Monday 18 Mar 2024
First electric train completes test run between Manchester and Stalybridge
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
An electric train has travelled for the first time between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
Engineers have been testing the new electrification equipment installed along the route as part of the multi-billion-pound upgrade to the line between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds.
The successful test train run follows work completed by TRU last year, which included the installation of overhead line electrification (OLE) between Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge and Guide Bridge stations, the replacement of track to allow faster speeds, 25 new signals for closer spacing of trains and a higher-speed railway junction at Stalybridge. Many of these key upgrades were completed as engineers worked around the clock during a 26-day closure in March and April last year.
Electric trains are set to run between Manchester and Stalybridge from the end of the year, bringing greener, faster and more reliable journeys to the route.
This will be the first section of line to be electrified as part of the Tranpennine Route Upgrade, with the remainder of the route between Manchester and York set to be electrified in the future.
TRU is also delivering station improvements along the route to enhance customer experience, comfort and accessibility, whilst a new digital signalling system to improve the reliability of the line will be installed.
Upgrades also include doubling the number of tracks between Huddersfield and Dewsbury to allow for greater capacity, meaning more seats for passengers and opportunities for increased freight.
Neil Holm, Managing Director of TRU said:
“This is a big achievement in our plans to bring cleaner, faster and better travel to the people of the North of England.
“People can see that TRU is very much in the delivery phase now and the benefits of all our teams’ hard work is starting to show. I would like to thank passengers and local residents who have supported us throughout the ongoing work.”
The train, which was a Northern Class 331, departed from Blackpool North and arrived at Manchester Piccadilly just before 12:00. It then travelled between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge station while the tests were undertaken.
TRU will create and protect 8000 new roles during construction, with 60% of the workforce employed from within 25 miles of the route and 80% within 40 miles.
The successful test train run between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge follows the recent announcement that Mossley station is to be relocated 300m to the East to allow for the construction of a fully-accessible station for the first time in its history. More information can be found here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/mossley-to-welcome-fully-accessible-rail-station-for-first-time.
Electric trains will next be tested on the Eastern section of TRU later in the year, between York and Church Fenton.
Notes to Editors
The project director for this piece of work is available for online interviews between 7:00-9:00 or at 11:00 on Monday 18 March 2024. Please contact henry.hughes@networkrail.co.uk if you would like to take this opportunity to find out more about the test train or the wider benefits of Transpennine Route Upgrade.
We’re transforming journeys across the North, better connecting towns and cities through more frequent, faster, greener trains, running on a better, cleaner and more reliable railway. TRU will bring passengers:
- More trains to choose from and more seats. Our improvements will enable more trains to run between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York with up to six fast services every hour between Leeds and Manchester and up to two stopping services for local connectivity.
- Faster journeys so you can travel to your favourite towns and cities more quickly. Our fastest journey times are forecast to be 63-66 minutes between Manchester and York and 41-42 minutes between Manchester and Leeds.
- More reliable journeys with trains that run on-time
- From May 2023 our improvements to three diversionary routes will in place, which will mean more reliable journeys for passengers.
- Better stations across the Transpennine route, bringing passengers a better travel experience through improved, more accessible stations
- Greener travel, reducing our carbon footprint and improving air quality. Our plans aim to save up to 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – supporting the government’s Net Zero objectives.
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Journalists
Ewan Bayliss
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Network Rail
ewan.bayliss@networkrail.co.uk
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