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An additional note on this section, the works are supposed to increase the fast line speed from 75 to 100 mph from Huddersfield to Ravensthorpe and to 90 on through Dewsbury. By my math, that's a saving of ~15 seconds per mile, so over ~7 miles that's about two minutes. Not much time savings by itself, but it should add up with the rest of the program. Like a lot of current projects, it seems the capacity and infrastructure reliability aspects are the more significant.
This is the same logic given by the anti HS2 brigade ie its really expensive to save X minutes but it’s about capacity and future proofing. Trouble is there will be years of disruption to complete changes and put the wires up.
Oh yeah, didn't really cover the speed increase. I imagine full electrification and the new fast lines will work together to provide the initial journey time reduction between Manchester and Leeds.
@@Rail_Focus I believe they're aiming for a 20 minute reduction, with most of the speed limits along the whole route increased. But individually the project sections won't save much time, it's only when taken collectively can they achieve anything like that
@andrewreynolds4949 I'd imagine that the acceleration of the electric trains away from stations being faster than diesel units will make a significant contribution to faster journey times.
Could do with extending the 4 track section from Huddersfield to Marsden tbh,as I'm often held due to capacity, or lack of! Still love driving the route and seen many changes over the last few decades. In fact the Micklehurst loop would come in handy to as traffic levels increase. I have been told that in future the quadrupling of Huddersfield to Marsden is being considered and the placement of the OHLE will enable this to happen. I'll have retired by the time the current works are done. JG.
I think they would have to 4 track, especially if they built the new tunnel to Marsden. But information about what will happen beyond the current TRU programme is hard to come by.
@@Rail_Focus I've been sat many times in the loop waiting a path on freight,and will many times yet until my last day of driving in a couple of year's! I do think future projected traffic levels will necessitate quadrupling the section west of Huddersfield in time. We shall see. JG.
@@Rail_Focus Just realised this comment was actually meant for a HS2 Ltd video. It somehow ended up here lol. My actual comment for this video is somewhere else in the comment section. Either way, I do like the longer videos😂
My mentor told my 60 years ago when they were closing the Railways down "there are closing then now, but in the future they will have to open them up again ".
Looks good, I'm mostly on TRU East at the moment but I've had inductions onto TRU West and TRU central and done a handful of shifts between the two. It's interesting seeing the detail of other aspects of the project.
@@Rail_Focus It can be at times, I'm very low level, only been in rail for about 6 months, I get moved around a lot. But occasionally I'm either on a project routinely or get involved in something interesting like rail stressing.
You pointed out that there needs to be a new tunnel at Marsden. There is a tunnel at Marsden already what doesn’t get used there is actually two tunnels next to each other what go through the mountain? They could just open the second one.
At Marsden/Stanedge there are three rail tunnels and a canal tunnel. There is a double line rail tunnel presently in use plus two single tunnels not used.
I live in Rochdale and try to stay abreast of rail infrastructure. Recently walked the Caddle & Hebble Nav and saw the engineering work. My first thought was "that's a lot of work to install some overheads". I had no idea this project was so big and entailed building extra lines and new stations. Why is this project so under publicised?
I still don't think Network Rail is that good at publicising the work that it does, it is getting better, but people just don't seem to know about what the TRU is.
Just seen both your videos about the TRU! I was aware work was being done but i hadn't realised this was THE electrification we have been asking for our region for decades! I can't believe more hasn't been done to promote or advertise that this is the key electrification work that will improve so much of the east-west pennine line! I appreciate your thorough breakdown and look forward to seeing more! Consider me subscribed! That said will you be covering more station upgrades? Batley has been undergoing many changes to the station line, i think they're also getting the expanded tracks? They have also changed the old railway crossing at Lady Anne in Batley where the last remaining station house with a member of staff used to work. There's also the White Rose station which is nearing upgrade completion. I can't remember if Morley is getting anything new. I'd love to see a third video with all this and more towards Leeds! Many thanks 🙏🏽
Glad you found the videos informative 🙂. Now that I'm keeping a close eye on the project I'll be looking out for any significant developments and may visit stations as they're upgraded.
