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. 

Trains that run through Huddersfield will be impacted each weekend from 29-30 March to 17-18 May. Weekday services will run as normal, except for Monday 21 April, when TRU engineers complete work at Mirfield station. 

Passengers will be kept on the move via diversionary routes and rail replacement buses, with further information available at nationalrail.co.uk. 

The work forms part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a multi-billion-pound railway programme that will unlock a range of benefits for customers travelling between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

Gareth Hope, Sponsor for TRU, said: 

“This series of work will impact services across several weekends, so we’d like to remind customers to plan their journeys in advance. 

“This is a key period for the programme which will take us closer to significant upgrades, particularly in Mirfield, as work ramps up across the wider TRU route to deliver faster, cleaner services on a greener, more reliable railway.” 

Chris Nutton, Major Projects and TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:

 “The investment put into the stations and infrastructure between Stalybridge and Dewsbury will not only improve the railway of today, but will continue the vital journey of the Transpennine Route Upgrade that will bring greener, faster, and more reliable trains to rail customers in the North.

 “During those eight weekends, there will be changes to the services on our North Route. Customers will be able to make journeys using the amended timetable, including train services over diversionary routes - connecting across the region - and rail replacement buses in some localised sections. 

“We urge customers to check before they travel across the Pennines on these weekends. For those who are planning to travel, we’ll have extra colleagues on hand at key stations to help get people to their destination.”

During this period, the TRU team will take to the Huddersfield area to carry out tunnel repairs and install overhead line equipment (OLE) foundations. Strengthening work will also be completed on Huddersfield viaduct, whilst the ongoing roof canopy restoration continues at the station. 

Nearby in Deighton, work is being carried out on Whitacre Street bridge so it can be replaced with a new structure in the future. This will enable new track and OLE installation through the area, unlocking faster, cleaner journeys. 

From Saturday 19 April to Monday 21 April, the upgrade of Mirfield station will edge closer to completion. Construction of a new platform will continue, enabling longer trains with more seats to run, whilst work on a new station entrance and track upgrades through the area will also be completed. 

Track renewal work will also be completed over Saddleworth viaduct in Oldham.