TRU welcome Kirklees Council to Huddersfield station as programme reaches halfway mark in latest series of improvement works
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams have made strong progress with works in the Huddersfield area while the railway has been closed, with work continuing until Sunday 4 October. The new leadership of Kirklees Council were invited to see the work at Huddersfield station first-hand and discuss the benefits TRU is bringing to rail users and local communities.
Their visit provided an opportunity to highlight the transformational impact TRU is having on regeneration in Huddersfield. A recent Network Rail-commissioned study found that planning applications within 1.5 miles of Huddersfield station have increased by nearly 33% since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020, with the programme estimated to generate £1.9 billion in GVA, create nearly 5,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and support the delivery of almost 1,200 new homes.
This impact is being unlocked through a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the station and the wider TRU footprint.
TRU teams are halfway through a 16-day closure, and during the first week improvement works included:
- Track and drainage renewals – this will 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
Before the railway line reopens on Monday 5 October, works continue on:
- Installation of two new lines of track – this will 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.”
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.”