Essential rail works to disrupt Leeds and West Yorkshire services over two July weekends
Essential rail improvement works will disrupt services across West Yorkshire over two weekends in July
Essential railway improvement works will affect services across West Yorkshire over two weekends in July.
Engineering works taking place on the weekends of July 18-19 and July 25-26 will result in some rail services being cancelled or replaced by buses.
The programme of work includes track renewals, tunnel repairs and ground engineering.
Karen Duffy, Network Rail’s operations director, said the improvements would help keep the railway safe and reliable for passengers.
She said: “We’re sorry to anyone whose journey is affected and grateful to passengers and residents for their patience while we complete these upgrades, which will help deliver smoother and more dependable journeys in the future.”
Passengers are being advised that rail replacement buses will operate on some routes because of work in Menston and surrounding areas.
Around 2km of track will be renewed, with new rails and sleepers installed. Engineers will also carry out brickwork and stone repairs along 500 metres of Esholt Tunnel to keep the structure in good condition.
Vegetation management and embankment stabilisation work will also be undertaken to reduce the risk of ground movement.
On Sundays, July 19 and 26, LNER services that normally start or terminate at Bradford Forster Square will instead begin and end at Leeds. Northern services between Bradford and Shipley or Ilkley will also be replaced by buses.
Passengers should also be aware of the following changes:
- Trains between Leeds and Skipton will additionally call at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge.
- Services between Bradford Forster Square and Skipton will be diverted to start and terminate at Leeds and will not call at Frizinghall.
- Trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square will not run.
- Trains between Leeds or Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley will not run.
A spokesperson for LNER and Northern said: “We’re advising customers to check before they travel during this engineering work and allow extra time for their journeys, as some services will be amended and rail replacement coaches will be in operation on some routes.”