Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[GRALISTAIR]

So I counted 16 "major" interventions on W2B - depending on your definition of "major" of course. They are:

1. Greenfield Station
2. Oldham Road Bridge (MVL3/28)
3. Heyrod Hall Bridge (MVL3/7)Spring Bank Lane Bridge (MVL3/9)
4. Roughtown Road Overbridge (MVL3/17)
5. Wright’s Mill Overbridge (MVL3/20)
6. Wright’s Overbridge (MVL3/23)
7. Mossley Station
8. Mossley Cottages
9. Uppermill Viaduct (MVL3/31)
10. Ward Lane Bridge (MVL3/36)
11. Station Road Bridge (MVL3/39)
12. Stockport Road Level Crossing
13. Stalybridge and Scout Tunnels
14. Temporary Construction Compound
15. Access Points
16. Moorgate Halt level crossing

 

[The exile]

In the 70s. We're 50 years on now and there's lots that's changed.

And, with apologies to those intermediate stations that do exist, the intermediate traffic on that section of the (particularly north of Preston) was / is minimal compared with that on the transpennine.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Maybe they did plan for the electrification of Church Fenton to Colton Junction to take five to six years…

Fair point hence, which version being important!

 

[millbrook]

So I counted 16 "major" interventions on w2B - depending on your definition of "major" of course. They are:

1. Greenfield Station
2. Oldham Road Bridge (MVL3/28)
3. Heyrod Hall Bridge (MVL3/7)Spring Bank Lane Bridge (MVL3/9)
4. Roughtown Road Overbridge (MVL3/17)
5. Wright’s Mill Overbridge (MVL3/20)
6. Wright’s Overbridge (MVL3/23)
7. Mossley Station
8. Mossley Cottages
9. Uppermill Viaduct (MVL3/31)
10. Ward Lane Bridge (MVL3/36)
11. Station Road Bridge (MVL3/39)
12. Stockport Road Level Crossing
13. Stalybridge and Scout Tunnels
14. Temporary Construction Compound
15. Access Points
16. Moorgate Halt level crossing

As a local commuting daily almost in parallel by car (starting near the ex heyrod power station) i would say the road overbridge at Greenfield station will be the most difficult / disruptive (outside of the railway) if it really is a rebuild

 

[edwin_m]

As a local commuting daily almost in parallel by car (starting near the ex heyrod power station) i would say the road overbridge at Greenfield station will be the most difficult / disruptive (outside of the railway) if it really is a rebuild

Yes, definitely a chokepoint for the local road network including the local bus routes. Oaklands Road is going to be busy.

 

[millbrook]

So I counted 16 "major" interventions on w2B - depending on your definition of "major" of course. They are:

1. Greenfield Station
2. Oldham Road Bridge (MVL3/28)
3. Heyrod Hall Bridge (MVL3/7)Spring Bank Lane Bridge (MVL3/9)
4. Roughtown Road Overbridge (MVL3/17)
5. Wright’s Mill Overbridge (MVL3/20)
6. Wright’s Overbridge (MVL3/23)
7. Mossley Station
8. Mossley Cottages
9. Uppermill Viaduct (MVL3/31)
10. Ward Lane Bridge (MVL3/36)
11. Station Road Bridge (MVL3/39)
12. Stockport Road Level Crossing
13. Stalybridge and Scout Tunnels
14. Temporary Construction Compound
15. Access Points
16. Moorgate Halt level crossing

and for clarity the 'Stockport Road Level Crossing' - is just a farm track, a car would get stuck well before it got any where near (i dont believe there are any 'real' road (barrier /lights) level crossings between ashton and somewhere east of huddersfield
)

Yes, definitely a chokepoint for the local road network including the local bus routes. Oaklands Road is going to be busy.

it looks simple on google maps but the diversion will have to be via the overbridge at mossley station and along huddersfield road (the underbridge west of greenfield station is very low) - oaklands road is currently lightly used and for around ~300m is effectively single carriageway as cars parked on both sides - I'm not a nimby as i can see the big picture - I'll drive via Oldham

and for clarity the 'Stockport Road Level Crossing' - is just a farm track, a car would get stuck well before it got any where near (i dont believe there are any 'real' road (barrier /lights) level crossings between ashton and somewhere east of huddersfield
)


it looks simple on google maps but the diversion will have to be via the overbridge at mossley station and along huddersfield road (the underbridge west of greenfield station is very low) - oaklands road is currently lightly used and for around ~300m is effectively single carriageway as cars parked on both sides - I'm not a nimby as i can see the big picture - I'll drive via Oldham

i got got confused springbank road parallel to the rail way

and for clarity the 'Stockport Road Level Crossing' - is just a farm track, a car would get stuck well before it got any where near (i dont believe there are any 'real' road (barrier /lights) level crossings between ashton and somewhere east of huddersfield
)


it looks simple on google maps but the diversion will have to be via the overbridge at mossley station and along huddersfield road (the underbridge west of greenfield station is very low) - oaklands road is currently lightly used and for around ~300m is effectively single carriageway as cars parked on both sides - I'm not a nimby as i can see the big picture - I'll drive via Oldham


i got got confused springbank road parallel to the rail way

sorry = Oaklands road is the road going via the underbridge west of greenfield station - it is at best single lane under the bridge and is height restricted also he traffic entering/leaving from the A670 oldham road have to swing out / have free entry as its a tight turn so the potential for a bottleneck is massive - cant wait for the plans