I'm not sure to be honest, but I would assume they will be using some standard elements. Although I think each station will have it's own look: See the new Morley station th-cam.com/video/5yB3HBXhD1k/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U6vDbTkQLf1RmOeI
Had any decision been made yet on changes at Dewsbury station. Flyer at the station says there is to be a new underpass for passengers. Are there plans to take down the present footbridge (listed)?
BRADLEY JUNCTION & MIRFIELD STATION All in all an extremely well presented, nicely paced and informative video.......although the following observations are perhaps worthy of consideration: BRADLEY JUNCTION With the vast amounts of money being spent why on earth is the line from Bradley Junction, (the connection round to the Calder Valley LYR route), not being doubled.....er, make that restored to its former condition as a double track route...? Whilst clearly the connections here are to be to and from the Slow Lines, we will still be left with very low speed (currently 25 - 30 MPH...and slower) junctions at both ends of this curve connection between the former LNWR and LYR routes.......especially at 'The Lanky' end. A little imaginative planning and the use of improved point switches could easily see 50 MPH running through and across the junctions at both ends. Something easily achieved with double track. This wuld be a distinct improvement on the pedestrian-paced meander trains have to make today through the 'single ladder-type junctions' to and from the double track at each end. Clearly an opportunity missed...? MIRFIELD STATION Why on earth the existing single platform at Mirfield is not being retained is a mystery......especially given the fact that it presents no interference to any of the new works being carried out.... plus the fact that it is already there...? The platform is a fairly substantial structure and retaining it would not be an overly costly maintenance burdon, with only a daily sweep and lighting kept servicable, being required. Whilst under the new plans this would mean the platform is located adjacent to the new Up Fast, one would have thought its usefulness......... during possible future engineering work, diversions or operational difficulties........would have been recognised, and the case for its retention understood....? Another opportunity missed....? James Hennighan Yorkshire, England
Until your videos I wasn't actually aware of this work going on at all, but I'm well aware of the east-west/varsity line work between Cambridge and Oxford. This country really does have a Southern bais
The population of this route makes your point even more relevant. If Cambridge was in the North it would be about the same size as a Greater Manchester borough. So therefore with two conurbations of about 5 and a half million people between them, plus York, why do people know so little about this. I guess the government is keeping it quiet, because it is not the HS3 train between Leeds and Manchester that they promised. Already having reneged on HS2 to both Leeds and Manchester, they don’t want to highlight that they have also reneged on HS3.
It's up to Network Rail to promote the work that it's doing and I don't think they're quite as good at promoting themselves as they could be, but their PR is getting better.
@@Rail_FocusWe were promised a high speed train,between Leeds and Liverpool via Manchester and Manchester airport so that our three biggest cities, our biggest airport, and the towns between them could aim to be one economic unit. This is far from that. I know that this is not a political forum and the video is well put together but we were lied to. If it takes 40 minutes to go from Leeds to Manchester, that maybe an improvement but is not high speed. Calling it the Crossrail of the North is insulting considering that cost 22 billion pounds to link villages and we get half that to link major cities and huge towns, over a range of hills.
Difficult to grasp and condense to get people interested. I've only recently begun to understand the full scope of the project. Also it isn't as exciting to most people as building a new railway.
From observations, they know how to waste money and do nothing for weeks & months, I'm there everyweek. But they did find coal seam about 3ft thick at the new bridge & station site at Ravensthorpe. Middelton seam incase you wonder what it's called.
