[Leedslad_]

What about at 1:18:22 where there seems no space for 4 tracking in future (unless it is a trick or the camera perspective)?

 

[quantinghome]

What about at 1:18:22 where there seems no space for 4 tracking in future (unless it is a trick or the camera perspective)?

I'm no expert in OLE design but along that stretch it appears they need to have a mast on that left hand side every so often. If it were to be four-tracked in the future, those masts would be removed, or possibly there would be enough space between the two pairs of two tracks for the mast to remain in place. (In a two-track layout the tracks are separated by a 'six foot', but in a four-track layout the two pairs of tracks are separated by a wider 'ten foot').

 

[takno]

What about at 1:18:22 where there seems no space for 4 tracking in future (unless it is a trick or the camera perspective)?

Individual OLE masts aren't all that expensive in the grand scheme of things, particularly if you're going to have to be out adding electrification for the new masts in the future anyway. If there's a couple of places where passive provision is fiddly then it makes more sense to just do something that works now and deal with replacing some masts later if the 4 tracking ever happens.

 

[59CosG95]

Individual OLE masts aren't all that expensive in the grand scheme of things, particularly if you're going to have to be out adding electrification for the new masts in the future anyway. If there's a couple of places where passive provision is fiddly then it makes more sense to just do something that works now and deal with replacing some masts later if the 4 tracking ever happens.

I concur. Kings X Remodelling was one where a temporary OLE structure was installed during temporary track layouts being in play; once the final layout was in place, said structure was removed.
Thorpe Park would be a very similar situation.

 

[YorkshireBear]

The cost of four tracking that section will be in civils not moving a few OLE piles. Agreed with those above.

 

[Leedslad_]

Oh yes I can see that, just seems like it would be less time/effort/hassle to have them in the right place from the get go... Otherwise it's more weekend closures and cost to decommission and remove them before you even get started..?

A bit like planting a tree in your garden despite knowing you plan to reconfigure the lawn next year...

 

[takno]

Oh yes I can see that, just seems like it would be less time/effort/hassle to have them in the right place from the get go... Otherwise it's more weekend closures and cost to decommission and remove them before you even get started..?

A bit like planting a tree in your garden despite knowing you plan to reconfigure the lawn next year...

Honestly you can spend too much time trying to anticipate every eventuality. At some point it just slows everything down and makes it more expensive. In gardening terms it's like putting up a fence post now because you need a fence, even though you hope that in a few years you'll have the money to buy next door and have a bigger garden.

 

[AndrewE]

Honestly you can spend too much time trying to anticipate every eventuality. At some point it just slows everything down and makes it more expensive. In gardening terms it's like putting up a fence post now because you need a fence, even though you hope that in a few years you'll have the money to buy next door and have a bigger garden.

Agreed. See https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lectrification-news-and-updates.236007/page-7
I'm very glad the TransPennine Upgrade is happening and just hope they keep the momentum up until it is done in full.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Agreed. See https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lectrification-news-and-updates.236007/page-7
I'm very glad the TransPennine Upgrade is happening and just hope they keep the momentum up until it is done in full.

Agreed also. Absolutely

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Tim’s latest video show the new lift shafts in place at Huddersfield On track with Tim

 

[superkev]

I note from the latest Robert Stenhouse picture on Flickr that Ravensthorpe Leeds direction Platform 1 has been removed.
Presumably Platform 2 will follow on the next possession.
K

 

[BantamMenace]

Photos from east Garforth of the electrification progress

 

[GraphitProjekt]

what do the yellow things do?

 

[Phillipimo]

what do the yellow things do?

At a guess, temporary supports to stop the arm from swinging around before the wires are attached.

 

[Elecman]

At a guess, temporary supports to stop the arm from swinging around before the wires are attached.

I’d concur with that

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Photos from east Garforth of the electrification progress

I love this photo. It shows a stovepipe type arm from the portal right close up in the foreground. .

 

[Tetragon213]

Another great cabride update from Ben Elias on YouTube.

Ben Elias' videos are invaluable for us as designers sometimes. He is doing the lord's work.

 

[neil65]

Photos of the lift shafts and staircase installed at Huddersfield last weekend

Day out to Leicester (includes Huddersfield station new footbridge/lift) 4th March 2026 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Recently installed 2 lift shafts and part of the new footbridge west end of Huddersfield station (3)

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Huddersfield - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[duffield]

I note from the latest Robert Stenhouse picture on Flickr that Ravensthorpe Leeds direction Platform 1 has been removed.
...

Went through yesterday, and (as you can see from the photo) P1 had almost been removed but a small section leading to one of the platform end ramps was still there, looking rather odd by itself!

I wonder if some cables or something need moving before they can demolish this final bit, or they just hadn't got round to it?

 

[bengley]

Ben Elias' videos are invaluable for us as designers sometimes. He is doing the lord's work.

Invoice in the post

 

[Jamesrob637]

A trip along the line yesterday (daylight out, darkness return) revealed mammoth progress east of Huddersfield. Less so west thereof, although I believe Gledholt Tunnel is currently having major structural work done to it. The Baker Viaduct near Dewsbury is definitely very impressive.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I have booked a ticket for next Wednesday (Mar 11th) and will likewise report progress.

 

[Railsecrets]

Just passed though Dewsbury this evening and noticed the ticket barriers have been removed.

I wonder if this TRU related or to do with the station front redevelopment?

 

[Phillipimo]

Summary of latest line speed improvements:

Micklefield junction
Increase from 80 to 90mph on route to and from Church Fenton.

Church Fenton
Northbound, increase from 80 to 90mph around curve south of the station.

Southbound, 125mph extended from River Wharfe viaduct to Church Fenton North junction, then 85mph through station and around curve - up from 70mph through the curve.

Loop from platform 3, 50mph round curve and joining mainline towards Leeds.

Speeds from latest Sectional Appendix.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Summary of latest line speed improvements:

Micklefield junction
Increase from 80 to 90mph on route to and from Church Fenton.

Church Fenton
Northbound, increase from 80 to 90mph around curve south of the station.

Southbound, 125mph extended from River Wharfe viaduct to Church Fenton North junction, then 85mph through station and around curve - up from 70mph through the curve.

Loop from platform 3, 50mph round curve and joining mainline towards Leeds.

Speeds from latest Sectional Appendix.

Was the loop from platform 3 15mph before? That will feel massively different! A class 331 there will feel very different to any sprinters before.