Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Bald Rick]

Side/Single-Face Platform:
Up to 100mph: 2.5m minimum width, any shelters/benches etc placed behind that. Isolated columns can be 2m from the edge if not able to place them 2.5m away. Can be reduced to 2m over the last 20m of the platform if it isn't part of an access or exit route (normal or emergency), passengers won't naturally congregate for the reduced width portion, and everybody agrees.

If the speed (normal or Enhanced Permissible Speed) is 100mph or more: 3m minimum width from the platform edge.

Island/Double-face platform:
Both lines 100mph or above: 6m
1 line 100mph or above: 5.5m
both lines <100mph: 4m.
In all cases if there is a building or structure between the platform faces then the 2.5m/3m minimum width applies to the portion alongside the structure.

(GIRT7020 Iss 2.1)

Projects can seek derogation from the standards if site constraints prevent these widths.

All subject to pedflow analysis. A 2.5m wide platform would not be permitted at a busy station, for example.

 

[takno]

Does anyone know why Dewsbury is keeping the blue and white theme and not going the full weaver green/black like batley, mirfield etc?

Had a peek at the works yesterday and the extension of the leeds bound platform under the road bridge looks to be extremely narrow. What are the limits of narrowness for platforms? It reminded me of some Underground platforms that get really narrow towards the end nearest tunnels. The Huddersfield bound platform similarly extends under the road bridge but doesn't suffer from the same width issues.

When does this set of works finish?

The Leeds-bound platform is on a loop with a maximum speed of 40mph, although presumably any trains entering it will be stopping anyway. I suspect a derogation would be achievable if necessary. It's far more important for the other platform to be wider.

 

[Alexd]

Does anyone know why Dewsbury is keeping the blue and white theme and not going the full weaver green/black like batley, mirfield etc?

Could it be due to who manages the station, TPE for Dewsbury, Northern for Batley, Mirfield etc.?

 

[edwin_m]

The Leeds-bound platform is on a loop with a maximum speed of 40mph, although presumably any trains entering it will be stopping anyway. I suspect a derogation would be achievable if necessary. It's far more important for the other platform to be wider.

Presumably it pre-dates the current standard and enjoys "grandfather rights" unless something major is being done to it.

 

[swt_passenger]

Had a peek at the works yesterday and the extension of the leeds bound platform under the road bridge looks to be extremely narrow. What are the limits of narrowness for platforms? It reminded me of some Underground platforms that get really narrow towards the end nearest tunnels. The Huddersfield bound platform similarly extends under the road bridge but doesn't suffer from the same width issues.

Just had a look at the planning application drawings, and it looks to me as if on P1 the tactiles under the bridge, will run down the centre of the platform, so that short distance will be a bit over 2m wide, which others have said is ok.


Cropped screenshot from Kirklees planning website (Planning Ref: 2023/CLA/91857/E) showing the area in question attached:

 

[superkev]

3 very detailed drone youtubes posted by "buried by time and dust"
Seems almost all workers are concentrated on Dewsbury and Batley with other sites being fairly quiet
1. Huddesfield station looks much tidier then of late and with lots of scaffold for the east end roof extension which may be next.
2, 3. Deighton repair looks ready for new bridge slab pouring. Leeds Road and Calder Road bridges look still have services divisions going on.
4. Dewsbury video not as upto date as Sarah's last post so couple of days out of date (No covering on footbridge).
K

 

[Spartacus]

At Batley I wonder if we might get the footpath between the station & Back Station Road once the works are done?

 

[Jamesrob637]

Looks like the route opens again on Monday for a bit, weekend work notwithstanding.

 

[superkev]

Looks like the route opens again on Monday for a bit, weekend work notwithstanding.

I think the line through Dewsbury and Batley are due to open this Sat 27th.
Not seen any updates for a couple golf days but the last Sarah Bell video showed the platform edgings and surfaces far from complete.
K

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the line through Dewsbury and Batley are due to open this Sat 27th.
Not seen any updates for a couple golf days but the last Sarah Bell video showed the platform edgings and surfaces far from complete.
K

I don’t think they’re necessarily intended to reopen at full length, the full 200m might well come later. (I think I read that in a video comments section.)

 

[MboroFC]

Desperate for a Sarah bell to drop

 

[superkev]

Desperate for a Sarah bell to drop

Or an "On track with Tim" vid.

 

[YorksLad12]

Desperate for a Sarah bell to drop

With this weather, I think she’s due a few days off!

 

[YorkshireBear]

I suspect there may be some disruption (lower opening speeds) following the track renewal with the heat as well.

 

[59CosG95]

East of Leeds, meanwhile, work to add a new bridge pier to OB NOC/29 (Common Lane) is underway.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sean...p&rcm=ACoAAC29QcQB4BRtM6sjQemXdhgEbl9XuYQAEhI

TRU East Weekend Blockade Works – NOC/29 Common Lane Over Bridge Piling Works

Another success at this weekends 52-hour blockade, the Murphy Structures team successfully completed the installation of the remaining 20m rotary bored piles at Common lane for the new bridge pier installation as part of the TRU East Alliance.

20 of these 600mm diameter 20m long piles are the basis for our foundation of the new bridge pier.

Meeting this key programme milestone allows the team to progress seamlessly into the pile cap and pier construction phase, keeping the bridge renewal works on track for later this year.

The works that have been delivered by the team and their specialist supply chain over the past few weekend blockades has been excellent.

