A major railway enhancement scheme is set to generate considerable inconvenience over the next several weeks.
Work will get underway on the line linking Huddersfield and Leeds beginning Saturday, May 2, and continuing through Monday, May 25, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.
During this period, 56 engineering trains will travel along the section, renewing 6.2 kilometres of track and installing more than 21,000 tonnes of ballast.
In comments, Sophie Leishman, the sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, noted that significant progress has been made between Huddersfield and Leeds in recent months, and with this next phase about to begin, the project is poised to make substantial strides along a crucial stretch of the route. She added that teams would be working continuously throughout the period ahead and thanked both travellers and local communities for their continued patience as these transformative improvements to the railway are delivered.
The scheme also includes the installation of 51 foundation structures to support future overhead line equipment as part of the wider electrification of the 70-mile Transpennine corridor.
Brighouse station will serve as a central point for both rail and bus services throughout the works, with £100 million designated for alternative transport options to keep passengers moving.
Train services will operate as close to the affected area as possible, with rail replacement buses deployed where necessary.
A further construction stage is planned from Saturday, May 30, through Saturday, June 27, focusing on the Batley and Dewsbury areas.
Once complete and when new lift systems are operational, Batley station will reopen with step-free access via lifts and updated facilities.
Platform lengths will be extended to 150 metres at Batley and 200 metres at Dewsbury, allowing longer trains to run and increasing capacity.
During this time, 66 engineering trains will lay more than 5 kilometres of new track, along with 27,000 tonnes of ballast and 67 overhead line supports.
Weekend operations will continue at Huddersfield station, including platform rebuilding, subway construction, and the creation of new staircases and footbridges.
Restoration of the station’s historic ‘Euston style’ roof proceeds and is expected to finish by early 2027.
Weekday passengers travelling between Huddersfield and Leeds will take diversionary routes via Wakefield.
On weekends, trains will call at stations as close as possible to the work areas, with rail replacement buses operating between Huddersfield and Leeds.
Andrew Allwright, TRU Programme Delivery Lead for Northern, said that the Transpennine Route Upgrade is continuing to make significant progress between Huddersfield and Leeds, delivering a once-in-a-generation improvement for passengers.