Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[YorkshireBear]

The TRU website shows no disruptive work at all after the September blockade, which we know is false. They could do with starting to broadcast future closures as October is not far away.

Was hoping to see confirmation of blockades for January 2026.

 

[KN94]

The TRU website shows no disruptive work at all after the September blockade, which we know is false. They could do with starting to broadcast future closures as October is not far away.

Was hoping to see confirmation of blockades for January 2026.

Church Fenton from 27th December (24th December) until Monday 26th January
From 27th until 29th December, nothing Leeds - York (via Micklefield or Castleford) or Leeds - Hull
From 29th until 4th January, nothing Leeds - York (via Micklefield or Castleford) but Leeds - Hull can run via Micklefield
From 4th January, Leeds - York via Castleford and Leeds - Hull via Micklefield

Nothing else TRU-wise in January until 31st January when Diggle is closed over the weekend again.


Before that, 4/5 October has Diggle and Micklefield closed (so double diversions for TPE)
11/12 October, 18/19 October, and 22/23 November has Micklefield closed
15/16 November and 30 November (Sunday only) has Diggle closed

w/c 6th October, 13th October, and 20th October has Morley closed

25/26 October and 1/2 November has York station closed for non-TRU work, although I'm sure TRU will get in there South of York. The line to Scarborough is open except from Sunday 2nd November.
8/9 November has York blocked from the South for non-TRU work, although again I'm sure TRU will get in there. North of York, including the line to Scarborough, is open.

And then on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th December, Mirfield is closed ('Eye of the Needle')


Yes, the TRU website needs to update (they're probably to busy focussing on the Huddersfield block!) but until it does, I hope the above helps.

 

[Kieran1990]

Question- when is the planned long blockade on mirfield/ Heaton lodge section? Is it 2027?

 

[superkev]

Latest Sarah Bell video shows an absolutely massive crane at Hudds ready to do a test lift of the replacement John William street bridge replacement. Much work around the station too.
Also much activity on all the new bridges between Huddersfield and Heaton lodge.
K

 

[30907]

Meanwhile the Shipley Depot site is seeing some serious activity this afternoon....

 

[KN94]

Question- when is the planned long blockade on mirfield/ Heaton lodge section? Is it 2027?

There is a planned block at Thornhill LNW Jn from 22nd May 2027 until 27 June 2027
There is/was also a planned block around the Cooper Bridge / Bradley Jn area but I *believe* the plan is to combine the two (might result in a larger timescale footprint for the one block but reduces the number of overall disruptive days).
2027 is full of 'Eye of the Needle' weekends (either full weekends or Sunday only) in preparation for the major blockade and then as a follow up.

 

[Traf73]

Video of the Span 108 bridges being loaded at the Heaton Lodge assembly compound, trundling down to the canal and being installed:

TRU - COLNE CANAL BRIDGE

Join the web’s most supportive community of creators and get high-quality tools for hosting, sharing, and streaming videos in gorgeous HD and 4K with no ads.

vimeo.com

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Wow, thanks for posting. The enormity of the civils on this project never fails to amaze me. Does that green color of the spans have an official name such as BR Green ?

 

[superkev]

Ten superb drone pictures of Baker viaduct posted by Robert Stenhouse on Flickr.
Most of the piling looks to be complete with much above ground construction around the canal and river crossings.
Work at the Ravensghorpe station end dosn't look as far advanced particularly with the flyover over the Wakefield lines.

Robert's great drone pictures along with Sarah bells super vids are the main source of TPU upgrade works. Great job thanks.

Sorry don't know how to give a link.
K

 

[hwl]

Wow, thanks for posting. The enormity of the civils on this project never fails to amaze me. Does that green color of the spans have an official name such as BR Green ?

At an educated guess RAL 6029 "Mint Green" (dubious name given the actual shade)
The lighter sage green shade green shade often used on bridges is RAL6021 "Pale Green".

 

[D6130]

Noticed en route to York this afternoon that a wire run has been erected over the Up (Leeds-bound) line about mid-way between Church Fenton and Micklefield. Catenary wire and contact wire up....but no droppers as yet.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

At an educated guess RAL 6029 "Mint Green" (dubious name given the actual shade)
The lighter sage green shade green shade often used on bridges is RAL6021 "Pale Green".

Thanks for that. Believe it or not, until December 2009 I was a colour chemist- matching shades etc.

 

[billh]

At an educated guess RAL 6029 "Mint Green" (dubious name given the actual shade)
The lighter sage green shade green shade often used on bridges is RAL6021 "Pale Green".

Interesting. An earlier version , which looks an identical shade to me, was "Holly Green" made by Sherwin Williams and possibly others ,was used on many new and re-painted Networkrail bridges.

 

[hwl]

Interesting. An earlier version , which looks an identical shade to me, was "Holly Green" made by Sherwin Williams and possibly others ,was used on many new and re-painted Networkrail bridges.

