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Notes to Editors

TRU is transforming journeys across the North, better connecting towns and cities through more frequent, faster trains, running on a cleaner, greener 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
• 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.

We’re also developing a proposal to move more goods by rail (up to 15 more freight trains each day.)

• Together, these freight trains are expected to remove over 1,000 lorries off the road each day.

TRU will bring local communities:

• Jobs for local people. Our workforce is local, with 80% employment from within a 40-mile radius of the route, and 60% employment from within a 25-mile radius. With a current workforce of around 2000 people, we estimate that could double over the course of the programme. We’re employing an apprentice for every £4million spent.
• Improved natural environments near the railway through 10% biodiversity net gain across the route. This will create or enhance habitats for wildlife.

The multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) will bring this line into the 21st century with 76-miles of fully electric, digital railway.

Our plans include:

• Electrifying the whole route between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds
• Installing a new digital signalling system along the Transpennine route
• Doubling the number of tracks from two to four between Huddersfield and Westtown in Dewsbury.
• Station improvements along the route to enhance customer experience, comfort and accessibility
• Improving the railway on diversionary routes to allow more trains to run, to help keep passengers and freight moving while the core Transpennine route is closed to deliver essential upgrades. This will provide capacity and reliability improvements for future too.