On Wednesday 30 July, TRU welcomed Mike Reader MP to multiple sites across the route to see firsthand the transformation being delivered by the multi-billion-pound railway programme. An MP for Northampton South, Mike Reader also currently serves as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure.
His keen interest in how the programme is driving economic growth, developing technical skills across a local workforce and improving connectivity across the North was met with detailed briefings and tours of key locations within the TRU footprint, following a recent visit from the Transport Select Committee.
The first stop was Ravensthorpe, home to one of the biggest civil-engineering sites in the country. The station is undergoing major redevelopment and will be relocated 200m away from its current position to facilitate a range of upgrades. The station’s move to a step-free island platform will allow longer trains with more seats to stop in Ravensthorpe, whilst the construction of a new viaduct and fly-over will enable faster trains to overtake slower ones.
A visit to Huddersfield followed, with the station in the midst of generational change. Mike Reader was able to see the scale of work being undertaken on the Grade I listed building, which will see TRU deliver upgrades that bring the station up to modern standards whilst preserving its unique heritage. The work at Huddersfield forms a pivotal part of the wider upgrades across the entire route, and the 30-day closure of the station from 30 August will facilitate essential work that unlocks better rail travel through the town and beyond in the future.
Next up was the Kirklees Skills Hub, a state-of-the-art training facility at Kirklees College’s Engineering Centre, where the growing demand for plant operators is being supported by equipping learners with practical, industry-relevant skills. The facility has a mobile training unit, where Mr Reader was able to try out the virtual reality plant simulators – this is adjacent to a live construction site equipped with real plant machinery, offering learners the chance to gain hands-on experience in a safe and controlled environment.
James Richardson, TRU managing director, said:
“We’re delighted to have welcomed Mike Reader MP to TRU this week. The three locations he visited offer an ideal representation of what the programme is working towards. We were able to showcase the volume and complexity of the engineering projects being undertaken, the innovation involved and the level of teamwork made possible through our Enterprise model.
“TRU will enhance rail infrastructure and improve connectivity between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York – a key factor in the growth of the region, boosting local economies and unlocking the potential of the North.”
Mike Reader MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, said:
“I’m really glad to have seen up-close the progress being made on the Transpennine Route Upgrade. I caught up with James Richardson at UKREiiF earlier in the year and was particularly keen to see how the programme is driving economic growth.
“I firmly believe that good infrastructure is key to unlocking better opportunities for the people it serves, and TRU is perhaps one of the country’s best examples of this. Better connecting the towns and cities across the North will greatly improve the potential of the region, and I’m also impressed with how the programme is tackling such a challenge with climate change at the forefront of plans, through the full electrification of the route.
“Thank you to the TRU team for having me, I’ll be following the progress being made on this transformative programme keenly.”
Image credit: Network Rail
