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Thursday 14 May 2026

How the Transpennine Route Upgrade is taking Northern economies to new destinations

Region & Route:

Eastern

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is improving railway infrastructure across the North, and driving significant economic growth in the towns and cities it serves, a new report commissioned by Network Rail has found. 

The study, centred on the Kirklees area in West Yorkshire, revealed the scale of the regeneration effect already taking shape around Huddersfield station – a key location on the TRU route where a major transformation has been underway since 2023.

Since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020, planning applications within 1.5 miles of the station have risen by nearly 33%, while planned construction value in the area has almost tripled – from £311.9 million before 2020 to £899.8 million since.

The report also suggests that over the next ten years, TRU’s impact on Huddersfield town centre could generate £1.9 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), create 4,902 gross full-time equivalent jobs, and deliver 1,187 new homes.

Next week (Tuesday 19 May), TRU will showcase these impacts at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate, Infrastructure Investment Forum in Leeds. The event will bring together investors, developers and decision-makers to drive regeneration, and provides an opportunity for TRU to outline the programme’s role not just as a railway upgrade, but as a driver for economic growth throughout the region.

 

James Richardson, TRU Managing Director, said:

“These figures highlight that rail investment isn’t just about trains and tracks. A long-term commitment to infrastructure in our communities draws in developers, businesses and residents to make these places their home.

“So while our teams work around the clock to deliver faster, more frequent trains across the Pennines, the benefits go well beyond the railway itself – shaping opportunities for the people these services will support for generations to come, and boosting our local economies. We’re proud to be working closely with our partners in business and local government to deliver a railway that will help the North reach its full potential.”

Tom Riordan, Envoy for Northern Growth, recently visited Huddersfield, alongside representatives from Kirklees Council to see first-hand how the transformational railway upgrade will unlock long-term economic opportunities across Kirklees and beyond.

 

Steve Mawson, Chief Executive Officer at Kirklees Council, said:

"The Transpennine Route Upgrade will significantly improve connectivity across Kirklees and the North of England. It complements and strengthens wider investment in our transport infrastructure, supporting a more integrated and reliable network that improves access to jobs, services and key markets. It aligns with our wider regeneration ambitions, focused on revitalising town centres, making best use of existing assets, and creating places where people and businesses can thrive.

"This investment is already helping to shift market perceptions across the region, reinforcing Kirklees’ position as a well-connected and attractive location for investment in manufacturing, health innovation, leisure, culture, and town centre living."

 

To view the Network Rail report in full, visit https://thetrupgrade.co.uk/from-tracks-to-transformation/