Improved towpath and Memorial Park footpath opens in Mirfield, creating greener route to local station: Mirfield F&LM Launch

Friday 1 Aug 2025

Improved towpath and Memorial Park footpath opens in Mirfield, creating greener route to local station

Region & Route:
Eastern

A newly resurfaced canal towpath and upgraded footpath around Mirfield’s memorial garden has officially opened today, offering the local community a greener, easier, safer, and more accessible route to the station.

This marks the fourth completed ‘First and Last Mile’ project delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), Kirklees Council and Canal & River Trust, as part of a wider initiative to improve active travel connections to and from railway stations along the Transpennine Route.

The project has delivered several enhancements for the local community and canal users:

  • 1.2km of upgraded towpath between Station Road, Mirfield and Shepley Marina now provides a robust, all-weather surface suitable for both walkers and wheelers. Alongside the surface upgrade, historic features of the canal - such as cobbled areas and canal banks - have been restored.
  • A new bench has been installed, and Trust volunteers have enhanced the flower garden to create a more inviting space.
  • A new route from Mirfield Station through the park includes new steps to replace a previously muddy slope, additional paths within the park and an improved exit onto Parkfield Crescent complete with handrails.
  • Kirklees Council has enhanced the park further by upgrading the play area and extending the pétanque courts.

These enhancements create a safer, more enjoyable walking route for passengers travelling to and from Mirfield station, which is currently being upgraded. Once complete, customers will benefit from a fully accessible footbridge with lifts, longer platforms that can accommodate longer trains and upgraded customer facilities.

  

Councillor Moses Crook, deputy leader of Kirklees Council and cabinet member for Housing and Transport, said: 

“It is great to see this project come to fruition, and for Councillors to get an early taster of how residents can enjoy and benefit from the improvements. 

“Access between the park and canal towpath has been greatly improved, and alongside the revitalised paths this offers residents a safe, green and welcoming route to Mirfield Station. Thanks to the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, it won’t be long until travellers can use this new route to catch faster, greener, and more frequent trains.” 

“We are also celebrating the new play park in Mirfield Memorial Ground, which the council has updated alongside the footpath works as part of the Playable Spaces Programme.”

 

The project was made possible through a partnership between TRU, Kirklees Council and Canal & River Trust – all working together to improve the ways customers walk, wheel, and cycle to and from the railway.

”It’s fantastic to see this investment making a real difference to the local community that live in Mirfield”, said Kim Leadbeater MP, who officially opened the new route at today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “These improvements not only help people make greener travel choices but also enhance the local space and make the area more accessible for everyone”, she added.

The event began at Mirfield Station, followed by a short walk along the upgraded towpath to the memorial garden, where local community group and residents enjoyed refreshments and heard from local partners involved in delivering the project.

 

Sean McGinley, regional director for Canal & River Trust, said: 

“These towpath improvements have made a real difference for the community, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy their local canal.

"As a charity caring for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, we’re incredibly grateful to work in partnership on projects like this to improve our waterside routes and protect our 200-year-old canal network.”   

 

Rachel Blake, sponsor for TRU, said: 

“This is a brilliant example of how we’re working in partnership to deliver more than just a railway upgrade. By supporting local authorities and community partners, TRU is helping to create lasting benefits for people living near the route.”

Notes to Editors

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a multi-billion-pound railway programme that will transform journeys across the North, better connecting towns and cities like Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

TRU fast facts

  • TRU is a £10.7bn railway upgrade programme
  • Once complete, TRU aims to halve the time lost to delays
  • There are currently 70 worksites across the 70-mile route
  • TRU will deliver:
    • o The full electrification of the line
    • o Double the amount of tracks in key locations, allowing fast trains to overtake stopping services
    • o Implement digital signalling to increase speed and capacity
    • o Improve all 23 stations on the route, supporting accessibility
  • TRU has over 5000 staff, with 85% coming from within 40 miles of the route – TRU will have created over 8000 jobs across the duration of the programme
  • TRU is expanding freight provision, opening 15 extra freight paths and widening tunnels so shipping containers can travel between ports on the east and west coasts via rail, removing over 1000 lorries a day from the busy roads across the Pennines

Key milestones to date

  • Electric train services now running between Manchester and Stalybridge
  • Church Fenton to York has been energised, with electric services expected this year
  • New station built at Morley
  • Introduction of a fully accessible platform 2 at Castleford station to support diverted services between York and Manchester
  • £100m upgrade of diversionary routes completed ahead of major works across the Transpennine Route, increasing railway resilience
  • Upgrade of Hope Valley line complete, with a second platform built at Dore & Totley, as well as 1km of additional track at Bamford to reduce bottlenecks

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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