Yorkshire communities which had almost been shunted into the sidings can look forward to several new direct services.
As from Monday – the first weekday when December timetable changes take effect – the second platform at Castleford railway station will come back into use. As a result, TransPennine Express (TPE) will restart services linking York with Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Castleford, Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield. This has been made possible in the wake of the recently completed works, which form party of the TransPennine Route Upgrade.
It is more than half a century since Castleford and York have been linked with a direct daily service, as the last trains ran in 1970. Wakefield will also have its first direct service to Manchester since 2004 and Normanton will benefit from direct connections to both York and Manchester.
There will be four trains a day in each direction on the new service from York to Manchester via Wakefield, with an additional service running once daily in each direction between Manchester and Wakefield via Huddersfield.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director for TransPennine Express, said: “We are honoured to provide the first direct train between Castleford and York in more than 50 years, and we're delighted that this service, introduced in our December timetable change, will boost connectivity across West Yorkshire.”
“This significant milestone has been made possible due to the first fully completed passenger infrastructure works as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade. Not only are we able to connect communities, but this infrastructure enables a key diversionary route for TPE, allowing us to keep customers on the move throughout engineering works and other disruption.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “Introducing these new services builds on the significant investment we have put into Castleford railway station over the last few years, including a new station building and improved facilities for passengers.
“More trains can only be a good thing – boosting connectivity and opportunities for people in our region. But we want to go further, and I will continue to push for more frequent and reliable services so that public transport becomes the first choice for travel in a better-connected West Yorkshire.”
Updated 9/12 as incorrect Wakefield station was mentioned in original article
Castleford station did have toilets for everyone. Some were then replaced by a cafe leaving only disabled toilets for use by disabled passengers with a key and discriminating against the able bodied. The station itself is not open all the time and as someone who used to travel to Leeds in the morning it was locked leaving people out in the rain with no shelter (the station used to have shelters that were removed when the new station was built). It is also locked in the evenings too. It seems network rail giveth and then taketh away. What will they take away next?
It’s ok saying timetables are available online but there are still people that use trains that don’t have access to online services or if they do,they don’t always know how to access the information. Not all people are technophobes.
Only decision ever made in North Yorkshire is not to make one. Same goes for Leeds City Council too.
Doesn’t say anything about timetable though
Ben, there’s plenty of information on TPE’s & Northern’s websites including timetables. You can also use NationalRail.co.uk. All available on smartphones along with the ability to book tickets. Both operators have smart new rolling stock which personally, I find marvellous! Let the train take the strain! 👍
No progress has been made with the electrification of the Harrogate Line, to match Ilkley and Skipton.
At Castleford,4 trains either way (8 in total) is a start, but it’s not like the hourly service that most line’s enjoy. What about the TPE trains that pass through and don’t stop IE Scarborough to Manchester airport and return. What’s the point of spending all that money and not getting a much improved and varied service. Makes no sense.
There isn’t a service that goes from Scarborough to Manchester Airport!
Tpe Scarboro services Kevin are routed via Micklefield and Leeds always have been, only exceptions to this if there is engineers work on main line Leeds. TPE trains get diverted from York to Leeds via Castleford this probably what u are seeing this engineering or when loss of signalling via Garforth sent via Castleford to Leeds.
That will be OK until they start cancelling them due to whatever reasons they can dream up.
York to Selby is disgusting recently numerous cancellations and overcrowded trains.
Money promised to bring Selby up to standard has disappeared.
This is probably because the North Yorks County Council is conservative and the only places anything gets done is in Northallerton and Harrogate.