Passengers travelling between Manchester and Leeds are being reminded to plan ahead as the Transpennine Route Upgrade pushes ahead with its biggest piece of work so far in Stalybridge.
From Saturday 11 March to Wednesday 5 April, services between Manchester and Leeds will be diverted via the Calder Valley route, with supporting rail replacement buses on hand to keep passengers on the move.
Passengers travelling across the Pennines should allow extra time and plan ahead using the National Rail Journey Planner or their train operator’s website.
Engineers will work around the clock over 26 days to deliver a package of upgrades to the railway line in Stalybridge. This is the largest phase of work delivered by the programme so far and includes remodelling track, installing over 2km of new track and 23 new signals, upgrading 13 crossovers and fitting new overhead line equipment, which will improve journeys along this key route.
All this forms part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is set to revolutionise rail travel in the North, better connecting towns and cities through more frequent, faster trains, running on a cleaner, greener and more reliable railway.
Hannah Lomas, Industry Programme Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “These upgrades at Stalybridge will mark a significant milestone for the entire programme, bringing us one step closer to faster, greener and more reliable journeys across the North of England.
