Passengers travelling across West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester are being urged to plan ahead this autumn as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) enters another critical phase, bringing significant improvements to Huddersfield station and the wider railway network.
From Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, engineers will work around the clock to deliver a substantial programme of upgrades designed to improve reliability, boost capacity and prepare the route for faster, more frequent services in the years ahead.
The work marks another major milestone in the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, which is transforming rail connections between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
Major Progress at Huddersfield Station
At Huddersfield station, construction teams will extend the station subway towards platforms 4, 5 and 6 as part of a wider remodelling project. The platforms are being upgraded to accommodate longer trains, providing additional seating capacity for passengers.
Meanwhile, restoration work will continue on the station's historic Euston-style roof, a key feature of the wider redevelopment scheme.
Further along the route, work will continue on the reconstruction of Deighton station, including the installation of a new footbridge. Once completed, the station will feature lifts and provide full step-free access for customers.
Route-Wide Improvements
Across the Transpennine corridor, engineers will carry out a range of infrastructure enhancements, including:
- Track and drainage renewals to improve reliability
- Installation of additional track to increase railway capacity
- New overhead line equipment to enable future electric train operation
The investment forms part of the long-term strategy to create a faster, greener and more dependable railway across the North of England.
Station Closures and Service Changes
To enable the works to be delivered safely, Huddersfield and Slaithwaite stations will be closed from Saturday 19 September until Sunday 4 October, reopening on Monday 5 October.
Services between Stalybridge and Mirfield will also be affected, with Mossley, Greenfield and Marsden stations closed on the weekends of 19-20 September and 3-4 October.
Passengers will still be able to travel throughout most of the route, with trains operating via diversionary routes that have benefited from more than £100 million of investment. Where rail services cannot operate, replacement bus services will be provided.
Brighouse station will act as the primary rail and bus interchange during the engineering programme.
Customers are being encouraged to check journey details before travelling, as amended timetables and extended journey times are expected throughout the works.
Industry Leaders Highlight Importance of Investment
Sophie Leishman, TRU sponsor, said:
"This is another significant stage in the transformation of Huddersfield station and the wider railway."
"While we know there will be some disruption while this work takes place, these upgrades are essential to delivering the more reliable, accessible and higher-capacity railway that customers deserve.
"We're making real progress across the route, from the redevelopment of Huddersfield station to improvements that will support longer trains, better performance and future electrification. I'd like to thank customers and our local communities for their patience and understanding while we carry out these important upgrades."
Liam O'Shaughnessy, Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme Delivery Lead at Northern, said:
"As work continues to deliver once-in-a-generation upgrades to Huddersfield station, we would like to thank our customers for their continued patience. The upgrades taking place between Stalybridge and Mirfield will enable us to take another step closer to delivering our vision of a faster, more reliable, and greener railway for the North of England. During this time, works will also be advancing at Deighton station to provide a brand new, accessible station for our customers in 2027.
There will be disruption to Northern and other operators' services during these works, with services amended and some trains replaced with buses. We strongly advise all customers to check before they travel and use National Rail Enquiries to plan their journeys."
Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:
"This work is only possible because of the close collaboration between the range of rail industry teams involved in the Transpennine Route Upgrade. By working together, we're delivering one of the biggest railway upgrades in the North while continuing to keep customers and communities connected.
"Every organisation involved has a shared goal of creating a railway that's more reliable, more accessible and fit for the future. We'd like to thank everyone affected by these works for their patience as we continue to invest in better journeys across the Pennines."
More Disruption to Come
The autumn programme represents just one phase of the wider redevelopment of Huddersfield station. A further 38-day closure is planned from Christmas Eve 2026, enabling the main phase of station upgrade works to be completed and bringing the region another step closer to a modernised railway fit for future generations.
Image credit: Network Rail
