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Tuesday 20 May 2025

Tonnes and tonnes of progress at Ravensthorpe triangle

Region & Route:

Eastern

This weekend (May 17-18), engineers installed 20 pre-cast concrete beams weighing a total of 660 tonnes, as they worked to build a new bridge in Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Due to become operational in 2026, the structure will allow two additional railway lines to be installed through the new station and wider area, enabling faster trains to overtake slower ones which will reduce journey times and boost services.

TRU will build an entirely new station in Ravensthorpe, 200m away from its current position, which will have step-free access and a footbridge with lifts, a new forecourt area and new drop-off facilities. The construction of a new, longer island platform will accommodate longer trains with more seats for passengers.

The work is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a multi-billion-pound railway programme that will transform journeys across the North and the site of these works, known as Ravensthorpe triangle, is one of the biggest civil-engineering sites in the country.

The TRU delivery team comprises of a number of contractor companies, including BAM Nuttall, who played a key role in this weekend’s work.

 

Chris Usher, Major Civils Integrated Delivery Team Director for TRU West Alliance, said:

“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by everyone involved in the successful delivery of this weekend’s works.

“These achievements reflect the team’s ability to deliver complex works safely, and to a high standard. I’m grateful to all those whose passion and commitment are helping turn the TRU vision into a reality for communities across the North.”

 

Andrew Campbell, Sponsor for TRU, said:                                                     

“We’d like to thank the local community for their understanding as we took another step in delivering upgrades throughout the area this weekend, and our colleagues at Northern and TransPennine Express for their role in minimising disruption.

“The work we completed in such a pivotal location for the programme means we move closer to improved rail travel through West Yorkshire and beyond."

 

To minimise disruption over the weekend train operators Northern and TransPennine Express worked together to free up capacity on the Calder Valley diversionary route and help keep customers on the move.

 

Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:

“I’m really pleased with the progress that’s being made at Ravensthorpe; last weekend’s work was vital for the delivery of the benefits TRU will bring to the North.

“To accommodate this work, services on our North Route ran to an amended timetable, with a rail replacement bus operation in place to ensure our customers could travel between Huddersfield and Dewsbury, Leeds and Wakefield.

“We also worked together with Northern, with TPE picking up local services between Manchester Victoria and Huddersfield via the Calder Valley, enabling Northern to strengthen services between Leeds and Manchester Victoria via Halifax.

“The delivery of this showed our dedication to go the extra mile for our customers and I want to thank everyone involved for making it happen.”

 

Elsewhere, TRU engineers safely demolished a Heaton Lodge footbridge and work continued on the major upgrade of Mirfield station, due for completion by the end of the year.