TRU Stakeholder Update - February 2026

Good afternoon,

Welcome to the February edition of our Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) monthly stakeholder update. Each month, we share key milestones, news and upcoming activity as we continue transforming the railway across the North of England.

As a multi-billion-pound programme, TRU is more than a railway upgrade - it's a catalyst for economic growth, regeneration and sustainable development. By improving connectivity between key towns and cities, we are helping to unlock new opportunities for communities and businesses across the region.

Through faster, more reliable and greener services for passengers and freight, TRU is driving the Northern economy forward – improving productivity, supporting jobs and skills, and laying the foundation for long-term prosperity.

February's key updates at a glance:

• Milestone opening at Mirfield Station

• Major upgrade works completed between Leeds and York

• TRU at DfTO Group Parliamentary Reception

TRU FAST FACTS

• TRU is a multi-billion pound railway programme which aims to:
  • Provide 15% quicker journeys between York and Manchester, investing in electric trains and increasing reliability, cutting delay by half.
  • Boosting capacity by a third, offering up to six fast services every hour (from four per hour) between Leeds and Manchester.

• 25% of the route is already electrified, with electric trains now operating between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, and between York and Church Fenton.

• We have created 5000 jobs on TRU to date, and 85% of our workforce come from within 40 miles of the route. 
• We are expanding freight provision – so shipping containers can travel from ports on the east and west of the country via rail, helping remove up to 1000 lorries a day from roads across the Pennines. 
• While working on a live railway, we are keeping customers on the move and updated through comprehensive customer handling plans.
• We have delivered three diversionary routes to allow more trains to run and help keep passengers and freight moving during periods of disruption on the main route, while we deliver essential works.

TRU social value impact 

We believe sustainable development is the only way to keep us on track to a better future for rail in the North. Our commitment to people and place continues to deliver results. We are supporting Northern talent, boosting local economies, and creating a more sustainable future.

Our latest totals this period:

Curious about the impact in your area?
We would be happy to share the social value figures for your local community – from jobs and apprenticeships to local business spend and volunteering hours. Just get in touch, and we will bring the story closer to home.

Milestone opening at Mirfield Station

On Friday 30 January, we celebrated a major milestone at Mirfield station as the first stage of improvements was completed, marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by local MP Kim Leadbeater.

Mirfield Station is now step-free, with a new footbridge and lifts, an accessible entrance, and an extended island platform. Alongside upgraded customer facilities, these improvements provide easier access, more space and a more comfortable experience for everyone using the station.

The event brought together local stakeholders and partners, including disability rights advocate Zach Eagling, representatives from Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and local councillors - reflecting the strong collaboration behind the project.

These upgrades will enable longer trains with more seats to call at Mirfield and pave the way for two new fast lines, increasing capacity and improving reliability across the route. Further engineering work will continue in the area, including drainage and lighting improvements, with a small number of car park spaces temporarily unavailable from Monday 9 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.

Major upgrade works completed between Leeds and York

32 days of intensive engineering work have delivered a major set of upgrades between Leeds and York, bringing lasting improvements to the railway and paving the way for faster, more reliable services.

The work included:

• Installing 70 new signals

• Renewing 3km of track and replacing 11 switches and crossings

• Realigning platforms 3 and 4 at Church Fenton station and remodelling the tracks

• Installing a new passing loop so faster trains can overtake stopping services

• Installing overhead line equipment to support future electric trains

These improvements will improve reliability, reduce journey times and increase capacity, while also supporting the move to a cleaner, quieter electric railway.

Delivering the programme required a major mobilisation of people and equipment, including 879 rail wagons, 45 engineering trains, three large cranes and three tamping trains, with hundreds of people working on site.

Throughout the works, customers were supported to continue their journeys. More than 1,600 trains ran via the Castleford diversionary route, alongside around 1,400 rail replacement bus journeys over the 32-day period.

TRU at DfTO Group Parliamentary Reception

Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde met with the TRU Team. 

On Monday 19 January, we attended the DfTO Group Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons. DfTO (DfT Operator Limited) is the Government’s public sector rail owning group, responsible for bringing train operators into public ownership ahead of Great British Railways.

The event provided an opportunity to engage with MPs, including Jonathan Reynolds and Iqbal Mohamed, whose constituencies will directly benefit from TRU upgrade works in Stalybridge and Dewsbury respectively.

The reception reinforced the importance of strengthening east-west connectivity across the North, particularly following the government's recent commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail. These upgrades will improve links between towns and cities and help boost economic growth and productivity across the region.  

We are delivering essential improvements throughout February to April. For more details, please contact us.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 7 & Sunday, 8 February
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.
Passengers will be kept on the move via diversions and bus replacement services.

Leeds to York/Selby - Saturday, 14 & Sunday, 15 February
Further improvement works are taking place - we're renewing more track to bring smoother journeys; installing new overhead line equipment to carry the power for cleaner, quieter electric trains in the future, and carrying out upgrades to signals to ensure trains run reliably.
Longer distance services will be diverted, while other local services will be replaced by buses.

Leeds to York/Selby - Saturday, 21 & Sunday, 22 February
Further improvement works are taking place - we're renewing more track to bring smoother journeys; installing new overhead line equipment to carry the power for cleaner, quieter electric trains in the future, and carrying out upgrades to signals to ensure trains run reliably.
Longer distance services will be diverted, while other local services will be replaced by buses.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 28 February & Sunday, 1 March
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.

Leeds to York/Selby - Saturday, 28 & Sunday, 1 March
Further improvement works are taking place - we're renewing more track to bring smoother journeys; installing new overhead line equipment to carry the power for cleaner, quieter electric trains in the future, and carrying out upgrades to signals to ensure trains run reliably.
Longer distance services will be diverted, while other local services will be replaced by buses.

Leeds to York/Selby - Saturday, 7 & Sunday, 8 March
We’re re-instating the Grade II-listed Crawshaw Woods bridge back into position, following renovation.
Longer distance services will be diverted, while other local services will be replaced by buses.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 4 & Sunday, 5 April
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.
Passengers will be kept on the move via diversions and bus replacement services.

Leeds to York/Selby - Saturday, 4 & Sunday, 5 April
Further improvement works are taking place - we're renewing more track to bring smoother journeys; installing new overhead line equipment to carry the power for cleaner, quieter electric trains in the future, and carrying out upgrades to signals to ensure trains run reliably.
Longer distance services will be diverted, while other local services will be replaced by buses.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 11 & Sunday, 12 April
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.
Passengers will be kept on the move via diversions and bus replacement services.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 18 & Sunday, 19 April
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.
Passengers will be kept on the move via diversions and bus replacement services.

Mossley to Deighton - Saturday, 25 & Sunday, 26 April
Work includes strengthening work on Huddersfield viaduct, continuation of Huddersfield station works & Deighton station re-build.
Passengers will be kept on the move via diversions and bus replacement services.

Road Closures