Last weekend marked a major step forward for rail travel in the North, as the first electric passenger train officially ran between York (Colton Junction) and Church Fenton.
This achievement means that 25% of the 70-mile Transpennine main line is now electrified, laying the foundations for a faster, greener and more reliable railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York once complete.
It’s a significant milestone in the delivery of an electrified railway between Leeds and York, a phase completed on budget and ahead of schedule in several key areas.
To celebrate this progress, Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, visited the route and travelled on a TransPennine Express bi-mode train between Leeds and York, which will make use of the electrified line from Church Fenton to York. This marks five years of planning, construction and innovation from everyone working on TRU.
James Richardson, Managing Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade said:
“Electric trains running between York and Church Fenton is a significant step forward in the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.”
“We have reached a key milestone as 25% of the route is now electrified, enabling greener, faster, and more reliable journeys between York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester in the future. The improvements are already bringing economic and social benefits along the route and wider communities across the North.
“It was fantastic to celebrate this with the TRU team today, who have brought together all parts of the rail industry to deliver this success. We remain committed to delivering this transformative programme on time and on budget.”
The completion of this work follows another major milestone last year, when electric passenger services started to run between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.
By summer 2027, 40% of the Transpennine route will be electrified, progressing towards full-route electrification by early 2030. Once complete, the programme is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year and enable more rail freight, removing over 1,000 lorries from the road daily.
Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:
“This terrific achievement by the TRU programme shows what an exciting time it is for the railway in the North of England. This milestone will allow our bi-mode Nova 1 (class 802) trains to utilise the electric wires between Church Fenton and York, delivering greener journeys to our customers and giving them a further glimpse of the future, as TRU continues to transform the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
“A lot of work has gone into the delivery of this moment that will deliver benefits for TransPennine Express customers, and I want to thank everyone involved for getting it over the line.”
Rob Warnes, Strategic Development Director for Northern, said: "This is a significant step forward for rail travel in the North. The electrification of the route, including the key stretch where Northern's trains are now running on electric power between Manchester and Stalybridge, brings us closer to delivering even faster, greener, and more reliable journeys for our customers."
Beyond environmental benefits, the Transpennine Route Upgrade will:
- Reduce journey times making it quicker to travel between key towns and cities
- Increase capacity by more than a third, enabling more frequent, faster trains.
- Create lasting social and economic value, with over 5,000 jobs already supported and a peak workforce forecast of 8,000.
- Ensure stations are fit for everyone, with increased accessibility and improved customer facilities.
- Deliver regeneration across the North, including support for 4,000 new homes through the new station at Ravensthorpe.
This progress is made possible through collaborative industry effort, coordinated delivery, and a whole-route approach that ensures services continue running while the upgrades are delivered.
Image credits: Network Rail
