New consultations on railway upgrade October 16, 2020
As drop-in consultation events had to be cancelled in March, they are now being held with Covid-19 precautions at the John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield. They are principally aimed at those unable to access the plans online.
The scheme will return the railway to having the four tracks it had during the Victorian era, this time allowing for fast trains to be well separated from stopping services and aiming to alleviate problems and delays where the main Trans-Pennine line merges and diverges from the route along the Calder Valley. This at present squeezes four tracks into three through Mirfield, between the two junctions.
The plans involve replacement of several bridges and major alterations to stations at Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.
A move of Deighton station had been considered in earlier proposals, but the latest plans propose this is now be rebuilt at its present location. Ravensthorpe station will be moved to a location nearer to Calder Road at the opposite side of the bridge to present, with the additional benefit of allowing stops for Wakefield-bound as well as Leeds-bound trains.
Huddersfield station will gain an additional platform for through trains and one long northbound bay platform at the far side of the station in place of the two shorter ones on the island platform, where a new footbridge is planned.
The last of four October drop-in sessions is planned for this Saturday (October 17). Network Rail advises a check to make sure the events are going ahead as planned.
Check the plans or find out about the drop-in events at this
Network Rail - Transpennine upgrade
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