In a multi-million-pound investment, a new fully accessible railway station is to open next summer at Morley in Leeds.
The new station will replace the existing one and is just 75 metres away. It will have longer platforms to provide more space and be fully accessible, with a footbridge and lifts connecting the two platforms.
By building a new station, the layout of the platforms and track will be improved and overhead wires required to power electric and hybrid trains in the future will be installed. It also means that while the new station is being built, the existing station can largely remain open for passengers.
The improvements are part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will revolutionise rail across the north of England with the line from Manchester to York being fully electrified.
For passengers travelling between the two cities as well as from Huddersfield and Leeds there will be more frequent and greener trains with more seats available, whilst stations along the route will be improved and a number of bridges and level crossings will be upgraded.
Although the station will remain open whilst the new one is being built, it will be necessary to close the line between Saturday, 31st December and Monday, 2nd January, which will result in changes to services between Leeds and Huddersfield with bus replacements and diversions in place.
Between Saturday, 4th and Sunday, 12th February 2023, there will also be further service changes while work takes place to realign the track and install a new platform.
Details of all the service changes can be found at National Rail Enquiries.
Rob McIntosh, Managing Director for Network Rail’s Eastern region said:“A brand-new fully accessible station in Morley will reinvigorate rail in the area and unlock better connections to jobs, events, and opportunities between Manchester and York for many more people.
“It’s just one element of a massive, multi-billion-pound programme of improvements we’re delivering across the north to create a faster, greener railway that people can confidently rely on to get them where they need to be, on time.”
Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper commented:“As the Chancellor rightly set out last week, delivering core Northern Powerhouse Rail is essential if we’re going to drive investment, grow the economy and unlock potential across the North of England.
“The Transpennine Route and Morley Station upgrades embodies this and our multibillion pound investment will pave the way for first-rate connectivity including more frequent, faster and greener trains running on a more reliable railway.”
Responses
The service from this station has been absolutely diabolucal for the past 20 years! I ended up very stressed and anxious having to commute from this station to Leeds Town centre and back.
I sincerely hope this station and the service improves significantly when the works have been completed.
I wonder if there are going to be any transport links from the station into Morley, Churwell, Gildersome?
A station is no use without a reliable train service! My son gave up his flat in Dewsbury as the commute to Manchester (fine ‘on paper’) was impossible. £300+ p. m. was bad enough, but trains were cancelled both ways every day. He had to leave the flat at 6.30am to ensure he would be at work for 9am. lectures. Regularly had to get a cheap hotel as he was stranded in the evening. Rammed 3-carriage trains during rush hour, empty 5-carriage trains in the middle of the day.
These northern franchised are scandalously run. For a start, this one should be taken back into state control.
1/ Will it be manned
2/ Will there
be toilets
I’m glad that Morley’s railway station is being improved, but of course Yorkshire’s 3rd largest city, Bradfordians will have to continue traveling across the Pennines to Manchester by road for a reasonable commute. THE FORGOTTEN CITY. Time to move . . . . . !!
What about a new station to the east of Leeds that is planned to be built and is to be called Leeds East Parkway. And maybe a new railway station to serve Leeds Bradford Airport. If there already is a railway station near to Leeds Bradford Airport.
Will the present dispute between RMT & Trans Pennine be over by the time the new station opens?
That’s a very good point ,there is a overtime ban on through the Christmas period.allot of these projects need workers on overtime shifts .come on network rail sort things out