Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Snow1964]

Another new video, between Huddersfield and Weston.
It is mainly drone, but also with some surface views of the bridges (and trackbed), that have recently been prepared for quadrupling.

Looks like this section is now ready for extra tracks to be laid

New bridge works at Deighton, and A62, and collieries bridge, with these new spans seem to be alongside, although I think the A62 bridge will be widened onto site of existing bridge once traffic is diverted over it.

 

[Tim_UK]

Another new video, between Huddersfield and Weston.
It is mainly drone, but also with some surface views of the bridges (and trackbed), that have recently been prepared for quadrupling.

Looks like this section is now ready for extra tracks to be laid

Does anybody know what the siding at Red Doles is for?

 

[neil65]

Does anybody know what the siding at Red Doles is for?

To replace the old sidings behind Huddersfield station which will now become the new platforms

 

[Halifaxlad]

Well, I guess it's either do that or reopen the back bay and knock down the Head of Steam, which doesn't do much for symmetry....

Is it even going to get used for 4 car trains ?

They might have as well just reopened the bay, got rid of the other bay and have much straighter alighment through the station.

Really the Penistone ought to be ran by trams but that's for another thread!

 

[Tim_UK]

To replace the old sidings behind Huddersfield station which will now become the new platforms

That’s hill house sidings. And they are west facing. Drive straight in from Huddersfield station.

I’m on about the new east facing siding. Drive straight in from Deighton. With a head shunt. In’s in the latest drone video from Tim Collins.

The overlay text in the video says it was left over from the plan for the temporary Hillhouse station. But Hillhouse station was cancelled years ago. This siding appeared really recently. So there must be another reason.

I‘m wondering if there is need to ‘run around’ (with a spare loco in the head shunt) freight or engineering trains during the works.

 

[Geeves]

Is it even going to get used for 4 car trains ?

They might have as well just reopened the bay, got rid of the other bay and have much straighter alighment through the station.

Really the Penistone ought to be ran by trams but that's for another thread!

The alignment of the lines around the Sheffield bay isn't the finished product, it's all getting altered on the next closure in 2027. It'll be good for 40mph through the station

 

[swt_passenger]

That’s hill house sidings. And they are west facing. Drive straight in from Huddersfield station.

I’m on about the new east facing siding. Drive straight in from Deighton. With a head shunt. In’s in the latest drone video from Tim Collins.

The overlay text in the video says it was left over from the plan for the temporary Hillhouse station. But Hillhouse station was cancelled years ago. This siding appeared really recently. So there must be another reason.

I‘m wondering if there is need to ‘run around’ (with a spare loco in the head shunt) freight or engineering trains during the works.

Posts from 2024 suggest a possibly different timescale. The siding was reported being installed in the early summer of ‘24, but the decision not to use Hillhouse temporary platform was not publicised until November ‘24.

 

[1D53]

Even though the platform was taken out of scope there is still intention to use the sidings for storing on track plant such as tampers.

 

[Tim_UK]

Even though the platform was taken out of scope there is still intention to use the sidings for storing on track plant such as tampers.

I thought there was an engineering siding next to the depot for that as well? A siding without wiring?

 

[59CosG95]

Is it even going to get used for 4 car trains ?

They might have as well just reopened the bay, got rid of the other bay and have much straighter alighment through the station.

Really the Penistone ought to be ran by trams but that's for another thread!

Well, Kirklees has commissioned SLC (Sable-Leigh Consulting) to look into ways to upgrade that line, but agreed - one for another thread.

 

[josh-j]

Fewer 'orange army' folks at Huddersfield today, perhaps a good sign that things are approaching completion in the station?

 

[Ploughman]

Is it a temporary pause rather than completion?

 

[josh-j]

Is it a temporary pause rather than completion?

Not even a pause really as they're carrying on with half the station works while the other half reopens. I just meant completion of the blockade for the reopening tomorrow

 

[Revaulx]

Trainline has just allowed me to book onto the 0722 Greenfield to Wakefield Kirkgate tomorrow morning so presumably everything’s on schedule.

 

[Watershed]

Trainline has just allowed me to book onto the 0722 Greenfield to Wakefield Kirkgate tomorrow morning so presumably everything’s on schedule.

That doesn't really tell you anything to be honest. Cancellations would roll through as and when the possession over runs.

 

[AndyHudds]

Huddersfield is back open for business everything ship shape, looking good, everything running on time. Platform 1 is huge!!!

Edit: although there appears to be some delays now.

 

[Spartacus]

Something that’s been perhaps missed is some more work between Batley & Dewsbury on Jack Lane. The listed cast iron bridge there is being prepared for lifting, refurbishing and being reinstated. I don’t know if this is scheduled for one of the mid-week closures or something longer.

Photos of the prep work attached.

 

[Geeves]

Couple of 5 mins delays from about 545 this morning at Victoria on the reopened line but otherwise you can only put the reopening down as a great success!