WISER HEADS & AN EASIER TRANS - PENNINE ROUTE Had 'Wiser Heads' prevailed a newer and faster railway across The Pennines could have been constructed down the centre of the M62, with a sweeping new High Speed connection coming off it onto the existing Calder Valley (LYR route), where it crosses the M62 at the former Castleton South Junction (between Jcts 20 & 19).This would have put a fast route into Manchester Victoria. It could even have run on and joined either the Bury -Manchester line at Besses O' the Barn, (Jct 17 of the M62)....or towards Swinton and joined the Bolton - Manchester Line near to what was Pepper Hill Jct Signal Box. A sweeping High Speed connection at Pepper Hill would have been easily achieved given the amount of land in the valley bottom there. Unfortunately a number of insanely stupid ideas, by the politicians and what was BR....together with crackpot changes to the infrastructure..... have conspired to defeat this possibility. Firstly we had the lunatics in political office in Manchester going after the Commonwealth Games......and decimating Manchester Victoria in the process. These are the same politicians, (again with BR assistance), who closed the Bury to Manchester Third Rail System down in favour of the Metro Tram. Retention of the Third Rail System, (ex LYR) would have served as the basis for the extensive electrification of the railway system across both Lancashire and Yorkshire...and beyond. All at a fraction of the cost of what is now being spent on upgrades and plans for future electrification. The connection down to the central part of the M62 at Besses O' the Barn from the Bury - Manchester line would have been a piece of cake. Then, of course, we had the same lunatics...so Manchester politicians and BR once again......closing down the Fast Lines from Thorpes Bridge Jct down past Queens Road, Smedley Jct and Cheetham Hill Jct and Redbank Sidings into Victoria........so a four track raiway into Victoria lost there.............and that's even without mentioning the destruction of Manchester Exchange, which had it been retained could have formed the basis for a major new station. Indeed, this was to have been the location for the planned Manchester Trinity Station... When you throw in the vast expenditure on construction in giving the M62 so-called 'Smart Motorway' status we have the obvious loss of the possible new railway route along it. Additionally, the attraction for the car owner of using their own vehicles has been boosted with the creation of running lanes on the former 'Hard Shoulder' Talk about opportunities lost...! James Hennighan Yorkshire, England
‘Network Fail’ - Demolition by stealth specialists. Gradually eradicating all our lovely old railways stations, throughout the country, and replacing them with bus stops, nice! Not good, you need to raise your expectations
Infrastructure improvements should be viewed as a positive! Even during the Victorian era with their massive engineering feats, it required them to demolish a lot to deliver the railway lines and stations we have today. The previous Huddersfield and Midfield stations have been very barebones and derelict for years. I'm happy they're being renewed and upgraded.
![Transpennine Route Upgrade [Electrification]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5yB3HBXhD1k/mqdefault.jpg)
![Transpennine Route Upgrade [Electrification]](/img/tr.png)
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Wow no wonder this is costing so much… it is a lot bigger rebuild and upgrades than I expected - thank you for your help in explaining what going on
Glad you found it informative. I don't think many people realise just how big the upgrade is.
It's costing so much because I've never seen them working after about 3.15pm.
That’s a big infrastructure project going on there - when this is all done, it will make a heck of a difference!
i wish you could show diagrams of the 3 new stations with their present layouts so you can compare
Thank you for explaining this so well and visually. Being a regular traveler between Leeds and Mirfield it’s really good to know what’s going on.
Glad you found the video informative. I'm hoping to continue following the project as it progresses 🙂
An additional note on this section, the works are supposed to increase the fast line speed from 75 to 100 mph from Huddersfield to Ravensthorpe and to 90 on through Dewsbury. By my math, that's a saving of ~15 seconds per mile, so over ~7 miles that's about two minutes. Not much time savings by itself, but it should add up with the rest of the program. Like a lot of current projects, it seems the capacity and infrastructure reliability aspects are the more significant.
This is the same logic given by the anti HS2 brigade ie its really expensive to save X minutes but it’s about capacity and future proofing. Trouble is there will be years of disruption to complete changes and put the wires up.
Oh yeah, didn't really cover the speed increase. I imagine full electrification and the new fast lines will work together to provide the initial journey time reduction between Manchester and Leeds.
