New images have given us a sneak peek at how a railway station in West Yorkshire will look after a big makeover – which will cause some temporary commuter misery. The revamp is part of the major TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and will change the inside layout of the station.
Work has already started on Good Friday with disruption planned until Sunday, April 7. Work on the station means there has been and will be changes to routes and replacement bus services.
The work will focus on the roof canopy and creating a new bridge deck over the A641 Bradford Road. There will also be track renewals in the Deighton and Mirfield areas.
The station is a Grade I listed building so care will need to be taken to put specific items of value carefully back in place. The timber tearooms have already been taken away to be restored, reports Yorkshire Live.
Alongside a lot of the cosmetic works, there will be some long-term improvements to railway services. The plans include adding two new platforms and making the existing ones longer. This will help the station handle more trains.
A new footbridge and lifts will be put in, the roof will be fixed, and more toilets will be added. The station’s ‘Euston roof’ is one of the last ones left on the railway network. The repairs on it will involve grit blasting, painting and re-roofing.
Huddersfield is just one of the stations set to benefit from vital rail upgrades. The works will see Huddersfield station revamped and the surrounding rail network improved, as part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade.
Paul Sumner, of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “Our teams will be working around the clock to deliver this vital series of upgrades. The revamp of Huddersfield station and the rail works in the surrounding areas form a pivotal part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
“I’d like to thank customers for their continued support and remind everyone that services changes will be in place, so to please check before they travel.”
With planned closures already underway, its reported more phased closures between March and April next year will also be needed to complete the project.
Chris Nutton, for TransPennine Express, added: “These improvement works are key to the overall modernisation of the railway that will be taking place as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will help deliver a faster and more sustainable service for our customers who travel between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.”
“We’d like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while this work takes place. To keep customers on the move, there will be some changes to our services, including diversions on some routes and rail replacement buses on others, and we advise customers to check carefully before travelling. We’ll have extra staff on hand at stations to help customers who are travelling on days affected by this work.”
The planned upgrade of the route is set to enhance the rail service between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. This will result in more frequent, faster and more reliable trains on the 70-mile TransPennine main line that serves 23 stations.
