As 2025 drew to a close, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is marking another year of sustained progress, with major milestones delivered across the route and clear momentum building towards faster, more frequent and greener rail services between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
Across the 70-mile corridor, electrification has continued to advance at pace. A key highlight came in August, when 25% of the route became electrified following the completion of works between York and Church Fenton, adding to the already electrified section between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. Together, these upgrades represent a significant step towards a cleaner, more modern railway for the North.
Huddersfield remained a focal point for the programme throughout the year. One of the most complex phases of work was delivered during a 30-day station closure in September, when teams worked around the clock to install new bridge beams across Span 1 of Huddersfield viaduct, reconfigure platforms and complete critical track and signalling upgrades. These changes will improve reliability and enable the introduction of longer trains in the future.
The town also saw the opening of the new Hillhouse train maintenance centre in October. The £46m facility has been built to support the growing fleet serving Yorkshire and will play a key role in keeping services moving for customers across the region.
Alongside physical delivery, TRU continues to build long-term capability in the North. By the end of the year, more than 5,000 people were working on the programme, over 10,000 individuals had been trained at the dedicated safety training centre, and just under 450 apprenticeships had been filled, reinforcing TRU’s role as a major skills and employment generator.
James Richardson, Managing Director for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said:
“This year has produced so many achievements, and what we’re doing across the programme will not just improve journey times and reliability, but better connect towns and cities across the North.
“TRU is a key enabler to unlock potential in our communities and support regional economic growth, and we’re looking forward to another successful year in 2026.”
Across the route in 2025, the programme delivered:
- 40 miles of new track to support smoother, more reliable journeys
- 12,000 train services diverted via alternative routes, following a £100m investment to keep passengers moving
- 30 miles of signalling cable roughing laid to support future increases in frequency and reliability
- 7,721 customer support shifts worked, helping passengers during periods of disruption
- £800m spent with local businesses, strengthening the regional supply chain
- 1,000 overhead line equipment foundations constructed to enable future electrification
While many parts of the industry have slowed over the festive period, TRU teams have continued to make the most of quieter railway conditions. Works have included track realignment and new signalling installation in Mirfield, continued restoration of Huddersfield station’s roof canopy, and the start of demolition of Whitacre Street overbridge in Deighton.
Further east, a 32-day closure has enabled teams to install and test 70 new signals, remodel and lay more than 3km of track, and realign platforms 3 and 4 at Church Fenton station.
With delivery accelerating and major milestones already in place, TRU enters 2026 positioned for another transformative year for rail travel across the North.
