Wednesday 14 Aug 2024
Customers urged to tackle their travel plans ahead of Magic Weekend
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
Rugby League fans travelling to Leeds for Magic Weekend (August 17-18) are being urged to plan their journey ahead of time due to the closure of Huddersfield station, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
The station closure means diversionary routes and rail replacement buses will keep customers on the move between Huddersfield and Leeds.
The TRU team are working across every weekend in August – except the Bank Holiday – as they deliver major upgrades to the iconic station roof and tearoom.
The upgrades include scaffolding installation, cable rewiring and track renewal work.
Gareth Hope, Sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said:
“We understand what weekends like these mean for supporters and we have worked closely with operators to ensure everything is in place to minimise the impact our work has on them.
“The work being carried out this weekend is a pivotal part of the Huddersfield station upgrade and the wider programme across the route, which will deliver faster and greener trains on a more reliable railway across the Pennines.”
Chris Nutton, Major Projects and TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:
“The work taking place over the weekend is vital to the modernisation of the railway line and the upgrade of Huddersfield station, which form an essential part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme which is set to transform the railway across the Pennines.”
“Because of this, Huddersfield station will be closed during Magic Weekend, which means no trains will be able to run through it. As a result, there will be some changes to our services, including diversions on some routes and rail replacement buses on others. We’d like to thank customers in advance for their patience and would advise them to check carefully before travelling.”
Kerry Peters, Regional Director for Northern, said:
“We are advising all customers travelling to watch Magic Weekend games in Leeds to check before they travel as diversions and rail replacement services will be in operation.
“We’d also like to thank customers for being patient while these engineering works take place.
“The Transpennine Route Upgrade is a hugely important project that will deliver long-term benefits for passengers in the North of England, making journeys greener, faster and more reliable.”
Notes to Editors
Changes to upcoming train services:
The following services will be affected on Saturdays and Sundays during weekends in August (excluding the bank holiday), with passengers advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel:
- 17-18 August
- 31 August – 1 September
TPE rail services
- Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Victoria – Newcastle services will be diverted between Manchester Victoria and Dewsbury, not calling at Stalybridge or Huddersfield but calling additionally at Brighouse.
- Manchester Airport – Manchester Victoria – Saltburn services will start/terminate at Manchester Victoria instead of Manchester Airport. It will be diverted between Manchester Victoria and Dewsbury, not calling at Huddersfield but calling additionally at Brighouse. On Saturdays only, this service will additionally call at Ravensthorpe and Cottingley.
- Manchester Piccadilly – Hull services will only run between Hull and Leeds.
- Manchester Piccadilly – Huddersfield (local stopping service) will only run between Manchester Piccadilly and Marsden.
- Manchester Piccadilly – Huddersfield – Wakefield Kirkgate – York (limited service, Saturdays only) will only run between Manchester Piccadilly and Marsden.
- Leeds – Huddersfield (local stopping service) will not run. Customers travelling from Mirfield, Batley and Morley should use Northern services between Wigan Wallgate – Leeds on Saturdays only.
TPE replacement bus services in operation:
- Manchester Piccadilly – Huddersfield (direct). Up to every 20 minutes.
- Manchester Airport – Stockport – Huddersfield. Hourly service.
- Huddersfield – Slaithwaite – Marsden. Hourly service.
- Huddersfield – Brighouse (extending to Halifax every hour). Every 30 minutes.
- Huddersfield – Deighton – Mirfield (Saturday only). Hourly service.
- Huddersfield – Leeds (local stopping – Sunday only). Hourly service.
- Huddersfield – Wakefield Kirkgate – Castleford – York (Saturdays only). Limited service.
Northern services
- The Sheffield – Huddersfield service will terminate at Lockwood instead of Huddersfield, with rail replacement running between Lockwood – Huddersfield.
- The Huddersfield – Bradford Interchange service won’t run. TPE are running an hourly bus between Huddersfield – Brighouse – Halifax.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Ewan Bayliss
Communications Executive
Network Rail
ewan.bayliss@networkrail.co.uk
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