Tuesday 4 Feb 2025
Upgrade work to commence on Mirfield canal towpath
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
As part of TRU’s First and Last Mile scheme, funding has been granted to waterways charity Canal & River Trust to complete the upgrade of the canal towpath between Shepley Bridge Marina and Station Road in Mirfield, with work starting next week (Monday 10 February).
The First and Last Mile programme aims to improve journeys to and from the stations along the TRU route, with plans for Mirfield now coming into fruition. The canal towpath from Shepley Bridge Marina to Station Road will be revamped to enhance pedestrian use.
Such an upgrade will transform what has become a muddy, difficult route into an all-weather surface that will provide better connectivity between the surrounding areas and support accessibility.
Rachael Blake, Sponsor for TRU, said:
“Our First and Last Mile scheme is progressing well through multiple projects across the route, with the first of these projects to be completed in Spring this year.
“The developments to Mirfield canal towpath that have been made possible by the scheme means better access for all, and Canal & River Trust’s work will greatly improve connectivity in the area.”
Mark Robinson, Enterprise Manager at Canal & River Trust, said:
“Our charity is delighted to receive funding through TRU’s First and Last Mile scheme for such an important project, where we’ll enhance the towpath at Mirfield along the Calder & Hebble Navigation and significantly improve the pedestrian journey between Shepley Bridge Marina and Station Road.
“As a charity, it’s vital for us to collaborate with other organisations to preserve our historic canals. Improvement works begin on Monday 10 February and the team is aiming to keep the towpath open along the stretch where the work is taking place, though there may be a closure when the tarmac is laid.
“We will keep the people of Mirfield up to date with signage throughout the works. To check for updates and stay informed, please visit our website at canalrivertrust.org.uk.”
The work being carried out along this section of the canal forms part of TRU’s wider plans for Mirfield, which include a major upgrade of Mirfield station. Platforms 1 and 2 will be rebuilt, making them safer and more modernised whilst increased platform lengths will be able to handle longer trains with more passengers, and improve the station experience.
Platform 3 will remain in service until 2027, when it will be removed to facilitate the construction of separated fast lines between Huddersfield and Dewsbury which will increase capacity further.
Work is already underway on a new station entrance, whilst a new permanent footbridge with lifts will also be constructed to connect the new island platforms, making the station fully accessible from both the car park and from Station Road.
Notes to Editors
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 will be 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’ll employ 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 70-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.
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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