It was from the older British standard industrial paint range:
BS4800 14C39 Holly green

Which is much greyer than RAL 6029 (~10% more black pigment, the blue : yellow colour ratio is similar though)

 

[Traf73]

Interesting. An earlier version , which looks an identical shade to me, was "Holly Green" made by Sherwin Williams and possibly others ,was used on many new and re-painted Networkrail bridges.

It normally is S-W Holly Green but they've applied Jotun Penguard on this one for whatever reason.

The daft thing about this span was the requirement to resupply the service bridge as well even though it won't be used for any services just because its a "protected view."

 

[swt_passenger]

Ten superb drone pictures of Baker viaduct posted by Robert Stenhouse on Flickr.
Most of the piling looks to be complete with much above ground construction around the canal and river crossings.
Work at the Ravensghorpe station end dosn't look as far advanced particularly with the flyover over the Wakefield lines.

Robert's great drone pictures along with Sarah bells super vids are the main source of TPU upgrade works. Great job thanks.

Sorry don't know how to give a link.
K

Here’s a this link to the relevant Flickr photostream. I’ve done this in reply three times now:

Robert Stenhouse

Explore Robert Stenhouse’s 435 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Tim_UK]

.

The daft thing about this span was the requirement to resupply the service bridge as well even though it won't be used for any services just because its a "protected view."

Can I check what you mean?

That there is a spare span in the Canal bridge that had to be replaced even though it will not be used?

 

[unslet]

Whilst all the attention has been focussed on the Dewsbury to Huddersfield section, some track alteration has taken place at Cross Gates. The crossover, which had been stored between the running lines at Cross Gates station, has been installed about a quarter of a mile to the west of the station although it is not in use yet.

 

[D6130]

Whilst all the attention has been focussed on the Dewsbury to Huddersfield section, some track alteration has taken place at Cross Gates. The crossover, which had been stored between the running lines at Cross Gates station, has been installed about a quarter of a mile to the west of the station although it is not in use yet.

I believe that facing crossover is designed to eventually give access to Neville Hill depot from the East.

 

[Tractor37]

I believe that facing crossover is designed to eventually give access to Neville Hill depot from the East.

It’s to allow services from York and Selby to crossover and head back east when all the track work through Neville Hill is being altered. To access Neville Hill from the east at that point would involve approximately 3 miles of running wrong road blocking eastbound movements.

 

[Snapper]

Here's a new blog looking at the month-long Huddersfield station blockade which has started today. https://paulbigland.blog/2025/08/29/tru-huddersfield-hiatus/

 

[unslet]

Regarding Cross Gates. I think both of the 2 scenarios mentioned above make sense. Trains from the east can turn back during the day and return to Neville Hill at close of service.

 

[Andyh82]

I always think the replacement bus arrangements at Huddersfield could be better

People just hang around randomly outside the station and then occasionally a bus pulls up and a member of staff shouts out where it is going.

There are no departure boards outside so unless you are using an app, passengers don’t know when the buses are due

There is are no shelters except for the normal bus shelters. None of those marquees, queuing systems, extra toilets or coffee carts that they did when there was that major closure down south a few years back that I remember reading about.

 

[johntea]

York - Manchester via Wakefield just has a bus replacement between Wakefield and Dewsbury so not too bad thankfully for me using that route a lot

Once Huddersfield is back up and running looks like the end to end train service resumes just not calling at Deighton

 

[Andyh82]

I see that Brighouse station has got a new lick of paint, all in Metro red, with a complete set of new signage in the new RA2 style

The car park is closed to allow buses to turn around, passengers are advised to park on the roadside or use other (chargeable) council car parks. Additional shelters have been built.

Have the platforms been extended? Can Brighouse take a 2x185 six car formation?

 

[Class 170101]

Have the platforms been extended? Can Brighouse take a 2x185 six car formation?

Realtime Trains | 1P56 0503 York to Manchester Victoria | 30/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 1P56 0503 departure from York to Manchester Victoria on 30/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looking at this schedule (and there are others) I would say yes.

 

[Tim_UK]

Here's a new blog looking at the month-long Huddersfield station blockade which has started today. https://paulbigland.blog/2025/08/29/tru-huddersfield-hiatus/

from that blog:

The King’s Head pub on Huddersfield also closes tonight. Fancy a pint? All beers are half price today…

Is that related to the upgrade or not?

 

[Narrowgauge725]

from that blog:



Is that related to the upgrade or not?

The whole of the station including both pubs has been shut

 

[Andyh82]

Realtime Trains | 1P56 0503 York to Manchester Victoria | 30/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 1P56 0503 departure from York to Manchester Victoria on 30/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looking at this schedule (and there are others) I would say yes.

That doesn’t mean anything as TPE have been using 6 cars on this route for years, Can it take 6 cars with all doors on the platform?

 

[YorkshireBear]

The whole of the station including both pubs has been shut

from that blog:



Is that related to the upgrade or not?

It's just during the station closure not a permanent thing