TRU Stakeholder Update - June 2026

Good afternoon,

Welcome to the June 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.

June's key updates at a glance:

• A welcome from TRU's Managing Director, James Richardson

• Major works progressing between Huddersfield & Leeds

• Improvements planned at Stalybridge Station

• TRU: supporting growth, connectivity and delivery

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.

Getting to know TRU

As we welcome new readers, this short video from Managing Director James Richardson introduces TRU, a major railway programme that will deliver faster, more reliable and greener journeys between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. This video explains how TRU is improving connectivity, supporting economic growth, and creating a railway that is fit for the future.

Major upgrades progressing between Huddersfield & Leeds

Over the May Bank Holiday period, teams completed the first phase of a major programme of upgrades between Huddersfield and Leeds, delivering significant progress across 24 days of planned engineering work.

Key achievements included replacing 6.2km of track to deliver smoother, more reliable journeys, installing foundations for future overhead line equipment to support electrification of the route, and reconstructing Whitacre Street bridge in Deighton to enable future capacity improvements and faster journeys.

At Huddersfield and Deighton stations, work also progressed on platform remodelling to accommodate longer trains, while a new footbridge with integrated lifts is being installed to provide step free access and improve accessibility for customers.

The second phase of work began on Saturday 30 May, and is now focused on the railway between Morley and Dewsbury. This phase includes:

• Track renewals and drainage improvements
• Installation of overhead line equipment
• Accessibility upgrades at Batley Station
• Customer facility improvements at Dewsbury Station
• Reconstruction and strengthening of Jack Lane Bridge, alongside installation of overhead line equipment

Improvements planned for Stalybridge Station 

In May, TRU, TransPennine Express and Northern Trains welcomed Jonathan Reynolds MP to Stalybridge Station to discuss plans for future improvements being delivered through the TRU Stations Fund.

The proposals aim to improve the station experience for customers and the wider community, while strengthening connections to other forms of transport and better linking the railway with the town centre and nearby development sites.

A £2 million package of station improvements, due to be completed in early 2027, includes:

• Newly configured station entrance
• Improved drop-off facilities
• Additional car parking including accessible spaces
• Stronger integration with local transport networks

A separate scheme of around £14 million is also being explored with partners to potentially deliver a new southern entrance with step-free access, alongside improvements to the surrounding public realm. This would strengthen links between the railway, the town centre and nearby development sites, supporting future housing growth and highlighting TRU’s role in enabling local regeneration.

With the railway between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge now electrified, these proposals will help ensure Stalybridge station is ready to support future growth and provide better connections for customers travelling across the region.

Upcoming engineering work: what to expect 

We will continue delivering major improvements throughout June, July and August. For more details, please contact us.

Manchester to Huddersfield/Leeds - Saturday, 30 May to Friday 26 June (normal services resume Saturday 27 June)
Work is taking place at Batley and Dewsbury stations, with platform extensions and wider upgrade works are progressing to improve capacity and accessibility. Elsewhere, reconstruction of Jack Lane bridge in Batley continues alongside track renewals and installation of overhead line equipment, as part of the wider upgrade.
Please follow the link here for a full list of service changes.

Leeds to York/Selby – Saturdays & Sundays, 6 & 7, 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 June

Further improvement works will include:

• Track renewals to provide smoother journeys

• Installation of overhead line equipment to support future electric trains

• Signalling upgrades to improve reliability

Long distance services will be diverted, while some local services will be replaced by buses.

Manchester to Huddersfield/Leeds - Saturdays & Sundays, 27 & 28 June, 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 25 & 26 July and 1 & 2 August

Major upgrades will take place at Huddersfield Station, including

• Installation of a section of the new station roof

• Works to cover the new platform extensions at the Leeds end of the station

• Installation and commissioning new lifts

• Extension of the new footbridge

• Extension of the existing subway

There will be no trains between Stalybridge and Mirfield, and no trains at Huddersfield Station. Services between Manchester and Leeds will be diverted via the Calder Valley route, with rail replacement buses serving stations that cannot be accessed by train.

Road Closures