Special recognition to our Resident Engineers for their support, dedication and professionalism throughout the blockades and all those from across the business unit who helped out on these blockades which has been a tremendously busy period for the structures teams on TRU East these past 3 weeks.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I think the line through Dewsbury and Batley are due to open this Sat 27th.
Not seen any updates for a couple golf days but the last Sarah Bell video showed the platform edgings and surfaces far from complete.
K

Calder Valley diversions but presume these come back on at Heaton Lodge Junction.

 

[John S2]

Do we know whether all the work planned to be done during this recent blockade was finished as scheduled, or did the exceptional heat & humidity of recent days slow things down?

 

[swt_passenger]

Desperate for a Sarah bell to drop

Just arrived as at 1325 Sat:

“Batley and Dewsbury Railway stations now have a fresh new appearance as work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade continues”

Video includes before and after coverage of Dewsbury and Batley stations, also a quick last section showing the main station roof at Huddersfield.

 

[staleydm01]

yet with trains going fast to Huddersfield and stopping at Dewsbury they are only going to Manchester Piccadilly, is the curve to Victoria being worked on, works better for me because I can get the Chester train there instead of changing at Newton-le-Willows.

 

[superkev]

Just arrived as at 1325 Sat:

“Batley and Dewsbury Railway stations now have a fresh new appearance as work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade continues”

Video includes before and after coverage of Dewsbury and Batley stations, also a quick last section showing the main station roof at Huddersfield.

Trains are running today (sat) and using Batley and Dewsbury stations. Sarah's video from yesterday shows the 2 stations fairly complete with last minute platform surfacing in hand and the Dews footbridge roof not fully finished.

Looks to be much further work in the future mainly with snagging and canopy replacements which will prob require a further blockade.
Amazing amount of work over the 4 weeks with latterly tropical heat. Credit to all.
K

 

[Geeves]

Yes just to add today the line was closed between Stalybridge right the way through to Heaton Lodge including all of Huddersfield station.

Good to see things hopefully starting on the west side of Huddersfield hopefully soon!

On Monday the line from Stalybridge to Victoria is closed with all trains diverting to Piccadilly, there will be no trains heading east out of Victoria at all

This weekend Salford Central is also closed, both these works at Salford and Miles Platting are to provide more capacity at the currently very constrained area around Victoria.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So will TPE's 802s finally get to use the wires between Piccadilly, Guide Bridge and Stalybridge this week?

 

[AndrewE]

So will TPE's 802s finally get to use the wires between Piccadilly, Guide Bridge and Stalybridge this week?

RTT says https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C24909/2026-06-29/detailed (9E12 1255 Manchester Piccadilly to Newcastle) is diesel to York, electric forward.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

RTT says https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C24909/2026-06-29/detailed (9E12 1255 Manchester Piccadilly to Newcastle) is diesel to York, electric forward.

That’ll be just the timing load (the basis on which the train is timed) reflecting what point-to-point times are available in TPS; not necessarily which mode is actually being used in practice.

 

[Zomboid]

That’ll be just the timing load (the basis on which the train is timed) reflecting what point-to-point times are available in TPS; not necessarily which mode is actually being used in practice.

Don't they actually pan up at Church Fenton, for example?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There's one Liverpool-Newcastle service (9E05) which gives scope for e-working Liverpool-Chat Moss-Picc-Stalybridge.
I'm not expecting it to happen, but some use of the expensively-installed wires via Guide Bridge would be good news.
The single return working from Newcastle to Liverpool (9M21) runs via the CLC route.

 

[noddingdonkey]

There's been a bridge strike in Brighouse, ironically courtesy of a Rail Replacement Bus. Looking at the location I suspect it would have been empty of passengers.

(Ignore Metro's lack of local knowledge on where it was)

#Huddersfield - Scotty Bank Bridge is currently closed due to a Rail Replacement Bus striking the Bridge. First Huddersfield Services 548, 549 will be operating via Gooder Lane, Rastrick Common in both directions.

West Yorkshire Metro

#Huddersfield - Scotty Bank Bridge is currently closed due to a Rail Replacement Bus striking the Bridge. First Huddersfield Services 548, 549 will be operating via Gooder Lane, Rastrick Common in...

www.facebook.com

Nothing showing on Traksy to suggest disruption to rail services at present.

 

[D6130]

There's been a bridge strike in Brighouse, ironically courtesy of a Rail Replacement Bus. Looking at the location I suspect it would have been empty of passengers.

(Ignore Metro's lack of local knowledge on where it was)

West Yorkshire Metro

#Huddersfield - Scotty Bank Bridge is currently closed due to a Rail Replacement Bus striking the Bridge. First Huddersfield Services 548, 549 will be operating via Gooder Lane, Rastrick Common in...

www.facebook.com

Nothing showing on Traksy to suggest disruption to rail services at present.

I would assume this to be on Bridge Street/Bramston Road, which is the only rail-over-road bridge in Brighouse. It's actually part of Rastrick viaduct....but I never realised that it had a height restriction.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Signed as 14'6" according to Street View.

There are some photos of the stricken bus here. I've seen that vehicle on RRBs throughout the TRU project.

Gazz Hall

Scenes in Brighouse this morning! Someone’s in trouble

www.facebook.com

(Photos show a red double decker - an elderly example - wedged under a rail bridge)

 

[Whisky Papa]

I would assume this to be on Bridge Street/Bramston Road, which is the only rail-over-road bridge in Brighouse. It's actually part of Rastrick viaduct....but I never realised that it had a height restriction.

The actual height restriction isn't strictly the problem here. The arch is not centred over the road, so high vehicles heading towards Rastrick are basically using the wrong side of the road, approaching a blind bend for oncoming traffic. I drove it once in a double-decker while route-learing, a very nerve-wracking experience!