Major upgrade works between Morley and Dewsbury have moved the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme a significant step closer to delivering faster, greener, and more reliable rail services across the North.
The latest phase of works, delivered between Saturday 30 May and Saturday 27 June, has seen intensive engineering activity across West Yorkshire to modernise critical infrastructure and prepare the corridor for electrification.
Significant infrastructure improvements delivered
During the four-week blockade, project teams completed a wide-ranging package of upgrades designed to improve both performance and passenger experience, including:
- More than 5km of track renewals and over eight hundred metres of drainage, boosting long-term reliability
- Installation of sixty-six overhead line equipment (OLE) masts and 43 foundations, supporting future electrification
- Batley station enhancements, with extended platforms and improved customer facilities
- Dewsbury station upgrades, including a strengthened footbridge, extended canopies, and new platform foundations
- Reconstruction of Jack Lane bridge, enabling faster, longer, and heavier trains
The scale of the work marks another tangible advance for TRU, one of the UK rail industry’s most significant programmes, which will ultimately transform connectivity between major northern cities.
Stations nearing completion
Batley and Dewsbury stations are now entering the final stages of transformation, with both sites set to offer improved accessibility and capacity.
Passengers can expect longer platforms capable of accommodating higher-capacity trains, alongside upgraded facilities designed to support increasing demand across the Pennine corridor.
Jonathan Hepton, Project Sponsor for TRU, said:
“We’re delighted to have completed this latest series of work safely and on time, thanks to the hard work of our teams and the support of our customers and our communities. TRU has made great strides in delivering a more reliable, electrified railway across the Pennines so far this year, with significant station upgrades delivered, too.
"By the end of summer, we look forward to unveiling a transformed Batley station with a brand-new footbridge, lifts, and platforms, which will greatly improve step-free access around the station. At Dewsbury, we will be introducing better waiting facilities and extended platforms.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our teams who worked around the clock and throughout the recent very hot weather.”
Focus shifts to Huddersfield works
With Morley–Dewsbury works now complete, attention turns to Huddersfield station, where a series of weekend possessions will take place throughout July and early August, ahead of a longer blockade scheduled for September.
Weekend works will take place on:
- 4–5 July
- 11–12 July
- 18–19 July
- 25–26 July
- 1–2 August
During these periods, passengers will be supported via diversionary routes and rail replacement services, while weekday services remain unaffected.
Planned works at Huddersfield include:
- Installation of sections of the new station roof
- Surfacing of new platform extensions at the Leeds end
- Installation and testing of new lifts
- Extension of the footbridge and existing subway
Driving a greener, more resilient railway
The latest milestone reinforces TRU’s strategic importance in supporting regional economic growth and decarbonisation. Electrification infrastructure continues to expand, paving the way for lower-emission train operations and improved service frequency across the North.
For passenger and freight operators alike, the programme is expected to unlock greater capacity, reduced journey times and enhanced resilience on a corridor that is vital to the UK economy.
Image credit: Network Rail
