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Wednesday 29 Apr 2026

Major Transpennine Route Upgrade works set to transform journeys between Huddersfield and Leeds

Region & Route:

Eastern

With less than one week until major improvement work begins, customers are being reminded to plan ahead with changes to services between Huddersfield and Leeds.

From Saturday 2 May to Monday 25 May, 56 engineering trains will be deployed along this stretch of railway as team TRU renew 6.2km of track and lay more than 21,000 tonnes of ballast. 51 new foundation bases will also be installed to support overhead line equipment (OLE) in the future, helping pave the way for electrified services and delivering smoother, more reliable journeys across the 70-mile Transpennine route.

To keep customers moving, Brighouse station will act as a key rail and bus interchange. Diversionary routes, which TRU has invested £100m in, will also be utilised. Rail services will run as close as possible to the work areas, with replacement buses operating where required.

A further phase of upgrades will take place from Saturday 30 May to Saturday 27 June, focusing on Batley and Dewsbury. Once complete, and following the commissioning of new lifts, Batley station will reopen with step-free access for the first time, alongside improved facilities and extended 150-metre platforms. Dewsbury station will also be upgraded with platforms extended to 200 metres, enabling longer trains with more seats to serve the station in the future.

This phase will see 66 engineering trains in operation to deliver over 5km of track renewals, including the installation of more than 27,000 tonnes of ballast and 67 OLE masts. Around 800 metres of drainage work will also be completed.

Work will continue at Huddersfield station on weekends throughout this period, including platform remodelling, subway excavations, and the construction of a new staircase and footbridge. The refurbishment of the station’s historic ‘Euston style’ roof will also continue as part of its wider transformation, which is due for completion in early 2027.

During weekdays, customers travelling between Huddersfield and Leeds will be diverted via Wakefield. At weekends, trains will run as close as possible to the stations, with replacement buses in operation between Huddersfield and Leeds.

Customers are advised to check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator, as journey times will change and replacement buses may be required for part or all of their journey.

 

 Sophie Leishman, TRU sponsor, said:

“Over recent months we’ve made strong progress between Huddersfield and Leeds, and with this next phase about to begin, we’re preparing to take another major step forward on a key section of the route.

“Our teams will be working day and night over the coming weeks, and I’d like to thank both customers and the local community for their continued support as we deliver these transformative improvements to the railway.”

Andrew Allwright, TRU Programme Delivery Lead for Northern, said:

“The Transpennine Route Upgrade continues to make lots of progress between Huddersfield and Leeds, delivering a once in a generation upgrade for our customers. We've already seen key milestones delivered such as a brand-new station at Morley and a remodelled, fully accessible, station at Mirfield.

“Throughout May and June, more work will take place between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds, which will mean changes to services. We’ve worked collaboratively with colleagues at TransPennine Express to plan for these works and limit disruption for customers. We advise everyone planning to travel in May and June to check beforehand at nationalrail.co.uk, as amended timetables will be in operation, including rail replacement buses for some routes.”