 

[Class 170101]

Something I noticed is the work still required at Colton Junction. It's clear that it isn't finished and that the headspans over the junction are being replaced by portals. The portals are in the place but the wires need transferring and the headspans removed.

I have heard it stated in this thread that Easter 2025 is when the transfer will be undertaken. Others more involved in the project than me (which is easy, because I'm not involved in it at all!) will doubtless know more.

I thought it was Christmas 2025 for the work, only on the basis I thought it was Christmas and doesn't appear to have happened in 2024. So would that make entry into service around Easter 2026?

In the past, if all 4 tracks between York and Church Fenton are to be in one possession, then it would only happen at Christmas.
I do not know if that policy still stands.
Otherwise you could have either pairing of Normanton's or Leeds lines, but not both together.

Looks like a possession at Colton Jn (as well as Leeds to Selby via Micklefield) this weekend

Realtime Trains | Departures from York between 0200 and 0159 on 22/03/2025

Train information at York between 0200 and 0159 on 22/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

and

Realtime Trains | Departures from York between 0200 and 0159 on 23/03/2025

Train information at York between 0200 and 0159 on 23/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Probably for overall works related to the project but not to finish off the tie in.

 

[johntea]

Don Coffey latest video has full run thru from Manchester Victoria to York via Wakefield and Castlefield. Filmed November -24. Might be interested in thread, sorry no annotations, are those required?

I travel on this route quite a bit (well the passenger service between Manchester Piccadily and York anyway), it always seems to suffer 5-10 minutes delay along the route at the moment every single time I've used it...is that due to some sort of temporary speed restrictions during the ongoing TRU works or just a timetable with no room to breathe?

 

[dodecahedron67]

I travel on this route quite a bit (well the passenger service between Manchester Piccadily and York anyway), it always seems to suffer 5-10 minutes delay along the route at the moment every single time I've used it...is that due to some sort of temporary speed restrictions during the ongoing TRU works or just a timetable with no room to breathe?

There are a couple of nasty TSRs at the moment, Mirfield East Jn has a 20mph TSR when heading towards Leeds/Wakefield which causes between 2-5 min of delay for every train

 

[158801]

Not seen this posted anywhere but an extra track has been laid to the east of Huddersfield. It starts about 300m from Huddersfield station and is around 800m long. It's too the north of the existing track

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

When do we expect TPE to run beyond York on the OLE to Church Fenton?

 

[Cowley]

To keep things on course in this thread we’ve set up a new discussion on what could be done to improve things at Leeds and here:

Two additional tracks to be built into Leeds station from the West?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/transpennine-route-upgrade-and-electrification-updates.88054/ Intriguing post on Skyscrapercity - any truth in Network Rail being interested in the Globe Road development site for two extra tracks approaching Leeds from the west...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[kmc1962]

I visited Huddersfield Station this morning, and saw that the first section of new lantern on the man train shed looks complete. Also saw on the platform that some of the scaffolding is sagging alarmingly! Photos attached.

 

[Neen Sollars]

In depth look at Deighton Station and surrounds video from Sarah Bell now available on You Tube today.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

In depth look at Deighton Station and surrounds video from Sarah Bell now available on You Tube today.

I have seen it and decided not to post it. However, well worth a watch imho.

 

[superkev]

I visited Huddersfield Station this morning, and saw that the first section of new lantern on the man train shed looks complete. Also saw on the platform that some of the scaffolding is sagging alarmingly! Photos attached.

Nice to see some progress with the roof. Anyone know the latest roof completion date.
Thanks
K

 

[LkmtvMetatarsl]

I notice that as part of the upcoming weekday closure of the line between Leeds and Ravensthorpe, another section of track will be replaced. There does seem to have been a lot of track replacement on this stretch in the last year or so, is it being upgraded for higher speeds or does there happen to be a lot of old and knackered track needing renewal?

 

[td97]

I notice that as part of the upcoming weekday closure of the line between Leeds and Ravensthorpe, another section of track will be replaced. There does seem to have been a lot of track replacement on this stretch in the last year or so, is it being upgraded for higher speeds or does there happen to be a lot of old and knackered track needing renewal?

