Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Tim_UK]

I see that the Head of Steam is closing for a couple of weeks during the blockade, are businesses on railway premises compensated for loss of trade during the works?

I think so. I don't know about the head of steam, but I heard compensation was offered to another business who might have to close. In the end, they found a way to work around.

The ontrack with Tim videos mention that the station substation is being upgraded. And there are some new generators in the car park. No power would make it hard to open a pub. Some temporary toilets in in St Georges square too.

 

[neil65]

York - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Video Ride past the Baker Viaduct from a class 185

Neil

 

[josh-j]

Very nice, thanks for sharing

I can't spot the "mismatching" section so presumably it's weathered in!

 

[LittleAH]

I think so. I don't know about the head of steam, but I heard compensation was offered to another business who might have to close. In the end, they found a way to work around.

The ontrack with Tim videos mention that the station substation is being upgraded. And there are some new generators in the car park. No power would make it hard to open a pub. Some temporary toilets in in St Georges square too.

Not yet is what I was told. Part of the reason the couple running the Newsagents at the station gave it up a few months ago…

 

[superkev]

Re Springwood junction. Looking at the latest Sarah and Tim videos work really progressing with allmost all new sleepers and rails in place just awaiting final tamping.
I found this picture of the junction from 1959 when the double track Penistone line was linked to both tunnels into the station. May be of interest.
K

 

[fishwomp]

Re Springwood junction. Looking at the latest Sarah and Tim videos work really progressing with allmost all new sleepers and rails in place just awaiting final tamping.
I found this picture of the junction from 1959 when the double track Penistone line was linked to both tunnels into the station. May be of interest.
K

It seems that the north tunnels are being laid for single track again - and the track is in the centre of the bore. [The Huddersfield south tunnel contains two tracks: the self-contained Penistone line and the westbound Standedge]

Whilst I hadn't expected the north tunnels to be laid with two tracks (ie. early preparation for the next phase of works), I had thought the alignment would have been laid with room for another track to make three going west which is the grand plan up to Standedge. I started looking but couldn't find any useful plans on network rail or the TPU site about this.

 

[waverley47]

Whilst I hadn't expected the north tunnels to be laid with two tracks (ie. early preparation for the next phase of works), I had thought the alignment would have been laid with room for another track to make three going west which is the grand plan up to Standedge. I started looking but couldn't find any useful plans on network rail or the TPU site about this

The north bore at Huddersfield is absolutely tiny. It's a miracle there were ever two tracks through there to begin with, and you'd never get two W12 tracks through there in a million years, so it has to be single track down the centre of the bore

 

[fishwomp]

The north bore at Huddersfield is absolutely tiny. It's a miracle there were ever two tracks through there to begin with, and you'd never get two W12 tracks through there in a million years, so it has to be single track down the centre of the bore

Ah, right - width-wise I take it, otherwise could just dig deeper (??).

Is that the same for either/both of the Gledholt tunnels? Wondering if they plan to start the third track in the cutting, or need to do that west of Gledholt, in the former yard area. Obviously sharing with the Penistone line - whilst that's only two moves per hour - would be a no-no for performance/reliability.

 

[waverley47]

Ah, right - width-wise I take it, otherwise could just dig deeper (??).

Both. It's both shorter and narrower, but the ceiling is in the form of a circle, rather than a perfect semi-circle on top of vertical walls.

The circle form means you lose gauging at the 'shoulders' as it comes in, and means you couldn't really just dig out the bottom without hitting the bottom of the tunnel, which is structurally important.

I've attached a few photos which together show the difference in scales quite well, but you only really get the real picture of you're on the ground looking at them.



[Images show the view towards the southern portals of Huddersfield north bore, left, and Huddersfield south bore, right, and the visible size difference between the two. None of the images are my own.]

need to do that west of Gledholt, in the former yard area.

Indeed, there's not enough space in the cutting for a 50mph turnout unfortunately.

 

[D6130]

Both. It's both shorter and narrower, but the ceiling is in the form of a circle, rather than a perfect semi-circle on top of vertical walls.

The circle form means you lose gauging at the 'shoulders' as it comes in, and means you couldn't really just dig out the bottom without hitting the bottom of the tunnel, which is structurally important.

I've attached a few photos which together show the difference in scales quite well, but you only really get the real picture of you're on the ground looking at them.

View attachment 212289View attachment 212290View attachment 212291

[Images show the view towards the southern portals of Huddersfield north bore, left, and Huddersfield south bore, right, and the visible size difference between the two. None of the images are my own.]



Indeed, there's not enough space in the cutting for a 50mph turnout unfortunately.

The contrast in the level of vegetation growth between those three photos is rather telling!

 

[swt_passenger]

It seems that the north tunnels are being laid for single track again - and the track is in the centre of the bore. [The Huddersfield south tunnel contains two tracks: the self-contained Penistone line and the westbound Standedge]

Whilst I hadn't expected the north tunnels to be laid with two tracks (ie. early preparation for the next phase of works), I had thought the alignment would have been laid with room for another track to make three going west which is the grand plan up to Standedge. I started looking but couldn't find any useful plans on network rail or the TPU site about this.

There have been track plans seen in videos linked earlier in the thread, but they don’t show three main line tracks going through this specific area. I think the three track section is effectively a freight loop that starts further west.

I’ll try and find a link. Here you are, the post includes a fairly recent track layout:

Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

One of the things I took from this video (which you can see in the image in the original post) is just how close to the boundary fencing the sleepers were being laid. It feels as if there will be a large(ish) gap between the fast and slow lines at that point. I think the drainage is down the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[speedy1]

The contrast in the level of vegetation growth between those three photos is rather telling!

A picture (or 3) is worth a 1000 words! A pic in a few years time will be a real game of Where's Wally!

