Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[GRALISTAIR]

Looks like the line reopened on time after the latest blockade, well done to all involved on a successful operation!

Excellent news all around.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Excellent news all around.

Still diversions this week though, but slightly quicker journey times than the past few weeks.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Still diversions this week though, but slightly quicker journey times than the past few weeks.

Also weekend closures and diversions most of June.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Also weekend closures and diversions most of June.

Don't know why they can't block it off for longer but get more done at a time? Mind you, it's 30C or more out there today!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Don't know why they can't block it off for longer but get more done at a time? Mind you, it's 30C or more out there today!

In a PWI (now REI) seminar a few years back, they said they were going to use a blockade strategy during summer months as schools and universities were out and conditions were more favourable for access amongst other considerations.

 

[MboroFC]

In month blockade, is installing full electrification between Leeds and Dewsbury possible? Or is it just installing the masts they will be doing.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

In month blockade, is installing full electrification between Leeds and Dewsbury possible? Or is it just installing the masts they will be doing.

There is a good number of those already!

 

[MboroFC]

There is a good number of those already!

There is a good number of them around White Rose and Morley but Batley and Dewsbury area are yet to get them. I don't know if it's plausible to have all masts and wires up by the end of June.

 

[YorksLad12]

There is a good number of them around White Rose and Morley but Batley and Dewsbury area are yet to get them. I don't know if it's plausible to have all masts and wires up by the end of June.

Given that there's no date for White Rose to replace Cottingley, I'd have said not; I think we were thinking that the (public) footbridge will need replacing as well, and Cottingley still being open (or not) will have an impact on where masts go. There would also be the need to make the connection outside Leeds Station, which might wait for a Christmas/New Year blockade.

 

[MboroFC]

Given that there's no date for White Rose to replace Cottingley, I'd have said not; I think we were thinking that the (public) footbridge will need replacing as well, and Cottingley still being open (or not) will have an impact on where masts go. There would also be the need to make the connection outside Leeds Station, which might wait for a Christmas/New Year blockade.

Good points, thanks.

 

[Tim_UK]

In month blockade, is installing full electrification between Leeds and Dewsbury possible? Or is it just installing the masts they will be doing.

I think looking at Bradley to Huddersfield works. The main bits were drainage, moving the track, new junction and the Whitacre street Bridge (next to Deighton station). But piling for masts has happened where possible.

A long gap after the track work for signalling to be done.

Looks like the line reopened on time after the latest blockade, well done to all involved on a successful operation! Now the slow lines are in place we should start to see the new fast lines emerging soon.

I don't think the fast line track will be laid until the whole fast line route is ready. There are several bits where track could be laid but none has appeared. The fast lines won't be any use until the Baker Viaduct is complete.

You can't build the fast lines near Ravensthorpe until the Wakefield lines go under the flyover.

There are a lot of electrification masts to go in. (which might be easier without track)

There are earth works to do between Deighton and Leeds road bridge. Plus the bridges for new Deighton station. I'm not sure of the state of earth works to the west of the new Ravensthorpe station.

I think they are still working on the viaduct in Huddersfield.

Being able to drive diggers along the fast lines to access worksites will be more useful than the actual track.

Next blockade is Dewsbury. Longer platforms. Take out the subway at Batley. I've not seen any mention of earth works to straighten the route for linking to Baker Viaduct.

I also suspect you can't build new Ravensthorpe station until the 3 lines problem is solved. And unless you want to do the junction twice, that means Baker Viaduct done and working before Ravensthorpe station construction. New Ravensthorpe down for opening in 2028. 2028 suggests after bake


To me, the question is when will the Wakefield lines go under the flyover. Before or after the Baker Viaduct is ready (who knows)

I think we will see the flyover box and Baker done first. Wakefields under the flyover first. All the plumbing over the viaduct. Slows to over the viaduct and the new junction done. Ground works to allow the fast to happen. Ravensthorpe station later.


