A major train station used by 300,000 people every month is getting ready to get back up and running after a huge £70m makeover. Huddersfield station’s month-long closure has meant travel chaos for its 10,00 daily passengers.
Rail users will be pleased to hear that the station will reopen in a matter of days after being closed for nearly a month. No trains have been able to run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire since August 30. However, just three of the station’s six platforms will reopen.
This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue.
The change has transformed the layout of the station and will enable more trains with more seats to run through the area “on a greener, more reliable railway”, according to Network Rail.
The works will also enable future upgrades at the busy station, including the restoration of its Grade II-listed tea rooms.
From Monday, September 29, only platforms 1, 2, and 3 will be in use. This means trains will run to and from different platforms than usual, and some services will be replaced by rail replacement buses.
Stage two of the upgrade will continue in a sectioned-off area of the station, which will allow the construction of platforms, track, and canopy to be completed.
During this stage of the upgrade, some rail users will still face travel disruption as some services will still be affected.
Stations including Cottingley, Morley, Batley, Ravensthorpe, Brighouse, Halifax, Low Moor and Bradford Interchange will not have direct trains to Huddersfield, and customers may need to change trains as part of their journey.
Passengers are advised to check timetables before they travel.
Paul Sumner, Senior Sponsor for TRU said: “We’re looking forward to reopening Huddersfield station at the end of this month, however, we know customers will notice some changes. This includes trains arriving/departing from different platforms and some temporary service alterations.
“We want to thank customers for their patience as we continue this once-in-a-generation investment and would encourage anyone travelling through the area to plan their journey ahead of time.”