Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[luvchocolate]

I live in Huddersfield and at the moment live 1 min away from this site.
TPU are active with large machinery on the Trinity Stree Side of the site..I was just interested in what they are doing there

 

[Ian Hardy]

NR in other areas have certainly targeted half-term weeks for 9-day blockades, however it has trade-offs and often areas will have half-terms offset so that not all the kids are off at once so you sometimes can't neatly pick 1 half-term week.
When major blocks are planned, the normal process is for NR to consider all the options first and then decide which is the best one. But sometimes 1 week just isn't enough, or the half-terms don't line up with some other requirement, etc, etc.

But with TRU, if the work was only done during the school holidays, it would extend the period before completion of the project by a year or longer.

 

[stevieinselby]

Is it that commuters are fairly forced repeat customers whilst weekend customers are more likely to not come back? And the commuters pay up and get stuck on a bus whilst weekend traffic more likely to not go or go by train?

Another factor is that commuters are generally regular passengers so if you're advertising the upcoming disruption at stations and on trains then it's easier to reach them with the info than a load of randomers who don't travel so often and so may struggle more.

 

[KN94]

To be fair, we have had a fair number of weekend closures between both Huddersfield and Manchester, and Huddersfield and Leeds, the most recent Jan/Feb this year

True, but those were more Huddersfield / Diggle blocks rather than Morley. I'm sure it still impacted a significant number of passengers.
With Huddersfield being a key location for TRU, it's going to take a hit over the next few years. Once they get everything between there and Leeds sorted, it'll be time to tackle the route towards Stalybridge.
Whilst I have no doubt the railway will be in a significantly better place as a result, it'll be interesting to see if the constant work pushes potential passengers away and how long it'll take to recover. I digress...

While we're on the subject I've notice a few comments on local message boards that the mid-week possessions are proving unpopular with those living near the railway.

It's not because of the trains not running and being replaced by buses as such, it's the noise of the works. They could largely cope with weekend possessions, it's how things have long been done and so was the expected norm, and losing a bit of sleep overnight isn't a huge issue if you don't have to get up for work or school in the morning, but the mid-week possessions break that, and there's a good number of people who live near the line, and between Morley Tunnel and Dewsbury the line's in a narrow valley which has the effect of concentrating the noise, not unlike what some residents of Scarborough felt with the introduction of the 68s.

I wonder if a way forward for Network Rail might be to at least try consider school holiday times for mid-week works? Not just are kids not at school but more people take time off work then to look after them, and the roads and trains are generally a bit quieter as a result.

Without TRU, there wouldn't be a campaign of midweek blocks impacting lineside neighbours, and if everything was to be pushed into holiday time, we'd be looking at the 2040's before completion!
I do feel for those living nearby. Yes they might have bought a house near a railway line, etc etc, but did those who bought their house 20 years ago think there'd be huge engineering works taking place in their back garden multiple weeks a year for a few years?
Hopefully they can just about see the positives through any frustrations..


I'll stop now in case I get told off for taking the conversation away from infrastructure updates!

 

[Meerkat]

The Hillside sidings….. the actual sidings don’t take up much of the space but angle away from the line leaving a big ‘v’ between the sidings and the line - what will go in there permanently, a Network Rail maintenance base?

 

[D6130]

The Hillside sidings….. the actual sidings don’t take up much of the space but angle away from the line leaving a big ‘v’ between the sidings and the line - what will go in there permanently, a Network Rail maintenance base?

Hillhouse sidings?

 

[Meerkat]

Hillhouse sidings?

Err yes, them

 

[Chris125]

Amazing to see Hillhouse Sidings are already wired, I assumed it would be years before there's useable OLE in Huddersfield.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Amazing to see Hillhouse Sidings are already wired, I assumed it would be years before there's useable OLE in Huddersfield.

One of the recent Sarah Bell videos asked in a caption if this would be the shortest section of OLE in the country. There used to be a short run (c.50m) over one siding within Healey Mills yard, but I think that was just for training and gauging purposes.

 

[David Bullock]

I have a couple of TRU related questions:

Firstly I’ve seen new signalling lights/poles/whatever they’re called going in between Stalybridge and Huddersfield, is this part of the upgrade or something else?

Secondly I watched the PWI thing which said that transpennine express services post TRU are being modelled on 7-car 802s. I’m not sure if any of platforms 2-5 at lime street are long enough to accommodate that, and I think we’d be back to ASDO at newton le willows and Lea Green. Is there anything in place for that that we know of?

