Leeds rail passengers warned of 'significant' disruption this week as TPU upgrade work begins
Warning as Transpennine Route Upgrade works begin
Rail passengers are being urged to plan ahead with changes to services between Huddersfield and Leeds this month.
From Saturday, May 2 to Monday, May 25, engineering will take place along the key stretch of railway.
Trains will run as close as possible to the work areas, with replacement buses operating where required. Here’s everything you need to know...
What work is taking place?
56 engineering trains will be deployed between Huddersfield and Leeds as team TRU renew 6.2km of track and lay more than 21,000 tonnes of ballast.
51 new foundation bases will also be installed to support overhead line equipment (OLE) in the future, helping pave the way for electrified services and delivering smoother, more reliable journeys across the 70-mile Transpennine route.
What bus replacements will be operating?
To keep customers moving, Brighouse station will act as a key rail and bus interchange. Diversionary routes, which TRU has invested £100m in, will also be utilised. Brighouse station car park will also be closed from Wednesday, April 29 until Tuesday, May 26 (inclusive) to facilitate the bus replacement services.
During weekdays, customers travelling between Huddersfield and Leeds will be diverted via Wakefield. At weekends, trains will run as close as possible to the stations, with replacement buses in operation between Huddersfield and Leeds.
What further works are taking place?
A further phase of upgrades will take place from Saturday, May 30 to Saturday, June 27, focusing on Batley and Dewsbury. Once complete, and following the commissioning of new lifts, Batley station will reopen with step-free access for the first time, alongside improved facilities and extended 150-metre platforms.
Dewsbury station will be upgraded with platforms extended to 200 metres, enabling longer trains with more seats to serve the station in the future. Work will also continue at Huddersfield station on weekends, including platform remodelling, subway excavations, and the construction of a new staircase and footbridge.
Full diversion dates and details
On the following dates, no trains will call at Huddersfield and Slaithwaite stations, with amended timetables in place and TransPennine Express services diverted via Brighouse:
- Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May
- Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May
- Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May
- Saturday 23 May
- Monday 25 May
On the following dates, there will be no trains departing Huddersfield towards Dewsbury, Leeds and Wakefield:
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 May
- Monday 11 to Friday 15 May
- Monday 18 to Friday 22 May
- Sunday 24 May
- Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May
- Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June
- Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June
- Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June
On the following dates, there will be no trains through Dewsbury. Amended timetables will be in place and services will be diverted between Huddersfield and Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate: