A multi-billion-pound rail upgrade in West Yorkshire has now been given the go-ahead.

The improvement work will bring a faster, greener, better-connected railway one step closer for passengers in the North of England. It's the biggest milestone the Transpennine Route Upgrade has ever achieved.

Network Rail now has the go-ahead to completely transform train journeys between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. The mammoth scheme will see twice as many tracks installed, major renovations at Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield and Ravensthorpe stations, and the track layout reimagined.

As well as supporting rapid economic growth in the North of England, these major improvements will ultimately deliver more frequent, faster trains along a cleaner, greener, more reliable railway between York and Manchester.

The Transport and Works Act Order – required for any project that involves building new sections of railway outside of the existing boundaries – was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport on Monday (27 June) six months earlier than planned, kickstarting progress on the ambitious plans and designs. It’s one of the biggest applications ever made by Network Rail.

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Neil Holm, Transpennine Route Upgrade Director for Network Rail, said: "This is a massive success for the Transpennine Route Upgrade. It brings us another step closer to delivering faster, more frequent trains, and a greener, more reliable railway for passengers.

"Work on this part of the route is essential for unlocking wider benefits for passengers travelling between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield. It'll allow us to run more trains along the route, giving passengers a much better chance of finding a seat and enjoying their journey.

"I'd like to thank everybody who has shown support and provided feedback on our plans throughout the planning process. Now we have this approval, we can progress our ambitious plans and designs and continue to work with communities on what’s to come."

Transport Minister, Andrew Stephenson, said: "Last year we committed a record breaking £96bn to transform the railway, bringing communities together and boosting local economies in the North and Midlands through Northern Powerhouse Rail and the TransPennine Route Upgrade.

"We will continue to deliver on our promise of more frequent, faster and greener travel for passengers."

The approval was granted following three years of planning and public consultation, considering the views of residents, rail users and other stakeholders. A public inquiry was held in November and December 2021.