Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Batley Lad]

I forgot about the existing footbridge at Dewsbury station and the need to make the current passing loop redundant.

As I posted before, this section from Dewsbury to Morley new station has no plans in the public domain.

With two stations in need of modification and/or modernisation, two viaducts and a lengthy tunnel to deal with.

I would have thought that some detail would have been in the public domain for this section.

The only detail I can take from our joints posts, is that this section of the route will require some lengthy blockades to provide the platform and line changes at Dewsbury and further works on viaducts and Morley tunnel.

Re Batley

The new footbridge shown within the video is in the location I remember from the road show events I attended.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Apparently there's a Class 91 in Doncaster yard waiting to test the wires between York and Church Fenton.

 

[Mister_v4]

I’m more interested to see what will happen to Dewsbury station, given the need to get the wires beneath the pedestrian overbridge and likely extend the platforms to 200 meters in length and possibly remove the current eastbound station track, with the platform being built out to meet the current through track to remove the set of points on the curve so the linespeed can be increased.

This video here does show CGI of Batley station at 05:00, but I don’t know if what is shown there is the definite plan of action.

Dewsbury report have published a article about Dewsbury Station.

New facilities and repairs to improve accessibility for passengers at Dewsbury Railway Station

TransPennine Express is set to carry out a series of upgrades at Dewsbury train station to improve accessibility for passengers using the railway.

www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk

• Improvements will include the installation of new handrails and resurfacing of the north access ramp from Milton Walk.
• Handrails on the steps from the ticket hall will also be replaced, along with the installation of new anti-slip stair treads on steps to enhance safety.
• Other work includes surface repairs to bridge landings, replacement cycle tracks to access steps, and new tactile paving to support visually impaired customers.

I don't know their source.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Dewsbury report have published a article about Dewsbury Station.

New facilities and repairs to improve accessibility for passengers at Dewsbury Railway Station

TransPennine Express is set to carry out a series of upgrades at Dewsbury train station to improve accessibility for passengers using the railway.

www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk

• Improvements will include the installation of new handrails and resurfacing of the north access ramp from Milton Walk.
• Handrails on the steps from the ticket hall will also be replaced, along with the installation of new anti-slip stair treads on steps to enhance safety.
• Other work includes surface repairs to bridge landings, replacement cycle tracks to access steps, and new tactile paving to support visually impaired customers.

I don't know their source.

That just looks like some accessibility improvements to me not the TRU works.

 

[Mr Mean]

Just got a TRU pamphlet through the door as a "railway neighbour".

It's says for Mirfield the schedule is:

Apr25 Old P1 closes and the new entrance from station road to the temp P1 opens.

Dec25 New platforms 1 and 2 opened with a new accessible footbridge to the car park.

Summer 27 Platform 3 to close and be demolished

Winter 27 New lines installed

It would be interesting to know if others along the route have received documents regarding their local station.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It would be interesting to know if others along the route have received documents regarding their local station.

I've not had anything specifically to do with station plans in regard to Batley- so far it's just been about noise and road closures. Understandable as the plans here aren't as advanced, and aren't likely to be quite as disruptive.

 

[KN94]

The only thing I have seen about Batley is on the TRU website which states the "platforms at Batley station will be extended by 150 meters," and that a "new footbridge with lifts will be installed".
As for linespeed, it'll still be 75mph, most likely limited by geography.

 

[td97]

Apparently there's a Class 91 in Doncaster yard waiting to test the wires between York and Church Fenton.

The latest update is that passenger service/EIS is expected in June for E1

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The latest Sarah Bell video taken on 26/03/2025.

Basically showing piling work in progress at Deighton.
Then at Colne Bridge it shows concrete pumping taking place.
Also work on the B6118 road bridge replacement.

 

[kmc1962]

The TRU website pages for Upcoming Closures have been updated, with work listed for the next 6 months. It shows that most weekends will see closures, plus the major blockade of Huddersfield Station from 30th August to 29th September.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The TRU website pages for Upcoming Closures have been updated, with work listed for the next 6 months. It shows that most weekends will see closures, plus the major blockade of Huddersfield Station from 30th August to 29th September.

The communication on this project has been pretty darned good I would say.

 

[Snow1964]

Government has just announced £2.15bn for Transport in north including £415m to fix rail line Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, York

People across the North will no longer be held back by a broken transport system and empty promises, the Prime Minister has said as he announces more funding to deliver the largest rail investment in the North in decades.

This comes on top of funding announced today:

• For the key rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, which has been plagued by disruptions and delays for years without a plan to fix it. The route will now be supported with £415 million in funding from government to restore its failing services.

PM: North will no longer be held to ransom by broken transport system

The Prime Minister has announced more funding to deliver the largest rail investment in the North in decades.

www.gov.uk

 

[John R]

It’s not obvious whether it is infrastructure, rolling stock or what?

