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Thursday 4 Aug 2016

Rail passengers urged to check before they travel ahead of Barnsley track renewal

Region & Route:

Passengers traveling to and from Barnsley are being advised to check before they travel as Network Rail plans to replace the track at a busy level crossing in the town centre.

The railway running through Barnsley station and over Jumble Lane level crossing is to be replaced as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan to provide more reliable journeys for passengers.

It will mean that Jumble Lane will be closed from Friday 19 August to Monday 22 August and the railway will be closed on the Saturday and Sunday (20 and 21 August). Diversions will be in place for road users and pedestrians, with changes alterations to train journeys too.

Passengers looking to travel should check their journey in advance at northernrailway.co.uk, with the following arrangements in place:

• Huddersfield-Sheffield services will run between Huddersfield and Penistone with a connecting bus service between Penistone and Sheffield.
• Leeds-Sheffield services via Barnsley will run between Leeds and Wakefield Kirkgate with a connecting bus service between Wakefield Kirkgate and Sheffield.
• Leeds-Nottingham services will run as booked to Wakefield Kirkgate then divert via Wakefield Westgate and Moorthorpe with a connecting bus service between Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall and Sheffield.

Neil Henry, area director for Network Rail, said: “The track renewal at Barnsley is a great example of Network Rail doing what we do best, making sure that the railway which people rely on to get to work, to see family and friends and to visit new places is safe, reliable, well-maintained and efficient.

“The work is all part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and has been planned for many months to try and keep disruption to an absolute minimum, though we do urge passengers and members of the public to check their journey plans ahead of the weekend and to allow extra time for journeys.”

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director for Northern, said: “By working together with Network Rail, we are investing in local improvements which provide network wide benefits for our customers. This helps contribute to a real improvement in performance and reliability on this line of route. Our advice is to check before travelling and allow additional time where possible.”

The level crossing near Barnsley station sees over 130 trains a day pass through, with over 5,000 pedestrians and almost 1,500 vehicles using it.

Notes

• The pedestrian diversion route goes through Barnsley bus station and over the footbridge to the railway station. The route will be clearly signposted.