Network Rail submits Transpennine Upgrade plans
MAJOR WORK on a line in West Yorkshire is set to bring the upgrade of the railway a step closer in the region after Network Rail submitted plans on April 1 to transform the line between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) after public and stakeholder consultations. Nine events took place in autumn 2019 where people could view the plans, ask questions and share their feedback. As the improvements on the stretch of the line include building new sections of railway outside of the existing network, Network Rail was required to submit a Transport and Works Act order to the Secretary of State for Transport.
The planned upgrades include: • Doubling the number of tracks from two to four to increase capacity.
• Major station upgrades at Huddersfield, Deighton, and Mirfield and a relocated station at Ravensthorpe.
• Electrifying the lines.
• Building a bridge in Ravensthorpe to separate the lines that run to/ from Wakefield with those to/from Leeds to help reduce congestion.
The work forms part of the wider Transpennine Upgrade, which is designed to transform journeys between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds. The COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the first national lockdown meant the planned face-to-face events due to take place in the spring of 2020 were cancelled, but people had the chance to view the plans online and send further feedback. Another round of information events were held in October 2020 with strict social distancing measures in place. A decision is expected to be made by early 2023.
Neil Holm, Transpennine Upgrade Director for Network Rail, said: “We know improvements are needed on this section of the line between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) and submitting the Transport and Works Act order is a major milestone in the project to upgrade the route and better connect the North.”
Meanwhile, to the west, piling work was due to start on April 24 at Collyhurst and Miles Platting to prepare the route between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge for electrification and resignalling. A 16-day blockade east of Victoria is also scheduled for between 31 July and 15 August.