Network Rail’s Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) team has issued a seasonal “thank you” to passengers for their support during what it calls “a ground-breaking year for the programme”.

The team has taken the opportunity to recap the progress it has made during 2023, including platforms and footbridges, laying new track, upgrading signalling and installing drainage. The work done means that the Transpennine Route Upgrade is “firmly on track to deliver more frequent, faster trains on a cleaner, greener, more reliable railway”.

The TRU team has also prioritised diversity and sustainability, including through its Our Guiding Compass initiative.

A month-by-month summary of TRU’s 2023:

• January: route-wide upgrades completed by engineers over the New Year period
• February: platform foundations built and track realigned in Morley, to enable accessibility
• March: 26-day closure in Stalybridge for junction remodelling, signalling upgrades and platform work
• April: North West ‘Women in Rail’ event, helping to promote diversity, inclusion and career opportunities
• May: sustainability strategy, ‘Our Guiding Compass’, aims to improve lives across the North of England
• June: demolishing old platforms, building new platforms, installing footbridge and realigning signalling at Morley
• July: awarded “Excellent” rating by Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) for the Leeds Station Capacity Project
• August: launch of TRUST Centre in Huddersfield, boosting rail safety
• September: ‘Routes to Roots: A Platform for Art’ initiative, showcasing artwork created by students at Greenfield Station
• October: Hope Valley Railway Upgrade staff help Sheffield residents stem Storm Babet flood water by moving ballast bags in place,
• November: installation of overheard gantry and 3km of high voltage cables through the deep Marsh Lane Cutting between Leeds and Neville Hill
• December: £3.9 billion funding boost, ensuring the progression of key work in 2024 and beyond.

Neil Holm, Managing Director for TRU said, “I’m immensely proud of the work that has taken place this year and the milestones that we have achieved however, we wouldn’t have been able to complete this without the support of passengers, stakeholders and local communities. Together, we paved the way for an even more promising year next year and I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in this major programme of work. We look forward to seeing what 2024 has to offer, allowing us to transform rail travel across the North.”

Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director at TransPennine Express, said: “2023 has been a crucial year in our mission to make rail journeys across the North faster, greener, and more reliable. These major upgrades have impacted our services, and we would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience, as we work together with our colleagues across the rail industry to transform the railways in the North.”