Major progress update as Huddersfield railway station gears up to re-open
The work comes as part of the multi-billion pound Transpennine Route Upgrade
A major progress update has been given as the closure of Huddersfield Railway Station enters its final week.
The work comes as part of the multi-billion pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) which aims to better connect towns and cities like Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
The 16-day closure at Huddersfield station kicked off on September 19 and it will reopen on Monday, October 5. During the first week improvement works included:
Track and drainage renewals – aiming to increase the reliability of services passing through the area
Huddersfield station upgrade – restoration of the historic roof canopy, and an extension to the subway for improved accessibility
Deighton station upgrade – platform extension work
And before the railway line reopens on Monday, works will continue on:
Installation of two new lines of track – to increase capacity and reduce journey times by allowing direct services to overtake stopping services in the future
Huddersfield station upgrade – platform extension and track layout work to facilitate more frequent trains with more seats for customers
Deighton station upgrade – installation of a new footbridge with lifts for step-free access at the station
Overhead line equipment installation – this will power greener, electrified trains in the future
James Richardson, TRU managing director, said: “Huddersfield is one of the most significant sites across the TRU footprint. Our work at Huddersfield station and on the wider railway will deliver a once-in-a-generation transformation, that will not only improve connectivity but help drive economic growth and wider investment in the town.
“People can clearly see the progress we’ve made since work started on site in 2023 and the scale of work being undertaken during this ongoing closure, which will pave the way for real benefits for passengers by early 2027.”
The new leadership of Kirklees Council were invited to see the work at Huddersfield station first-hand.
Members heard that recent Network Rail-commissioned study found that planning applications within 1.5 miles of Huddersfield station have increased by nearly 33 per cent since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020, with the programme estimated to generate £1.9 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), create nearly 5,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and support the delivery of almost 1,200 new homes.
Councillor John Hardie, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Highways, said: “Rail travel across Kirklees is changing, and it was fantastic to see first-hand the significant work taking place to transform Huddersfield Railway Station into a station for the future.
“This generational investment in our rail infrastructure will strengthen the connections to towns and cities across the north of England, unlocking new opportunities for education, employment, and training for the people of Kirklees.
“The Transpennine Route Upgrade is creating a railway network fit for Kirklees that supports our position as a vibrant, well-connected place to live and work.”