This is primarily about capacity and reliability, speed is just a nice by product, as with HS2.
@@Rail_Focus I believe they're aiming for a 20 minute reduction, with most of the speed limits along the whole route increased. But individually the project sections won't save much time, it's only when taken collectively can they achieve anything like that
@andrewreynolds4949 I'd imagine that the acceleration of the electric trains away from stations being faster than diesel units will make a significant contribution to faster journey times.
Could do with extending the 4 track section from Huddersfield to Marsden tbh,as I'm often held due to capacity, or lack of! Still love driving the route and seen many changes over the last few decades. In fact the Micklehurst loop would come in handy to as traffic levels increase. I have been told that in future the quadrupling of Huddersfield to Marsden is being considered and the placement of the OHLE will enable this to happen. I'll have retired by the time the current works are done. JG.
I think they would have to 4 track, especially if they built the new tunnel to Marsden. But information about what will happen beyond the current TRU programme is hard to come by.
@@Rail_Focus I've been sat many times in the loop waiting a path on freight,and will many times yet until my last day of driving in a couple of year's! I do think future projected traffic levels will necessitate quadrupling the section west of Huddersfield in time. We shall see. JG.
This is great, thank you so much
No problem, glad you liked it 🙂
Thanks for the update. Keep uploading these longer videos guys. That provides me with even more enjoyment. Keep up the good work👍
Will do. It's going to be interesting following the TRU for sure
@@Rail_Focus Just realised this comment was actually meant for a HS2 Ltd video. It somehow ended up here lol. My actual comment for this video is somewhere else in the comment section. Either way, I do like the longer videos😂
My mentor told my 60 years ago when they were closing the Railways down "there are closing then now, but in the future they will have to open them up again ".
Great video. Haven't been able to find much useful information on this section of the TRU before and you've summed it up really well. Keep it up👍
Cheers, glad it was informative 🙂
Looks good, I'm mostly on TRU East at the moment but I've had inductions onto TRU West and TRU central and done a handful of shifts between the two. It's interesting seeing the detail of other aspects of the project.
Awesome. Must be an interesting project to work on.
@@Rail_Focus It can be at times, I'm very low level, only been in rail for about 6 months, I get moved around a lot.
But occasionally I'm either on a project routinely or get involved in something interesting like rail stressing.
You pointed out that there needs to be a new tunnel at Marsden. There is a tunnel at Marsden already what doesn’t get used there is actually two tunnels next to each other what go through the mountain? They could just open the second one.
If there are any tunnels they're probably not suitable for a modern railway.
At Marsden/Stanedge there are three rail tunnels and a canal tunnel.
There is a double line rail tunnel presently in use plus two single tunnels not used.
Really interesting video, I hope the Calder valley line eventually gets electrified aswell.
I live in Rochdale and try to stay abreast of rail infrastructure. Recently walked the Caddle & Hebble Nav and saw the engineering work. My first thought was "that's a lot of work to install some overheads". I had no idea this project was so big and entailed building extra lines and new stations. Why is this project so under publicised?
I still don't think Network Rail is that good at publicising the work that it does, it is getting better, but people just don't seem to know about what the TRU is.
Just seen both your videos about the TRU! I was aware work was being done but i hadn't realised this was THE electrification we have been asking for our region for decades! I can't believe more hasn't been done to promote or advertise that this is the key electrification work that will improve so much of the east-west pennine line!
I appreciate your thorough breakdown and look forward to seeing more! Consider me subscribed!
That said will you be covering more station upgrades? Batley has been undergoing many changes to the station line, i think they're also getting the expanded tracks? They have also changed the old railway crossing at Lady Anne in Batley where the last remaining station house with a member of staff used to work. There's also the White Rose station which is nearing upgrade completion. I can't remember if Morley is getting anything new. I'd love to see a third video with all this and more towards Leeds!
Many thanks 🙏🏽
Glad you found the videos informative 🙂. Now that I'm keeping a close eye on the project I'll be looking out for any significant developments and may visit stations as they're upgraded.