 

[Alexd]

I have a couple of TRU related questions:

Firstly I’ve seen new signalling lights/poles/whatever they’re called going in between Stalybridge and Huddersfield, is this part of the upgrade or something else?

Secondly I watched the PWI thing which said that transpennine express services post TRU are being modelled on 7-car 802s. I’m not sure if any of platforms 2-5 at lime street are long enough to accommodate that, and I think we’d be back to ASDO at newton le willows and Lea Green. Is there anything in place for that that we know of?

There is an ongoing project to upgrade the signalling between Manchester and York. I believe that this is separate to TRU. Someone may confirm or otherwise

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There is an ongoing project to upgrade the signalling between Manchester and York. I believe that this is separate to TRU. Someone may confirm or otherwise

At the very minimum it can’t be totally separate because electrification immunization of the signaling will be required.

 

[Alexd]

At the very minimum it can’t be totally separate because electrification immunization of the signaling will be required.

Good point, wasn’t sure tbh. Thanks

 

[Class 170101]

Looks like Northern and TPE won't be serving Deighton Station by train after Friday 29 August to the end of the timetable. Lots of buses between Huddersfield and Brighouse all day throughout the week.

 

[td97]

Signalling is in-house TRU. Both conventional and future provision of ETCS.

 

[Elecman]

There is an ongoing project to upgrade the signalling between Manchester and York. I believe that this is separate to TRU. Someone may confirm or otherwise

It’s part of TRU abolition of Diggle SBox and re control to York ROC

 

[Geeves]

Some information regards to Mirfield.

22.04.25 Current platform 1 is temporarily taken out of use. The existing platform 2 becomes the new platform 1, platform 3 remains as usual for now.

 

[Alexd]

Looks like Northern and TPE won't be serving Deighton Station by train after Friday 29 August to the end of the timetable. Lots of buses between Huddersfield and Brighouse all day throughout the week.

There is a 4 week blockade planned for work at Huddersfield station for most of September

 

[Bob55G]

Some information regards to Mirfield.

22.04.25 Current platform 1 is temporarily taken out of use. The existing platform 2 becomes the new platform 1, platform 3 remains as usual for now.

Does this imply that East bound passenger trains will be stopping at the rebuilt platform 2 (the South side of the island platform)? With the current track layout I don't see how this is possible.

 

[stibz]

Looks like Northern and TPE won't be serving Deighton Station by train after Friday 29 August to the end of the timetable. Lots of buses between Huddersfield and Brighouse all day throughout the week.

Ravensthorpe station due to close 28th Sept 2025, until the get new station built several years laster, I forget when the new one will be ready.

 

[KN94]

Looks like Northern and TPE won't be serving Deighton Station by train after Friday 29 August to the end of the timetable. Lots of buses between Huddersfield and Brighouse all day throughout the week.

Deighton is closing for about sixteen months from the start of the 30-day Huddersfield blockade whilst it is re-built.

LDS - HUD stopper being handed over to Northern from this point, so no calls from TPE.
Between the two Huddersfield blocks (the second is due in 2026 or 2027 if I remember correctly, probably around the same time Deighton re-opens) there is no turnback facilities at Huddersfield, so Northern are running LDS - BDI via DEW.
TPE's peak-time MAN - HUD stoppers will run non-stop from HUD - LDS to spin there.

Ravensthorpe station due to close 28th Sept 2025, until the get new station built several years laster, I forget when the new one will be ready.

Due to re-open Summer 2028......



I'm sure somebody with more knowledge can explain why they've had to consult on Ravensthorpe but not on Deighton. My presumption is because Ravensthorpe station will physically be in a different place whereas Deighton is just being re-built/re-aligned?

 

[Geeves]

Does this imply that East bound passenger trains will be stopping at the rebuilt platform 2 (the South side of the island platform)? With the current track layout I don't see how this is possible.

Yes Bob, edit to my original thoughts

The line that currently passes through P1 is diverted into the current P2, vs pushing the line up to the new platform, P1 is then disconnected

Mirfield station View

Update on the view March 2025

www.flickr.com

This image should help if you can see where the direction of the new ballast is leading

 

[Bob55G]

Yes Bob, edit to my original thoughts

The line that currently passes through P1 is diverted into the current P2, vs pushing the line up to the new platform, P1 is then disconnected

Mirfield station View

Update on the view March 2025

www.flickr.com

This image should help if you can see where the direction of the new ballast is leading

Many thanks for the clarification - it all makes sense now!