 

[superkev]

Couple of 5 mins delays from about 545 this morning at Victoria on the reopened line but otherwise you can only put the reopening down as a great success!

All the current delays eem to originate around the Leeds and Staylybridge ends with Huddesfield running perfectly.
What an amazing job has been done over the Huddersfield closure. Whoever planned it deserves medals. Seemed to run like clockwork.
Just get the rest of TPU upgrade it to go at the same pace and could be finished next year.
K

 

[YorksLad12]

All the current delays eem to originate around the Leeds and Staylybridge ends with Huddesfield running perfectly.
What an amazing job has been done over the Huddersfield closure. Whoever planned it deserves medals. Seemed to run like clockwork.
Just get the rest of TPU upgrade it to go at the same pace and could be finished next year.
K

And yet, there will still be people who will say "Oh, it should have been done with weekend closures." It was properly planned, all the investigations were done beforehand so there were no surprises... and it's not a news story on the BBC website (as I write), so a boringly brilliant success I'd say

 

[jamieh27]

Huddersfield is back open for business everything ship shape, looking good, everything running on time. Platform 1 is huge!!!

Edit: although there appears to be some delays now.

I saw the photo not sure if its been renumbered yet or not. They put a fencing up on P4 not sure if works will continue in the backgroun when services are running.

 

[swt_passenger]

I saw the photo not sure if it’s been renumbered yet or not. They put a fencing up on P4 not sure if works will continue in the backgroun when services are running.

I’m certain they’ll continue - with the entire area being fenced off it can be treated as a normal ‘high street’ construction environment separated from the railway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==

I saw the photo not sure if its been renumbered yet or not. They put a fencing up on P4 not sure if works will continue in the backgroun when services are running.

I saw a couple of P3 signs in last nights Sarah Bell video, but P2 didn’t seem to have numbers at that time, but of course they may have been out of view of the camera. RTT is showing the correct new platform numbers.

 

[zwk500]

RTT is showing the correct new platform numbers.

Given that RTT will be pulling the data feed from Network Rail's publication run, you'd hope NR had the platform numbers set up!

 

[swt_passenger]

Given that RTT will be pulling the data feed from Network Rail's publication run, you'd hope NR had the platform numbers set up!

Yes, it was clearly planned well in advance - someone posted the SA drawing that had a dated change to the whole station‘s numbering during the blockade.

 

[zwk500]

Yes, it was clearly planned well in advance - someone posted the SA drawing that had a dated change to the whole station‘s numbering during the blockade.

The Final layout is probably already visible in NR's planning system. Changes as major as that are agreed years in advance.

 

[neil65]

I doubt replacing the spans over John William St could have been done at weekends, such a massive undertaking to sever the railway completely, i am having a trip from Huddersfield to Mirfield and return Tuesday morning to get some photos of the remodelled station, photos Tuesday afternoon

 

[josh-j]

In the meantime here's a quick photo from yesterday showing the prep work.

(Photo shows Huddersfield station from Westgate. New tarmac platform surfaces are visible along with the new station layout. A number of people in orange hi-viz are working, though a lot fewer than a day or two ago.)

 

[jamieh27]

I’m certain they’ll continue - with the entire area being fenced off it can be treated as a normal ‘high street’ construction environment separated from the railway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==


I saw a couple of P3 signs in last nights Sarah Bell video, but P2 didn’t seem to have numbers at that time, but of course they may have been out of view of the camera. RTT is showing the correct new platform numbers.

May even be the new P3 signs in RailAlphabet2, I think from the photos I saw P2 was on the bay platform going all the way back under the canopy which I wasn't sure if original P1 was going to be renumbered P2 and original P2 be numbered P1 as P4 will be P3 and old P8 will be P4.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==

In the meantime here's a quick photo from yesterday showing the prep work.

(Photo shows Huddersfield station from Westgate. New tarmac platform surfaces are visible along with the new station layout. A number of people in orange hi-viz are working, though a lot fewer than a day or two ago.)

I jsut saw the photo and I can just about see the P3 sign on old P4.

 

[YorksLad12]

Platform 1 is huge!!!

Huge for the Penistone Line, normal (~100m) for everywhere else. The platform area must be big now though; part of me still wonders why they didn't build it out further and add a second, shorter bay behind it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==

May even be the new P3 signs in RailAlphabet2, I think from the photos I saw P2 was on the bay platform going all the way back under the canopy which I wasn't sure if original P1 was going to be renumbered P2 and original P2 be numbered P1 as P4 will be P3 and old P8 will be P4.

There wasn't an old P3 in Rail Alphabet at Huddersfield, so you'd imagine any new signs will be in RA2.

 

[jamieh27]

Huge for the Penistone Line, normal (~100m) for everywhere else. The platform area must be big now though; part of me still wonders why they didn't build it out further and add a second, shorter bay behind it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==


There wasn't an old P3 in Rail Alphabet at Huddersfield, so you'd imagine any new signs will be in RA2.

No I don't think there was, there was no P7 either. I reckon they will and repaint the old signs eventually.