It will be old track needing renewal.
The renewal may have been brought forward to accommodate either line speed improvements or increase in annual tonnage brought about by TRU project.

 

[Legolash2o]

Do you guys think it's worth updating my maps with the latest progress? Depends if people would find them useful.

I'm also tempted to embed Sarah's awesome YouTube videos (with credit) and timestamps for the latest development for each intervention.

I can also change the marker colours depending on if they've started, in progress, or completed.

Thoughts?

https://gbrailwaydata.co.uk/Public/TRU

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I'm also tempted to embed Sarah's awesome YouTube videos (with credit) and timestamps for the latest development for each intervention.

Thoughts?

https://gbrailwaydata.co.uk/Public/TRU

I thought about doing that in the pinned electrification resources thread at the top. It is the amount of annotation I would need to do to conform to forum rules that has put me off. But on your own private web page I think it would be a fantastic idea and I would find extremely helpful and useful.

 

[Legolash2o]

I thought about doing that in the pinned electrification resources thread at the top. It is the amount of annotation I would need to do to conform to forum rules that has put me off. But on your own private web page I think it would be a fantastic idea and I would find extremely helpful and useful.

Awesome. I can also add suggestions/text (stuff I miss) that people recommend, and can either give credit and/or link to the forum post.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Another new Sarah Bell video is up. Shows Batley signal box prior to demolition and Lady Ann level crossing and discuses the upcoming work schedule

 

[grdc]

First bit of work on the Cottingley-Morley stretch since November.



Caught them today, using the possession to put the lid on the portal between Churwell Viaduct and White Rose station (which stood out as the only one left since November with uprights only), and fit the complete portal to the viaduct brackets they attached in November.

Didn't notice anything else, the missing TTC (GFL 62.22) where I believe they have installed the wrong type of pile is still missing:


(For transparency, I took this photo in December, but nothing had changed this morning when I walked past.)

As this is day 1 of a three-week (weekdays only!) possession, it will be interesting to see what else happens.

I should add that the TRU work-site at Morley station was wound down, with machinery and portakabins removed etc around Christmas. However, there were workmen there 10 days or so ago tarmac-ing the site, not entirely sure why they would do that after leaving?

The owner of the site (or a prospective owner) had applied for planning permission to create a private station car park here, but they were refused planning permission on the grounds that the narrow bridge and unadopted road was unsuitable for the level of traffic it would create, and that they had no permission from Network Rail to access the station from the site either.

 

[superkev]

Excellent Robert Stenhouse pictures on Flickr showing much track renewal through Batley station with the new Lady ann footbridge in the distance. Sorry don't know how to provide a link.
K

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The latest Sarah Bell video is out showing ongoing work at Morley station.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Sarah's video Video

TRU NEWS ‍♀️ Weekday closures begin as station platform is dismantled​

 

[59CosG95]

First bit of work on the Cottingley-Morley stretch since November.

View attachment 175689View attachment 175688
View attachment 175690
Caught them today, using the possession to put the lid on the portal between Churwell Viaduct and White Rose station (which stood out as the only one left since November with uprights only), and fit the complete portal to the viaduct brackets they attached in November.

Didn't notice anything else, the missing TTC (GFL 62.22) where I believe they have installed the wrong type of pile is still missing:

View attachment 175691
(For transparency, I took this photo in December, but nothing had changed this morning when I walked past.)

As this is day 1 of a three-week (weekdays only!) possession, it will be interesting to see what else happens.

I should add that the TRU work-site at Morley station was wound down, with machinery and portakabins removed etc around Christmas. However, there were workmen there 10 days or so ago tarmac-ing the site, not entirely sure why they would do that after leaving?

The owner of the site (or a prospective owner) had applied for planning permission to create a private station car park here, but they were refused planning permission on the grounds that the narrow bridge and unadopted road was unsuitable for the level of traffic it would create, and that they had no permission from Network Rail to access the station from the site either.

That gap there, based on a quick scan of cab footage, looks to me like a gap for a Portal rather than a TTC. Based on other observations of number plates, the missing structure is in fact GFL/64/24.

 

[grdc]

That gap there, based on a quick scan of cab footage, looks to me like a gap for a Portal rather than a TTC. Based on other observations of number plates, the missing structure is in fact GFL/64/24.

Yes, indeed!

Should never have doubted them.

A walk of the line today, revealed a freshly installed portal GFL62.24

 

[Halifaxlad]

It will be old track needing renewal.
The renewal may have been brought forward to accommodate either line speed improvements or increase in annual tonnage brought about by TRU project.

Or quite possibly to minimise disruption after the TRU upgrade has been completed. Imagine it being completed then shut again not long after to replace track, it would be a PR disaster.