 

[WAO]

The right hand arch would be called a stilted arch (i.e with straight, vertical sides). The left hand is probably also but with short stilts.

WAO

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Only 2 lines shown until after the tunnels

 

[superkev]

Huddersfield. Nice to see on the TPU fb site the new roof has been exposed now much of the scaffold is being removed.
Pity we have to wait 8 years for the electric trains so will soon be dirty with diesel soot as will the track with dripping oil.
K

 

[dodecahedron67]

Only 2 lines shown until after the tunnels View attachment 212295

That presentation is horribly wrong

It’s got the slows & fasts the wrong way around east of Hudds

 

[D6130]

That presentation is horribly wrong

It’s got the slows & fasts the wrong way around east of Hudds

That's what I was thinking too!

 

[buz33]

That presentation is horribly wrong

It’s got the slows & fasts the wrong way around east of Hudds

The presentation showed the various track configurations that were considered before settling on the final version. The image posted above was one of the discarded options.

 

[bigbigcheese]

The presentation showed the various track configurations that were considered before settling on the final version. The image posted above was one of the discarded options.

Note that in this video I believe it's about 1:07:30 that shows the planned track layout and the single track northern bore

 

[Dave S 56F]

I noticed yesterday 27/09/2026 while out cycling up to my relatives from dalton where I live to my dad's in scholes cycling over colne bridge Rd Bridge the 4 new track arrangement laying has reached beyond station road in bradley wood. Does anyone know how far the 4 track section Is been built as far as during this T.R.U. engineering block closure is it going as far as heaton lodge juction until 05/102025?

 

[swt_passenger]

I noticed yesterday 27/09/2026 while out cycling up to my relatives from dalton where I live to my dad's in scholes cycling over colne bridge Rd Bridge the 4 new track arrangement laying has reached beyond station road in bradley wood. Does anyone know how far the 4 track section Is been built as far as during this T.R.U. engineering block closure is it going as far as heaton lodge juction until 05/102025?

I doubt they’ll go beyond Colne Bridge Road bridge in the near future because there’s a principal supply point building to remove. Although perhaps they could just leave a gap in the nearest track?

 

[Grumpy]

Huddersfield. Nice to see on the TPU fb site the new roof has been exposed now much of the scaffold is being removed.
Pity we have to wait 8 years for the electric trains so will soon be dirty with diesel soot

Indeed.
It currently looks white and bright. I enclose is a photo of the new underside of the Huddersfield roof taken a couple of months back.
The Scarborough roof was also upgraded a few months back and that that looked white and bright when finished. However evidence of a few months of DMU visiting can be seen in the second photo.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Lots of OHL spans now up on Huddersfield viaduct and brackets fitted to the stonework where the ring road goes under the viaduct (Unna Way)

 

[Spartacus]

Lots of OHL spans now up on Huddersfield viaduct and brackets fitted to the stonework where the ring road goes under the viaduct (Unna Way)

I noticed what looked like additional ones in Marsh Lane cutting this evening, and one which looked like it was ready to accept a bracket but it hadn't been fitted yet.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

There is a video report from the TRU programme, stating what they have done so far and what is planned for the second week.

We're now into our second week of improvement works in the Huddersfield area ✅

Our teams have been working around the clock and have so far delivered:

️ Over 1km of track renewals and 320m of drainage - this will increase the reliability of services passing through the area
⚡ Over 50 mast installations for overhead line equipment - these will help power greener, electrified services in the future
️ Huddersfield station upgrade – restoration of the historic roof canopy, and an extension to the subway for improved accessibility
Deighton station upgrade – platform extension work so longer trains with more seats can stop at the station

 

[superkev]

Re TPU signalling.
With all the recent pictures an videos of progress on the new fast lines and Huddersfield station it got me wondering about the signalling which these dosn't appear to be any sign.
Leeds Dewsbury was completed a while back. Is the existing line from Dewsbury to Hudds to remain as is with new on the fast lines or total replacement?

Also, surely the couple of existing signals preventing completion of the fast lines which stop either side will to be moved soon on to gantrys even if temporary .
K

 

[swt_passenger]

Re TPU signalling.
With all the recent pictures an videos of progress on the new fast lines and Huddersfield station it got me wondering about the signalling which these dosn't appear to be any sign.
Leeds Dewsbury was completed a while back. Is the existing line from Dewsbury to Hudds to remain as is with new on the fast lines or total replacement?

Also, surely the couple of existing signals preventing completion of the fast lines which stop either side will to be moved soon on to gantrys even if temporary .
K

You might find the intended staging in this thread:

ETCS Rollout on Transpennine Route Upgrade

Hi all, Recently just got the results back from an FOI from Network Rail about the specifics and timelines for ETCS rollout across the TRU. Thought it might be of interest to some! https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ertms_timeline_and_data_as_part It includes a map of where ETCS will be...

www.railforums.co.uk

I haven‘t read all the linked info from FOIs etc, but it does seem clear the fast lines between Dewsbury and Huddersfield will be opened with new conventional signals, but there are also dates given for replacement with ‘no signals ETCS’.

 

[Charlie978]

I was up on Castle Hill earlier and it was amazing to see what appeared, from that distance away, to be an electric railway stretching out towards Deighton.
Lots of progress made now at this end for the masts, hopefully this will continue out the other side of the station in the near future.

 

[Alexd]

I was up on Castle Hill earlier and it was amazing to see what appeared, from that distance away, to be an electric railway stretching out towards Deighton.
Lots of progress made now at this end for the masts, hopefully this will continue out the other side of the station in the near future.

It will be a few years before they start going up west of the Gledholt Tunnels. They have still submit the application for the TWAO for the Gledholt to Diggle section.