Over the weekend of May 17–18, a significant step forward was made in the construction of a new railway bridge in Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire. As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), engineers successfully installed 20 pre-cast concrete beams, collectively weighing 660 tonnes.
This new bridge is a key component of the TRU programme and is set to become operational in 2026. Once complete, it will support the installation of two additional railway lines through the new Ravensthorpe station and surrounding area. These upgrades will allow faster trains to overtake slower ones, helping to reduce journey times and improve overall service reliability.
The project includes the construction of an entirely new station, located 200 metres from the current site. The new station will feature step-free access, a footbridge with lifts, a redesigned forecourt, and improved drop-off facilities. A longer island platform will also be built to accommodate longer trains, offering more seating and a better experience for passengers.
This work is part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, a transformative rail investment aimed at enhancing connectivity across the North of England. The Ravensthorpe triangle, where this work is taking place, is one of the largest civil engineering sites in the country.
The weekend’s successful beam installation was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the TRU delivery team, including key contractor BAM Nuttall, who played a central role in the operation.
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.
Image credit: Network Rail