Maybe you could shove the current 3 tracks at the site of the new Ravensthorpe station, but I think the 2028 date means that the station will be done after all the track is moved.


==


I'm not sure what future blockades are planned.


Huddersfield additional platforms down as for early 2027.

Something to put the wakefields under the flyover.

Something to connect the Dewsbury end of the Baker viaduct. (maybe all at the same time)


===


you can be really surprised by the progress when it does happen. If you look at the last 4 weeks progress, it's 2km of double track in 3 weeks. The whole thing is only 11.5km long. 18 weeks and you are done Obviously, prep it first.

(all my info just from knowing the area and watching what happens)

 

[superkev]

If they use the same method of track laying for most of the fast lines they will need a another blockade as one line was used for the spoil and ballast trains.
Watching the Youtube vids digging out what looked like a 2ft deep trench for the track bed needed quite a few long spoil trains.
K

 

[GRALISTAIR]

⚠️ Upcoming Closures and changes to services

Upgrading the Transpennine main line is a huge job. This means that, at times, we’ll need to close certain parts of the railway so we can make it more reliable and greener. When this happens, we’ll get you to where you’re going on a diversion route, or on a high quality bus or coach with comfy...

thetrupgrade.co.uk

To facilitate upgrades as part of TRU, weekday and weekend services between Huddersfield and Leeds will be impacted throughout May and June.
Around this period, there will also be no train services through Huddersfield on weekends in April.
There will be changes to journey times and some customers may need to use a rail replacement bus for at least part of their journey. Brighouse station will be used as an interchange for those travelling to / from Huddersfield.
We will keep customers on trains wherever possible, either using our diversionary routes, or running as close as possible to the closure area

On the following dates, there will be no trains departing Huddersfield towards Dewsbury and Leeds. Services between Manchester and Leeds will be diverted via Hebden Bridge:

Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June

On the following dates, there will be no trains through Dewsbury. Services will be diverted between Huddersfield and Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate:

• Monday 1 to Friday 5 June
• Monday 8 to Friday 12 June
• Monday 15 to Friday 19 June
• Monday 22 to Friday 26 June

So basically all of June too. I had not realised.

 

[KN94]

I'm not sure what future blockades are planned.


Huddersfield additional platforms down as for early 2027.

Something to put the wakefields under the flyover.

Something to connect the Dewsbury end of the Baker viaduct. (maybe all at the same time)

16 days at Gledholt Tunnel (immediately West of Huddersfield station) in September 2026
9 days at Common Lane (Church Fenton) in October 2026
37 days at Huddersfield ("Huddersfield #2") in January 2027 (from Xmas 2026)
37 days at Thornhill LNW Jn in June 2027
There are two sets of 9 days and lots of weekends at Mirfield in 2027
After Huddersfield #2 is finished in January, nothing really happens there (Stalybridge - Heaton Lodge Jn) until the following Christmas. Plenty of preparatory weekends happening in 2026 however.
East of Leeds weekends happening throughout 2026 and 2027 also.

 

[YorkshireBear]

16 days at Gledholt Tunnel (immediately West of Huddersfield station) in September 2026
9 days at Common Lane (Church Fenton) in October 2026
37 days at Huddersfield ("Huddersfield #2") in January 2027 (from Xmas 2026)
37 days at Thornhill LNW Jn in June 2027
There are two sets of 9 days and lots of weekends at Mirfield in 2027
After Huddersfield #2 is finished in January, nothing really happens there (Stalybridge - Heaton Lodge Jn) until the following Christmas. Plenty of preparatory weekends happening in 2026 however.
East of Leeds weekends happening throughout 2026 and 2027 also.

Thornhill LNW for 37 days is that no direct TPEs to Manchester for that length of time with the Calder Valley taking the full load?

 

[KN94]

Thornhill LNW for 37 days is that no direct TPEs to Manchester for that length of time with the Calder Valley taking the full load?

