Network Rail has said that it expects rail services in West Yorkshire to return to normal on Monday after a collapsed wall caused a landslip in Dewsbury yesterday (Wednesday 8 November).
Part of a retaining wall running alongside the railway close to Thornhill Road, to the south of Dewsbury station, collapsed yesterday morning, and caused a landslip several metres wide directly adjacent to the track. The line had to close towards Huddersfield from Leeds. The line in the other direction, from Huddersfield towards Leeds, remains open.
Engineers carried out thorough investigations overnight, and have confirmed that repair work over the rest of the week and the weekend will enable normal services to resumed for the start of service on Monday morning (13 November).
The disruption affects TransPennine Express (TPE) and Northern services from Leeds towards Huddersfield. The operators have diverted some services onto other nearby lines, but trains from Leeds can not call at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield or Brighouse. Trains going towards Leeds from Huddersfield are using the normal route but journeys will take longer as trains have to run slowly as they pass the worksite.
Network Rail is urging passengers to check for up-to-date routes and journey details, and is also advising people who live and/or work close to the site are that the work make cause disturbance, including at night.
For the latest updates, passengers can check:
Northern has issued these travel updates:
Effect on service:
- Leeds to Manchester Victoria/Wigan Wallgate via Dewsbury: services diverted via Bradford Interchange until further notice and not calling at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield and Brighouse.
- Wigan Wallgate/Manchester Victoria to Leeds via Dewsbury – service operating as booked.
Alternative travel suggestions:
- Passengers from Leeds for Brighouse can change at Bradford Interchange onto the Huddersfield service, which this calls at Brighouse.
- Passengers can then also change to board a train back towards Leeds for Mirfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Morley.
- Alternatively, passengers can travel to Sowerby Bridge and board a service back towards Leeds direction via Brighouse and intermediate stations.
The operator is advising passengers to allow more time for travel and to check their options in advance.
Northern and TransPennine Express have agreed that they will accept each other’s tickets via any reasonable route across the whole network until 05:00 on Monday 13 November.
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “Engineers are working flat out to get the train service back to normal as safely and as quickly as possible.
“I know this will be disruptive for some passengers over the next few days and into the weekend. I am sorry for the inconvenience caused, and would like to thank them and our lineside communities for their patience while the repairs take place.”
A spokesperson on behalf of Northern and TransPennine Express said: “Our colleagues are working incredibly hard to keep trains moving and to get passengers to their destination with the least amount of disruption.
“While diversion routes are in place, we’re encouraging passengers to check before travelling as journey times will be longer and may be subject to delays. Thank you to all our passengers for their understanding.”
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