Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[GRALISTAIR]

I thought it about time for a summary update.

Transpennine Railway Upgrade – route sections
• W1 – Manchester Victoria Stalybridge - Complete
• W2a – Stalybridge station - Complete
• W2b – Stalybridge – Marsden – in design
• W2c – Marsden to Huddersfield – in design
• W3 – Huddersfield- Ravensthorpe – major work in progress (TWAO)
• W4 – Ravensthorpe – Leeds – work in progress
• W5– Morley station – boots on the ground
• E1 – Church Fenton – Colton Jct – awaiting final commissioning
• E2 – Leeds station and to Crossgates – major work in progress
• E3 – Crossgates – Micklefield – major work in progress
• E4 – Micklefield – Church Fenton – major work in progress

 

[xdbjacx]

I didn't mention car travel, SUVs or otherwise. The worksite is on people's doorsteps. I had the inconvenience of noise during the construction of P0 at Leeds, this is much worse for much longer.

Yes, but the collective benefit of the much-needed and long-deferred investment surely greatly outweighs the temporary disruption and inconvenience, even if it is acutely frustrating at a local level.

 

[Geeves]

Some major closure dates to add the calendar going forward

I've not added every weekend closure because there is just too many!

Gledholt Tunnel works - 19.09.26 - 05.10.26
Church Fenton works - 24.10.26 -02.11.26
Huddersfield TWO - 24.12.26 - 25.01.27
Dewsbury W9 - Only open at weekends between 22.02.27 and 21.05.27

The big one - Thornhill LNW EIS L - 22.05.27 - 28.06.27

Heaton Lodge works W7 - 17.07.27 - 26.07.27
Shipley Depot connection block - 07.08.27 - 23.08.27

TRU works W5,W6,E7,W9 and EIS 23.12.27 - 27.12.27

Gleaned all the information from Vexed website he linked the other day, again its great!

EAS Maps - Full Screen - Vail Data

vaildata.uk

 

[YorkshireBear]

Sorry is that Dewsbury is only open at weekends for three months? I.e. Morley Batley Dewsbury don't get a commuter service for three months?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Some major closure dates to add the calendar going forward

I've not added every weekend closure because there is just too many!

Gledholt Tunnel works - 19.09.26 - 05.10.26
Church Fenton works - 24.10.26 -02.11.26
Huddersfield TWO - 24.12.26 - 25.01.27
Dewsbury W9 - Only open at weekends between 22.02.27 and 21.05.27

The big one - Thornhill LNW EIS L - 22.05.27 - 28.06.27

Heaton Lodge works W7 - 17.07.27 - 26.07.27
Shipley Depot connection block - 07.08.27 - 23.08.27

TRU works W5,W6,E7,W9 and EIS 23.12.27 - 27.12.27

Gleaned all the information from Vexed website he linked the other day, again its great!

EAS Maps - Full Screen - Vail Data

vaildata.uk

Another long closure at Church Fenton whats it for this time?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Another long closure at Church Fenton whats it for this time?

Bridge renewal immediately south of the station.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Another long closure at Church Fenton whats it for this time?

Won't it be for demolition of old bridge/opening of new, plus OHL wiring through the station linking already-wired sections north and west?
It should be the last bit of work to allow energisation of the OHL through the station.

 

[59CosG95]

Won't it be for demolition of old bridge/opening of new, plus OHL wiring through the station linking already-wired sections north and west?
It should be the last bit of work to allow energisation of the OHL through the station.

I think the sheer length of closure is mainly for the bridge, which, unlike most of the ones on the Huddersfield 4-tracking section, is being built in the same position as the old one; said bridge just happens to provide the pedestrian access to Church Fenton's platforms.

From what I've seen, they're adding an additional pier between the Leeds lines and the Normanton lines, which isn't there on the current structure. Perhaps they're using it as an opportunity to replace the decks one pair at a time? (I don't know for certain as I'm not personally involved with the job)

 

[swt_passenger]

Sorry is that Dewsbury is only open at weekends for three months? I.e. Morley Batley Dewsbury don't get a commuter service for three months?

Then that 3 month slot also runs straight into the 5 weeks for Thornhill LNW… Seems odd doesn’t it?

 

[Andyh82]

What will the block at Shipley consist of? No services to Bradford Forster Square?

