Following its announcement last month, Network Rail has confirmed that it will carry out work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) between Leeds and York over the Christmas period and for the whole of January.
To enable this work to take place, TRU workers will close eight level crossings. In most cases, safer alternative ways of crossing the railway will be provided.
The work includes upgrades to signalling and telecommunications, including the installation of seventy new signals and the infrastructure and equipment that support them. Once installed, the signals will be tested and then commissioned for use.
Workers will also remodel tracks throughout the Church Fenton area, including laying a new passing loop, which will enable direct services to overtake stopping services and thus reduce journey times. Platforms 3 and 4 at Church Fenton station will be re-aligned.
TRU completed its work on the section from York to Church Fenton this summer.
Workers will renew 3km of track and eight switches and crossings, and will continue the installation of overhead line equipment (OLE).
The work will take place for a total of 32 days, beginning on Christmas Day and ending on Sunday 25 January. Workers will use a total of 45 engineering trains, 879 rail wagons, three large cranes and three tamping trains.
“The investment by the TRU programme has already led to real progress in the Church Fenton area, with the line between York and Church Fenton now fully electrified. More improvements will be made during the Christmas period and into the new year, which will lead to a better and more reliable railway.
“For the duration of these works, TransPennine Express services between Leeds, York, and Selby will be impacted, with the level of impact changing during these 32 days of vital upgrade works. Diversionary routes will be used to keep people on trains where possible and rail replacement buses will be in operation as well.
“Because of the changing footprint of these works, we urge everyone to look ahead and check before travelling by visiting National Rail Enquiries.”
Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express
Responses
Some months back on this forum it was claimed that works were complete between York and Church Fenton
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/08/york-to-church-fenton-stage-of-tru-is-complete.html
Now apparently the tracks at Church Fenton are to be realigned, platforms altered and a loop added ..
I would say: Very strange things to do on a section of line apparently complete.
Is some trying to tell a porkie pie to make the progress look better than what is actually is ?