 

[coubpro]

Yes Bob, edit to my original thoughts

The line that currently passes through P1 is diverted into the current P2, vs pushing the line up to the new platform, P1 is then disconnected

Mirfield station View

Update on the view March 2025

www.flickr.com

findout here more

This image should help if you can see where the direction of the new ballast is leading

Exactly! If the line to P1 is rerouted and P1 is completely shut down, P2 will become the main transfer point. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the train schedules.

 

[Geeves]

Exactly! If the line to P1 is rerouted and P1 is completely shut down, P2 will become the main transfer point. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the train schedules.

Good thing is they can work on the original platform 1 in relative peace so hopefully should be faster to complete! Once the original P1 is reopened you would assume that will be the end of the wooden platform P3? As its in the way of the new fast lines (or will be on the fast lines which wont have a platform!)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Good thing is they can work on the original platform 1 in relative peace so hopefully should be faster to complete! Once the original P1 is reopened you would assume that will be the end of the wooden platform P3? As its in the way of the new fast lines (or will be on the fast lines which wont have a platform!)

At present, trains towards Huddersfield/Brighouse coming off the Healey Mills route can only use P3. Not sure how many "interim" arrangements there will be throughout the project but I'd expect P3 to still be required up until the grade separation at Thornhill is at least partially complete.

I'm still struggling to understand your earlier point about platforms 1 and 2 to be honest- I've not been keeping up to date with how Mirfield was progressing but I thought the original platform 2 face had been partially demolished to allow the track to be realigned. As the adjacent track to that platform face was the up fast, I'm a little lost as to how it'll manage to be used for down trains in just a couple of months.

 

[Halish Railway]

I'm still struggling to understand your earlier point about platforms 1 and 2 to be honest- I've not been keeping up to date with how Mirfield was progressing but I thought the original platform 2 face had been partially demolished to allow the track to be realigned. As the adjacent track to that platform face was the up fast, I'm a little lost as to how it'll manage to be used for down trains in just a couple of months.

Quoted below is what the platforms at the re-sited Morley station looked like 11 days prior to its opening. If that’s anything to go by it should be possible to complete part of the slightly repositioned platform in time for 22nd April.

Morley coming along. Picture taken todayView attachment 137417

This picture taken from the Network Rail media center shows what it looked like two months before it opened. The last time I went through Mirfield a few months ago the new platform face looked a lot like what can be seen in the picture.

 

[rower40]

Piles now in the ground most of the way from Cross Gates to Church Fenton.

There is still some to do at the Crossgates end, most marked out and there is a big gap over the embankment West of Garforth.

Then the other big gap is around Micklefield with no piles at all round the junction, and then a gap on the Leeds end of Church Fenton.

Last Tuesday (11th March) I noticed quite a few masts up between Micklefield and Church Fenton.
The gap at the Church Fenton end is because of the work to replace Rose Lane user-worked level crossing by a bridge.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Last Tuesday (11th March) I noticed quite a few masts up between Micklefield and Church Fenton.
The gap at the Church Fenton end is because of the work to replace Rose Lane user-worked level crossing by a bridge.

Indeed. But they have got all bases out north of Church Fenton station. Those masts have been up a few months now. Main push is definitely piles. Suspect we aren't far away from having 90% of foundations in from Cross Gates to Church Fenton.

What I have been trying to work out is around Thorpe Park there appears to only be masts on the Leeds bound line, I wondered if this was for future four tracking, ie twin track cantilever those two lines and add extras on the opposite side. But that future project seems shrouded in mystery.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't know it it is new news, but NR has posted that Stalybridge-Huddersfield-Heaton Lodge will be closed each weekend from March 29 to May 17 (8 weekends).
There will be just two through TPE services via Todmorden and Dewsbury, Liverpool-Newcastle and Victoria-Redcar, and the Piccadilly-York gets no further than Stalybridge.
Apart from major work around Huddersfield, track on the Saddleworth viaduct will be replaced.

Eight weekends of track, station and tunnel upgrade work as part of TRU

TRU are encouraging customers to check before they travel as engineers complete a series of upgrades across eight consecutive weekends, starting on Saturday 29 March, between Mossley and Dewsbury.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Victoria all day on 29/03/2025

Train information at Manchester Victoria all day on 29/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

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