No trains this weekend
BUS REPLACEMENT SERVICE INSTEAD
RAIL passengers travelling from Huddersfield and Dewsbury stations this weekend will need to check times as NO trains will travel in, out or through them this weekend.
This is because of the latest work to upgrade signalling in the towns as part of the Great North Rail Project.
It means the Ale Trail route will be deserted up the Colne Valley.
Workers from Network Rail will carry out the next stage of the project which will see old signalling technology ‘recontrolled’ from local lineside signal boxes to the state-of-theart Rail Operating Centre in York.
The company says that once completed, passengers will see a more reliable and modern railway which will improve journeys across the north.
The work at Huddersfield and Dewsbury is part of a wider upgrade to the signalling in West Yorkshire, with further work to take place on the Calder Valley line later this year.
Due to the nature of the work, no trains are able to run in, out or through Huddersfield and Dewsbury stations.
Bus replacement services will be in operation to keep passengers travelling between Leeds, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Halifax, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Stalybridge and Bradford on the move.
The work will mean changes to TransPennine Express services from Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Hull, Manchester, Sheffield, Doncaster and Cleethorpes and customers are urged to check before they travel.
Rob McIntosh, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “There’s never an ideal time to work on the railway. I’d like to remind passengers to check before they travel and thank them for their patience while this work takes place.
“This investment will allow us to provide a more modern network fit to meet the needs of the economies and communities our railway serves, as well as providing a stepping stone towards future improvement projects, such as the TransPennine Route Upgrade.”
Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express said: “On January 20 and 21 we will be unable to operate any trains between Manchester and Leeds. Customers will be able to travel using Northern services on the Manchester Victoria to Leeds route via the Calder Valley and replacement buses will also be in operation.
“The essential work will also mean changes to our services from Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Hull, Manchester, Sheffield, Doncaster and Cleethorpes.
“No trains will be operating to or from Huddersfield or Dewsbury railway stations but the local team will still be on hand to provide help and support to customers.
“Customers are urged to allow extra time and check before they travel at: tpexpress.co.uk/changes or at nationalrail.co.uk.”