Great video, really enjoyed it
Thanks Simon 😀
Really interesting video, wasn't aware of this works
Thanks. I'm glad to bring it to people's attention, it deserves more recognition
@@Rail_Focus I agree, as you said see loads of videos for HS2
Will the recent Network Rail Design Guide be used for the stations to match new stations in the South, e.g., Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford
I'm not sure to be honest, but I would assume they will be using some standard elements. Although I think each station will have it's own look: See the new Morley station th-cam.com/video/5yB3HBXhD1k/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U6vDbTkQLf1RmOeI
Had any decision been made yet on changes at Dewsbury station. Flyer at the station says there is to be a new underpass for passengers. Are there plans to take down the present footbridge (listed)?
Not sure tbh. But all stations will be made accessible and over bridges have to be high enough for OLE, so will have to be modified or replaced
BRADLEY JUNCTION & MIRFIELD STATION
All in all an extremely well presented, nicely paced and informative video.......although the following observations are perhaps worthy of consideration:
BRADLEY JUNCTION
With the vast amounts of money being spent why on earth is the line from Bradley Junction, (the connection round to the Calder Valley LYR route), not being doubled.....er, make that restored to its former condition as a double track route...?
Whilst clearly the connections here are to be to and from the Slow Lines, we will still be left with very low speed (currently 25 - 30 MPH...and slower) junctions at both ends of this curve connection between the former LNWR and LYR routes.......especially at 'The Lanky' end.
A little imaginative planning and the use of improved point switches could easily see 50 MPH running through and across the junctions at both ends. Something easily achieved with double track.
This wuld be a distinct improvement on the pedestrian-paced meander trains have to make today through the 'single ladder-type junctions' to and from the double track at each end.
Clearly an opportunity missed...?
MIRFIELD STATION
Why on earth the existing single platform at Mirfield is not being retained is a mystery......especially given the fact that it presents no interference to any of the new works being carried out.... plus the fact that it is already there...?
The platform is a fairly substantial structure and retaining it would not be an overly costly maintenance burdon, with only a daily sweep and lighting kept servicable, being required.
Whilst under the new plans this would mean the platform is located adjacent to the new Up Fast, one would have thought its usefulness......... during possible future engineering work, diversions or operational difficulties........would have been recognised, and the case for its retention understood....?
Another opportunity missed....?
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
I wish they'd 4-track between Shenfield and Colchester capacity is not great.
Great video, just one thing I want to pull you up on. Deighton is pronounced Dee ton not Day ton
Thanks for the clarification
Until your videos I wasn't actually aware of this work going on at all, but I'm well aware of the east-west/varsity line work between Cambridge and Oxford. This country really does have a Southern bais
I think part of the problem is that there isn't much to show, not like EWR's shiny new rails. But it is a huge project and deserves more promotion
The population of this route makes your point even more relevant. If Cambridge was in the North it would be about the same size as a Greater Manchester borough. So therefore with two conurbations of about 5 and a half million people between them, plus York, why do people know so little about this. I guess the government is keeping it quiet, because it is not the HS3 train between Leeds and Manchester that they promised. Already having reneged on HS2 to both Leeds and Manchester, they don’t want to highlight that they have also reneged on HS3.
It's up to Network Rail to promote the work that it's doing and I don't think they're quite as good at promoting themselves as they could be, but their PR is getting better.
@@Rail_FocusWe were promised a high speed train,between Leeds and Liverpool via Manchester and Manchester airport so that our three biggest cities, our biggest airport, and the towns between them could aim to be one economic unit. This is far from that. I know that this is not a political forum and the video is well put together but we were lied to. If it takes 40 minutes to go from Leeds to Manchester, that maybe an improvement but is not high speed. Calling it the Crossrail of the North is insulting considering that cost 22 billion pounds to link villages and we get half that to link major cities and huge towns, over a range of hills.
