The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has completed a 24-day programme of work between Huddersfield and Leeds in West Yorkshire.

Its engineers began the work on Saturday 2 May and completed it on Monday 25 May. The work included replacing 6.2km of track and installing more than fifty overhead line foundation bases.

Workers rebuilt Whitacre Street bridge in Deighton, using five beams that weighed a total of 132 tonnes. This work has created additional space, which will allow four tracks to run through the area.

Huddersfield and Deighton stations had their platforms remodelled, which will allow for longer trains to be accommodated at the stations. Workers also built a new footbridge at Huddersfield, which provides better step-free access.

During the work, TRU ran nearly 2,500 trains on diversionary routes. Staff provided assistance to passengers at the stations that were affected.

The next series of major improvement works by the Transpennine Route Upgrade will take place between Morley and Dewsbury, beginning on Saturday 30 May and due to finish on Saturday 27 June. Workers will replace track and drainage, install overhead line equipment masts, and improve platforms and accessibility at Batley station.

Dewsbury station will have its passenger facilities improved and its footbridge strengthened. And Jack Lane bridge in Dewsbury will be reconstructed.

This work contributes to the transformation of Batley and Dewsbury stations, which is due to be completed this summer. The stations will have better access, longer platforms and enhanced facilities.

Train services will be affected during the works.

“A significant amount of work has been completed in and around Deighton during May and it’s fantastic to see what has been achieved by everyone involved in delivering this latest milestone for TRU.

“We’d like to thank our customers and local communities for their patience and understanding while these upgrade works have taken place. We’d also like to thank all our colleagues from across the industry who’ve come together to keep customers moving while these works have progressed, especially in utilising Brighouse station as an interchange for replacement buses, to keep customers moving between Huddersfield and Leeds.”

Liam O’Shaughnessy, TRU Programme Delivery Lead for Northern