 

[takno]

It’s not obvious whether it is infrastructure, rolling stock or what?

Weirdly it seems to be a cut and paste renouncement of the route upgrade that's ongoing, but with a much smaller budget.

You'll probably find that it's some money from the original budget which had been quietly taken away and is now being given back, or which was announced but never actually budgeted for by the previous government. Either way I'd be very surprised if it was additional money for something extra

 

[Palmerston]

On gov.uk it refers to the West Yorkshire mass transit, but again they might just be repeating a previous funding announcement. Potentially more will come out in the actual speech.

 

[nr758123]

Does this add anything to what we, as passengers, thought we already knew?

 

[Snow1964]

It’s not obvious whether it is infrastructure, rolling stock or what?

Wasn't clear to me either, although it says ".... restore it's failing services"

On the face of it that reads as reintroduce any services that were cut, ensure sufficient rolling stock so no short forms, staff it fully so no cancellations due to lack of staff etc.

But plain English sometimes gets mangled by Government spin, so who knows what they are actually intending.

 

[SerialComplain]

Money already promised for an already ongoing upgrade, further development of a business case for an already promised tram line, a new bus station in a town on the edge of Manchester and a reopened station in Liverpool isn't going to have the transformative effect claimed

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Wasn't clear to me either, although it says ".... restore it's failing services"

On the face of it that reads as reintroduce any services that were cut, ensure sufficient rolling stock so no short forms, staff it fully so no cancellations due to lack of staff etc.

But plain English sometimes gets mangled by Government spin, so who knows what they are actually intending.

Typical government spin and all it is is next years allocation of funds to TRU. Also remember that the spending review hasn't been concluded yet but we do know that TRU is one of the few enhancement projects that will be continuing.

 

[themiller]

Typical government spin and all it is is next years allocation of funds to TRU. Also remember that the spending review hasn't been concluded yet but we do know that TRU is one of the few enhancement projects that will be continuing.

Don’t forget that next year starts next month as far as budgets are concerned!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Don’t forget that next year starts next month as far as budgets are concerned!

Indeed thats next years allocation I would surmise.

 

[YorksLad12]

The communication on this project has been pretty darned good I would say.

Speaking as a railway neighbour and as a professional communicator, it's a lot better than it was pre-pandemic. I might be kicking myself for not having thought of doing the kind of videos that Sarah Bell is doing though.

 

[Halish Railway]

I’m on a train from Leeds to York now and it looks like the linespeed between York and the River Wharfe overbridge has been raised to 125mph on the Leeds lines.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Speaking as a railway neighbour and as a professional communicator, it's a lot better than it was pre-pandemic. I might be kicking myself for not having thought of doing the kind of videos that Sarah Bell is doing though.

And ------

Shows Baker Viaduct Piling and progress at Mirfield. Scale of works is quite staggering. Points out that ground conditions with some old landfills in the area are not ideal!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Rather amusingly it appears that Keir Starmer was delayed on a train while travelling to Huddersfield to make today’s announcements. Does anyone have details of the service he was on and what the delay amounted to?

 

[jfollows]

Wasn't clear to me either, although it says ".... restore it's failing services"

No, it says

• For the key rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, which has been plagued by disruptions and delays for years without a plan to fix it. The route will now be supported with £415 million in funding from government to restore its failing services.

You’re the one mangling the content!

 

[YorksLad12]

No, it says

You’re the one mangling the content!

That wouldn't have got past me though.

"Why do you want to restore services that are failing? Re-write, please."

 

[3RDGEN]

There's an update on the TRU website;

"https://thetrupgrade.co.uk/tru-news/new-funding-boost-for-transpennine-route-upgrade/"

Date 28.03.25 - This additional investment of £415m will enable further progress on the multi-billion-pound programme, ensuring the delivery of faster, more frequent, and greener rail services between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York. With this latest announcement, it takes the programme to £7.3bn of approved funding and moves TRU even closer to delivering a modern, high-performing railway, that better connects communities across the North. By enhancing capacity, reliability and sustainability, the programme is improving journeys for passengers, and strengthening the region’s economic future.

It looks like this is formal confirmation of another £415 million being approved of the forecasted TRU £11 Billion total.

 

[Andyh82]

Rather amusingly it appears that Keir Starmer was delayed on a train while travelling to Huddersfield to make today’s announcements. Does anyone have details of the service he was on and what the delay amounted to?

And whether or not it was rail industry’s fault, and something he would be able to ‘fix’?

 

[Palmerston]

There's an update on the TRU website;


It looks like this is formal confirmation of another £415 million being approved of the forecasted TRU £11 Billion total.

Presumably the government will announce something similar every year, till it's finished.