The latest stage of work on the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) will disrupt train services between Leeds and Church Fenton on the weekends of 8th/9th, 15th/16th, and 22nd/23rd March.

During these weekends, engineers will install overhead line equipment (OLE) to power electric trains between York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester in the future.

Electric train services between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge were introduced at the end of 2024, and electric services between York and Church Fenton are expected to start later this year.

Other work will also be carried out on these weekends as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, including renewing track and carrying out other essential upgrades.

Train service alterations

Weekends of 8th/9th and 15th/16th March

• Trains between Leeds and York and Leeds and Selby will be diverted via Castleford.
• Local train services between Leeds and Church Fenton calling at Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, and rail-replacement bus services will serve Micklefield.

Weekend of 22nd/23rd March

• There will be no trains between Leeds and York.
• Trains to and from the west will start and finish at Leeds.
• Trains to and from the north will start and finish at York
• Rail replacement bus services will operate between Leeds and York, with both direct and all-stations bus services.

Until Friday, 21st March

• Until Friday, 21st March, weekday train services between Huddersfield and Leeds may be affected while engineers carry out track and drainage upgrade work.

On Thursday, 27th February, to mark progress being made with the project, a time capsule was buried at Ravensthorpe by Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, local schoolchildren, and Transpennine Route Upgrade apprentices.

The project is also benefitting areas surrounding the Transpennine Route, such as improvement of a canal towpath at Mirfield in West Yorkshire.

“The work taking place during these weekends is vital for the successful electrification of this part of the line, which will bring greener journeys and a cleaner railway to our customers. On these three weekends, some of the services on our North Route will run to an amended timetable, with diversionary routes being used on some days to keep customers on trains where possible. Where that’s not possible, rail replacement bus services will run to get people from A to B. “We advise customers to check before they travel. For the people who plan to travel, we’ll have extra staff available at key stations to help people get where they need to go.”

Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express