It's an 'Eye of the Needle' or Mirfield - so nothing Manchester/Huddersfield - Leeds for 37 days.
Usual plan is TPE to terminate at Huddersfield from the West (with a Calder Valley stopper running via Bradley Jn) and Dewsbury and/or Leeds from the East. This block does extend to include Brighouse and Dewsbury for the first couple of days, however.
It'll put a lot of strain on the route via BDI, and maybe some strain on the Hope Valley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2026 ==

16 days at Gledholt Tunnel (immediately West of Huddersfield station) in September 2026
9 days at Common Lane (Church Fenton) in October 2026
37 days at Huddersfield ("Huddersfield #2") in January 2027 (from Xmas 2026)
37 days at Thornhill LNW Jn in June 2027
There are two sets of 9 days and lots of weekends at Mirfield in 2027
After Huddersfield #2 is finished in January, nothing really happens there (Stalybridge - Heaton Lodge Jn) until the following Christmas. Plenty of preparatory weekends happening in 2026 however.
East of Leeds weekends happening throughout 2026 and 2027 also.

Just to add more detail to the above:

28 days at Dewsbury/Batley (30th May - 26th June) - first weekend includes Mirfield, other three weekends include Mirfield and East of Leeds
Six consecutive weekends through Diggle (27/28 June - 01/02 August)
16 days at Gledholt Tunnel (19th September - 4th October)
9 days at Church Fenton (24th October - 2nd November) - also to note that two weeks prior, 10 & 11th October, there is a weekend through Diggle alongside an all-line block at Church Fenton
37 days at Huddersfield (Xmas 2026 - 1st February 2027, with Sunday 1st February extending to include Mirfield for half of the day) - after this Huddersfield block, there are no other closures on the route through Diggle until Christmas 2027
Five consecutive midweek blocks through Morley (w/c 22nd February 2027 - w/c 20th March 2027) - note the final week will run Sunday - Thursday
37 days at Thornhill LNW Jn (Mirfield) (22nd May 2027 - 28th June 2027) - the week prior contains a block through Morley from Sunday 16th May - Monday 24th May. There are also various weekend and Sunday possessions at Mirfield from 3rd April onwards.
9 days at Mirfield (17th July 2027 - 25th July 2027)
9 days at Mirfield (4th September 2027- 12th September 2027)
Early Xmas closure (23rd December 2027) between Stalybridge - Leeds

There are additional weekend and Sunday only closures at Mirfield and East of Leeds through the year

As for work content, I don't have all the detail - but if I were a betting man, I'd say work on the Baker Viaduct would be taking place during the Thornhill LNW Jn blockade...

 

[Sapphire Blue]

The road closure under Fitzwilliam St bridge has been extended from 31st June (Yes I know, but that's what it said!).
Now closed until 26th July

 

[GRALISTAIR]

All in all, 2026 is an absolutely huge year for the upgrade works.

 

[Jamesrob637]

June is a good month next year because no football, especially with Hull's recent promotion back to the Prem.

 

[Ploughman]

Has the bridge near Garforth been finished yet

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

All in all, 2026 is an absolutely huge year for the upgrade works.

It is yet we have to wait till the next decade to see any benefits

 

[josh-j]

It is yet we have to wait till the next decade to see any benefits

Well the TRU should have started literal decades ago and been finished by now. We're seeing the consequences of years of postponement and redrafting, each time adding costs for no reason other than to put off actually doing the project.

It's amazing TRU is still happening, in that context. I'm very happy with all this progress even though the benefits are a few years away.

 

[Andyh82]

⚠️ Upcoming Closures and changes to services

Upgrading the Transpennine main line is a huge job. This means that, at times, we’ll need to close certain parts of the railway so we can make it more reliable and greener. When this happens, we’ll get you to where you’re going on a diversion route, or on a high quality bus or coach with comfy...

thetrupgrade.co.uk

So basically all of June too. I had not realised.