 

[YorkshireBear]

I think the sheer length of closure is mainly for the bridge, which, unlike most of the ones on the Huddersfield 4-tracking section, is being built in the same position as the old one; said bridge just happens to provide the pedestrian access to Church Fenton's platforms.

From what I've seen, they're adding an additional pier between the Leeds lines and the Normanton lines, which isn't there on the current structure. Perhaps they're using it as an opportunity to replace the decks one pair at a time? (I don't know for certain as I'm not personally involved with the job)

No it's to do with raising the deck and having to slim down the depth of the structure due to road constraints. Means you can't span as far so need an intermediate pier. That's the short version.

 

[59CosG95]

No it's to do with raising the deck and having to slim down the depth of the structure due to road constraints. Means you can't span as far so need an intermediate pier. That's the short version.

Ah I see - thank you for the summary!

 

[Tim_UK]

Then that 3 month slot also runs straight into the 5 weeks for Thornhill LNW… Seems odd doesn’t it?

Not if the Dewsbury work is all prep on the embankment and then the Thornhill works are plumbing it all in. Bringing the baker viaduct into use. All the plant will still be in the right place.

It is a year away so plenty of time to be ready. (But this project is full of surprises)

 

[swt_passenger]

Not if the Dewsbury work is all prep on the embankment and then the Thornhill works are plumbing it all in. Bringing the baker viaduct into use. All the plant will still be in the right place.

It is a year away so plenty of time to be ready. (But this project is full of surprises)

But even then, the major embankment straightening and new bridge at the Thornhill Road & Fall Lane area shouldn’t reach Dewsbury station?

Also, a station ‘only open at weekends’ for such a long period seems a completely unexpected way round, doesn’t it?

 

[flyer]

I’m sure posted already but anyway… the Leeds end looks ready for its wires.

 

[brad465]

Is there a link to the document that contains all the planned line speed increases along the route? I remember one existing but can't find it in this mammoth thread.

 

[Nottingham59]

Is there a link to the document that contains all the planned line speed increases along the route? I remember one existing but can't find it in this mammoth thread.

See at 8m30s in the video in this post

Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

Surely that's the West end of the station?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Geeves]

Apologies to our Dewsbury folks, its not as bad as it looks

Should read...

Dewsbury W9 - Only open at weekends between 22.02.27 and 21.05.27 26.03.27

Then

16.05.27 leading into the big block from the 22.05.27 onwards. So April is a normal month with no weekend closures either as far as Dewsbury its self is concerned. There are still the usual closures at Heaton Lodge etc but trains can depart North from Dewsbury

 

[brad465]

See at 8m30s in the video in this post

Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

Surely that's the West end of the station?

www.railforums.co.uk

Thank you for this, are there equivalent slides/diagrams for west of Leeds, as this only shows Leeds-York?

 

[Revaulx]

What do the Gledholt Tunnel works consist of? Lowering the trackbed to give clearance for overhead wires?

Huddersfield TWO is a long one. Presumably reconfiguring the track layout at the Leeds end. Will the new platforms be ready by then? Progress looks pretty rapid right now.

 

[hwl]

What do the Gledholt Tunnel works consist of? Lowering the trackbed to give clearance for overhead wires?

Huddersfield TWO is a long one. Presumably reconfiguring the track layout at the Leeds end. Will the new platforms be ready by then? Progress looks pretty rapid right now.

Hopefully line speed increases in the Gledholt tunnel area too.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Hopefully line speed increases in the Gledholt tunnel area too.

The place to look is Better Layouts YouTube video.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The place to look is Better Layouts YouTube video.

Thanks for that. I had not seen this before. EDIT - I had!! I commented on it. Still good though.

 

[speedy1]

I've never seen so many people confused about platforms as at Huddersfield currently. Is it that Platform 1 is so hardly used that people expect P1 to be the westbound and P2 to be eastbound services? The temporary signs don't seem that bad. There are tons of staff to ask. But people are still walking around very confused, reluctant to ask staff, and couples spending minutes reassuring themselves they're on the right platform etc.

Was it this bad before the works?

I think the underpass being closed is still contributing a bit - is it the bridge doesn't register, and people think there is no platform in use on that side ?? (Despite all the staff and people waiting on the platform)

Very interesting people watching there !

