Network Rail has announced that plans have been submitted to upgrade the railway line between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) in West Yorkshire.
13km of railway line needs work completing, including a new section of the railway line, and due to this, a ‘Transport and Works Order Act to the Secretary of State for Transport' was required for Network Rail to be able to do the work.
The planned upgrades between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) include:
- Running lines will double from two to four
- Major upgrades at Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield as well as a relocated station for Ravensthorpe
- Lines will be electrified
- Construction of a bridge in Ravensthorpe to separate the lines running to and from Wakefield and the lines to Leeds to help minimise congestion.
In Autumn 2019, nine stakeholder consultations took place so people could ask questions and look at the plans by Network Rail.
Due to the pandemic, the face-to-face events that were meant to take place in Spring 2020 were cancelled, but Network Rail put the plans online so people could see and send back feedback.
In October 2020 a further round of information events were held, with strict social distancing measures, and the public were invited to view the plans.
Neil Holm, Transpennine Route 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 Order Act is a major milestone in the project to upgrade the route and better connect the North.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges to our extensive public and stakeholder consultation, but we continued to hold our events virtually and made the plans available online. We want to thank everyone who has provided feedback, which has been vital in shaping the plans.
“If approved, the project will bring a more reliable railway with more trains, more seats, faster journeys and more choice for passengers.”
The application has been submitted and a decision is expected to be made by 2023. If approved, work can start later the same year.
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Be good to see that section upgraded to 4 tracks. And to reduce train delays.
Two years to get a decision from DfT. Who could just also say nyet. If it was a road none of this would be happening just bulldozed through.