Team TRU delivers package of festive railway upgrades

Across the Christmas and New Year period, Team TRU worked around the clock to complete major improvements that will help deliver faster, greener and more frequent services with more seats across the Pennines.

During this time, engineers made significant progress at key locations including Mirfield, Deighton and Huddersfield, while a closure of the line between Leeds and York enabled the installation and testing of new signalling and track upgrades, to support a more efficient railway in the future.

Teams realigned tracks through Mirfield station, installed new signalling equipment, constructed longer platforms and upgraded customer facilities such as lighting, information boards and CCTV. All of this will improve the experience for passengers travelling through the area and support faster, more frequent and more reliable services in the future. Later this month, the new lifts will also be commissioned, providing customers with step-free access for the first time.

At Huddersfield, restoration of the station’s historic roof canopy continued alongside viaduct strengthening works.

In Deighton, the demolition of Whitacre Street overbridge began – a key milestone that will support the construction of two extra lines, allowing faster services to overtake stopping ones, helping to reduce delays.

Further east, a major programme of signalling renewals, station upgrades and track remodelling got underway during a planned closure of the line between Leeds and York, where work continues until Sunday 25 January. These upgrades will allow services to travel through the area faster, while also increasing reliability.

James Richardson, Managing Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said:

Over Christmas and New Year, we have successfully delivered an immense amount of work to plan between Yorks, Leeds and Manchester. I’d like to thank not only the TRU team, but also the customers and neighbours affected by the works.

“We are committed to delivering this incredible programme, supporting our passengers and communities, and making a real difference to the North of England.

“In 2026 we’ll build on this success with more electrification and more station improvements, while continuing to support passengers with their journeys, as we deliver stronger rail connections for a stronger North.”

These works form part of TRU’s wider plans to transform journeys between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, including delivering the full electrification of the line, modern signalling, more trains, more seats and faster journeys.

2026 will see more significant project achievements delivered, with a number of key milestones on target throughout the year.