 

[neil65]

I've never seen so many people confused about platforms as at Huddersfield currently. Is it that Platform 1 is so hardly used that people expect P1 to be the westbound and P2 to be eastbound services? The temporary signs don't seem that bad. There are tons of staff to ask. But people are still walking around very confused, reluctant to ask staff, and couples spending minutes reassuring themselves they're on the right platform etc.

Was it this bad before the works?

I think the underpass being closed is still contributing a bit - is it the bridge doesn't register, and people think there is no platform in use on that side ?? (Despite all the staff and people waiting on the platform)

Very interesting people watching there !

i wouldn't say P1 at Huddersfield as hardly used 16 trains arrive and depart every day!!!!

 

[swt_passenger]

i wouldn't say P1 at Huddersfield as hardly used 16 trains arrive and depart every day!!!!

It’s also quite a while since the P1 and P2 designations were swapped round, (coming up to a year), so that shouldn't be a source of confusion now?

 

[speedy1]

i wouldn't say P1 at Huddersfield as hardly used 16 trains arrive and depart every day!!!!

I only meant compared to the 150-200 (?) from other platforms combined

Also just remembered I saw someone walk over the bridge to P3 then ask me if it's the way out.

Maybe the signage is a problem?

 

[Tim_UK]

Also just remembered I saw someone walk over the bridge to P3 then ask me if it's the way out.

For many years (at least 18) there has been a rumour around Huddersfield that the subway will be extended to the car park and warehouse out the back. 'The dirty carpark' locally. Maybe this person was just been hopeful.


33 years ago the theatre was going to be in the warehouse. 12 years ago there were plans for a hotel, retail space, offices and maybe a multi storey car park.

The building's owner did spend about £1M fixing the roof.

Remember that pre TPU about 500 people a day would park in the car park looking at trains (and hearing the station announcements), walk out, down Fitzwilliam street, under the bridge and round into the station.

I've had a few people say `oh, I've been driving to Leeds, the trains are messed up for months. Oh it will be great when it's finished and you'll be able to walk straight in from the car park.` I hope that they aren't disappointed and the better service makes up for still having to walk 6 minutes


I'm presuming there will just be an emergency exit route around the back west end of platform 6. And not 2 gatelines. I'm presuming platform 7 definitely gone from the plans.


Also I don't know if the vehicle access to the garages under Brian Jackson house will stay after everything finished.

 

[swt_passenger]

I've had a few people say `oh, I've been driving to Leeds, the trains are messed up for months. Oh it will be great when it's finished and you'll be able to walk straight in from the car park.` I hope that they aren't disappointed and the better service makes up for still having to walk 6 minutes

I'm presuming there will just be an emergency exit route around the back west end of platform 6. And not 2 gatelines. I'm presuming platform 7 definitely gone from the plans.

There’s definitely no platform 7, and the station design & access statement doesn’t mention an emergency exit specifically from P6 (it doesn’t really have a ‘back’ as it’s part of the P5/6 island), its two means of escape will be the extended subway and the new footbridge. But the P5/6 island does have an escape route from its south end. The two islands do however get disabled refuges at the extended Leeds end, in case there’s no access available towards the footbridge.

 

[LittleAH]

For many years (at least 18) there has been a rumour around Huddersfield that the subway will be extended to the car park and warehouse out the back. 'The dirty carpark' locally. Maybe this person was just been hopeful.


33 years ago the theatre was going to be in the warehouse. 12 years ago there were plans for a hotel, retail space, offices and maybe a multi storey car park.

The building's owner did spend about £1M fixing the roof.

Remember that pre TPU about 500 people a day would park in the car park looking at trains (and hearing the station announcements), walk out, down Fitzwilliam street, under the bridge and round into the station.

I've had a few people say `oh, I've been driving to Leeds, the trains are messed up for months. Oh it will be great when it's finished and you'll be able to walk straight in from the car park.` I hope that they aren't disappointed and the better service makes up for still having to walk 6 minutes


I'm presuming there will just be an emergency exit route around the back west end of platform 6. And not 2 gatelines. I'm presuming platform 7 definitely gone from the plans.


Also I don't know if the vehicle access to the garages under Brian Jackson house will stay after everything finished.

On the first point, that is not in the scope of what the TRU is delivering. Might happen in the future as part of the station master plan that did the rounds online earlier in the year.

The warehouse owner was apparently approached as part of TRU but didn’t want to sell. Apparently they live in Dubai.

Platform 7 will only happen if NPR become a thing.