I think it’s pretty poor that the only provision over the next month from Brighouse is a bus stopping at all stations to Leeds

Which I imagine barely anyone will actually use as it takes longer to get to Leeds than the 254

There is nothing to Manchester either, the only service running is a 2 hourly shuttle to Bradford, I’m not massively sure why it can’t run hourly as normal as everything else on the Calder valley has a consistent hourly pattern.

 

[Tractor37]

Has the bridge near Garforth been finished yet

Which one? There’s three they are working on at the moment. Ridge Road bridge between East Garforth and Micklefield is closed to road traffic and won’t be completed until December. Crawshaw’s bridge, between Garforth and Cross Gates was back in place but last time I drove the route work on the approaches either side still required work The third bridge - Austhorpe Lane bridge at Cross Gates which closed to road traffic in April is expected to be completed at the end of the year.

 

[neil65]

I think it’s pretty poor that the only provision over the next month from Brighouse is a bus stopping at all stations to Leeds

Which I imagine barely anyone will actually use as it takes longer to get to Leeds than the 254

There is nothing to Manchester either, the only service running is a 2 hourly shuttle to Bradford, I’m not massively sure why it can’t run hourly as normal as everything else on the Calder valley has a consistent hourly pattern.

How are services affected?

To facilitate upgrades as part of TRU, weekday and weekend services between Huddersfield and Leeds will be impacted throughout May and June.

Around this period, there will also be no train services through Huddersfield on weekends in April.

There will be changes to journey times and some customers may need to use a rail replacement bus for at least part of their journey. Brighouse station will be used as an interchange for those travelling to / from Huddersfield.

We will keep customers on trains wherever possible, either using our diversionary routes, or running as close as possible to the closure area

On the following dates, there will be no trains departing Huddersfield towards Dewsbury and Leeds. Services between Manchester and Leeds will be diverted via Hebden Bridge:

• Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June
• Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June
• Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June

On the following dates, there will be no trains through Dewsbury. Services will be diverted between Huddersfield and Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate:

• Monday 1 to Friday 5 June
• Monday 8 to Friday 12 June
• Monday 15 to Friday 19 June
• Monday 22 to Friday 26 June

Trains are also running Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly & Victoria weekdays and weekends through June

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Well the TRU should have started literal decades ago and been finished by now. We're seeing the consequences of years of postponement and redrafting, each time adding costs for no reason other than to put off actually doing the project.

It's amazing TRU is still happening, in that context. I'm very happy with all this progress even though the benefits are a few years away.

I wouldn't say that's entirely fair. The project is not just redrafted. It's substantially bigger and different compared to the original work which was straight electrification. I don't doubt that they were putting it off in some respects, but it is several orders of magnitude larger now.

 

[Ploughman]

Which one? There’s three they are working on at the moment. Ridge Road bridge between East Garforth and Micklefield is closed to road traffic and won’t be completed until December. Crawshaw’s bridge, between Garforth and Cross Gates was back in place but last time I drove the route work on the approaches either side still required work The third bridge - Austhorpe Lane bridge at Cross Gates which closed to road traffic in April is expected to be completed at the end of the year.

It's the one that was dismantled, restored and due for reinstatement at a greater clearance.
I think it is a listed structure.

 

[MboroFC]

June is a good month next year because no football, especially with Hull's recent promotion back to the Prem.

Hull hardly bring any away fans anyway so you could put the works right in the middle of their season.

 

[WAO]

It is, yet we have to wait till the next decade to see any benefits

The protracted timescale and £11Bn cost for perhaps 60 route miles is because, even at NR costs, there is an awful lot of work to be done in difficult, cramped and even unstable conditions, to deliver the speed and frequency planned.

Bare electrification costs for double line routes are only about £10M/mile, perhaps only £600M; the downside is it offers so much more under every heading, given the infrastructure. TPU is the spine of Northern England and is certainly worth 11% of HS2.

WAO

 

[absolutelymilk]

Is there a list somewhere of the benefits of the upgrade aside from electrification and when they will come in? E.g. quad tracking, removal of speed restrictions