A series of significant upgrades took place across the Transpennine route during the Christmas and New Year period, bringing passengers closer to faster, greener, and more reliable journeys between Manchester and York.

In Leeds, a 200-tonne railway bridge on Osmondthorpe Lane was replaced by a dedicated team of 100 TRU engineers. The massive structure was maneuvered into position as a single piece using a self-propelled modular transport (SPMT) vehicle. Once installed, over 270 tonnes of ballast and new tracks were laid, ensuring the railway was ready for passenger services to resume on schedule.

Station Road railway bridge in Mirfield underwent a critical transformation, with a section of the bridge replaced to accommodate a new accessible station entrance. Additionally, piling work was completed to support a redesigned platform layout, enhancing future station functionality.


Near York, in Church Fenton, foundational work was carried out to prepare for the installation of overhead line equipment (OLE). This upgrade is a key step toward enabling electric trains to operate through the area, supporting the transition to a greener railway network.

In Miles Platting, Manchester, vital track points were renewed. These upgrades are essential for enabling trains to seamlessly switch between lines, improving the reliability and efficiency of services.

The upgrades mark significant progress for the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a major initiative aimed at modernising one of the UK's key railway lines.

Gordon Kells, TRU Interim Managing Director, said: "Over Christmas and New Year, we completed significant upgrades across multiple sites on our route, improving journeys between Manchester and York.

"I'd like to say thank you to our neighbours for their support and everyone that worked over this period, whose efforts contributed to the safe and successful completion of a number of key upgrades, setting us off to a strong start in 2025."