I agree we should have a dedicated line from Liverpool across the Pennines. But the TRU is important and Network Rail should be promoting it more.
What's the timescale for completion?
For the TRU as a whole 2030, but I haven't seen a timeline for Huddersfield Dewsbury yet.
It's interesting why it doesn't get the attention of the East West Railway down South?
Difficult to grasp and condense to get people interested. I've only recently begun to understand the full scope of the project. Also it isn't as exciting to most people as building a new railway.
From observations, they know how to waste money and do nothing for weeks & months, I'm there everyweek. But they did find coal seam about 3ft thick at the new bridge & station site at Ravensthorpe. Middelton seam incase you wonder what it's called.
They're not always doing nothing, but work has to be phased, or take place at night or during weekend blockades 🙃
WISER HEADS & AN EASIER TRANS - PENNINE ROUTE
Had 'Wiser Heads' prevailed a newer and faster railway across The Pennines could have been constructed down the centre of the M62, with a sweeping new High Speed connection coming off it onto the existing Calder Valley (LYR route), where it crosses the M62 at the former Castleton South Junction (between Jcts 20 & 19).This would have put a fast route into Manchester Victoria.
It could even have run on and joined either the Bury -Manchester line at Besses O' the Barn, (Jct 17 of the M62)....or towards Swinton and joined the Bolton - Manchester Line near to what was Pepper Hill Jct Signal Box.
A sweeping High Speed connection at Pepper Hill would have been easily achieved given the amount of land in the valley bottom there.
Unfortunately a number of insanely stupid ideas, by the politicians and what was BR....together with crackpot changes to the infrastructure..... have conspired to defeat this possibility.
Firstly we had the lunatics in political office in Manchester going after the Commonwealth Games......and decimating Manchester Victoria in the process. These are the same politicians, (again with BR assistance), who closed the Bury to Manchester Third Rail System down in favour of the Metro Tram.
Retention of the Third Rail System, (ex LYR) would have served as the basis for the extensive electrification of the railway system across both Lancashire and Yorkshire...and beyond. All at a fraction of the cost of what is now being spent on upgrades and plans for future electrification.
The connection down to the central part of the M62 at Besses O' the Barn from the Bury - Manchester line would have been a piece of cake.
Then, of course, we had the same lunatics...so Manchester politicians and BR once again......closing down the Fast Lines from Thorpes Bridge Jct down past Queens Road, Smedley Jct and Cheetham Hill Jct and Redbank Sidings into Victoria........so a four track raiway into Victoria lost there.............and that's even without mentioning the destruction of Manchester Exchange, which had it been retained could have formed the basis for a major new station.
Indeed, this was to have been the location for the planned Manchester Trinity Station...
When you throw in the vast expenditure on construction in giving the M62 so-called 'Smart Motorway' status we have the obvious loss of the possible new railway route along it. Additionally, the attraction for the car owner of using their own vehicles has been boosted with the creation of running lanes on the former 'Hard Shoulder'
Talk about opportunities lost...!
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
It's pronounced Deeton. Dayton is in Ohio.
👍
‘Network Fail’ - Demolition by stealth specialists. Gradually eradicating all our lovely old railways stations, throughout the country, and replacing them with bus stops, nice! Not good, you need to raise your expectations
Clearly never been to Ravensthorpe or Midfield 🤣. I guess we should just run the railways as preserved lines with steam trains.
Infrastructure improvements should be viewed as a positive! Even during the Victorian era with their massive engineering feats, it required them to demolish a lot to deliver the railway lines and stations we have today. The previous Huddersfield and Midfield stations have been very barebones and derelict for years. I'm happy they're being renewed and upgraded.
@@Rail_FocusHow many people are you going to fit in that bus shelter on a wet January morning ? That’s progress is it? You’re easily pleased pal.
What ever they do at Deighton, Midfield and Ravensthorpe will be an upgrade over what's there now, so I'm really not sure what you're going on about.
Our railways aren't a museum thank you very much.