The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has reached a significant milestone as the Secretary of State for Transport approved a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO), allowing the programme to move forward with key railway improvements between Leeds and Micklefield.

The TWAO approval enables TRU to proceed with major upgrades, including the replacement of five level crossings with safer alternatives, reconstruction or removal of bridges to accommodate electrification, and the installation of small-scale infrastructure. Temporary work compounds will also be set up to support the project.

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Among the planned upgrades, Barrowby Lane and Barrowby Foot level crossings near Garforth will be replaced with a new accessible bridleway footbridge, allowing both pedestrians and horses to cross safely. The project will also include raising the historic Crawshaw Woods bridge, the world's oldest cast iron bridge still in use over a working railway.