Coinciding with the official opening of a new fully-accessible second platform at Castleford in West Yorkshire was the start of a new train service to York and Manchester.

TransPennine Express started the new service yesterday, Monday, 11 December, operating four return journeys a day, which for the first time since the 1970s will provide a regular direct link to York.

The new service is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, that is designed to provide more frequent, faster trains between York, Leeds and Manchester on a cleaner, greener and more reliable railway.

The second platform is served by an accessible footbridge with stairs and lifts that link it to the recently enhanced station building and facilities, and is the first major station improvement scheme to be delivered by the Transpennine Route.

The improvements to the station, tracks, and signalling has increased the station’s capacity, that will improve the reliability of existing services and add capacity for more trains to run through Castleford. It will also allow use of the Castleford line for diversions during major upgrades of the main line between York and Leeds.

£720,000 of station improvements are being made to the station as part of Transpennine Route Upgrades ‘First & Last Mile’ programme, which will improve access to the station, provide public artwork, and fund installation of CCTV.

Hannah Lomas, Industry Programme Director for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “The opening of the new platform and completion of the upgrade to the line through Castleford heralds a major moment in our efforts to transform travel across the North.

“It revitalises rail for those travelling to, through or from the town and also means that going forward we’ll be able to keep passengers moving on trains by diverting them via Castleford while we deliver future elements the major Transpennine Route Upgrade.

“I’m proud of how hard our teams have worked in close conjunction with our partners to deliver a fully-accessible, better-served station for the people of the town.

“I’d also like to thank the local community for their patience while these improvements have been taking place and hope they experience the benefits that this upgrade will bring for years to come.”

Chris Jackson, Managing Director for TransPennine Express, said: “We are delighted to announce the first direct train between Castleford and York in more than 50 years. This service, introduced in our December timetable change, will boost connectivity across West Yorkshire.

“This significant milestone is a direct benefit of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, and our collaboration with Network Rail, Northern, and other industry partners.

“Over the coming years, our customers will start to experience more of the benefits of these upgrades, as we work together with our colleagues across the industry to transform the railways in the North. For TPE specifically, this infrastructure enables a key diversionary route, allowing us to keep customers on the move throughout engineering works and other disruption.”

Rob Warnes, Strategic Development Director for Northern, said: “This new platform is a significant investment for the community, and it is the final piece of the puzzle in the transformation of Castleford’s station. With the station and new platform now being fully accessible, we’ll have better resilience and more reliable trains whilst the railway is being upgraded for the future.”

Yvette Cooper MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, said: “The new platform and the trains from Castleford to York and Manchester are a huge step forward, following years of local campaigning for better train services for the Five Towns. This is a great opportunity to link us better with cities across the north. But we need to build on it with better and more reliable connections across the Five Towns.”