As the Transpennine Route Upgrades begins the next stage of its work in Huddersfield, the A641 Bradford Road / Northgate will close for two weekends in early June.

Network Rail is reminding road users to plan their journey in advance, noting that the road will be closed from:

• 23:45 on Friday 31 May to 05:00 on Monday 3 June 2024
• 23:45 on Friday 7 June to 05:00 on Sunday 9 June 2024

Workers will be strengthening Huddersfield viaduct, in preparation for new track to be laid over the structure, which had a new bridge deck installed earlier this year.

The road closures will allow worker access to complete ground excavations and concrete pouring work, which are part of the reinforcement process.

Signposts along the A641 will indicate diversions, with clear directions of the best route to take.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade includes upgrading Huddersfield station, which was built in 1847, to enable faster, longer and more frequent trains to operate along the route between Manchester, Leeds and York.

This includes reconstructing the platform layout, increasing the number of tracks from three to four and installing a accessible footbridge with lifts.

Work on the station has progressed over recent weeks, including a significant amount of work over the recent Easter period.

This has included completing mitigation work in the area and starting work on the station’s iconic roof canopy, which is to be repaired and restored as part of the improvements.

More upcoming disruption

Transpennine Route Upgrade work will also disrupt train services between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds from Mondays to Fridays, 24 hours a day, from Monday 24 June to Friday 19 July.

TransPennine Express will:

• divert services between Huddersfield and Leeds to not run through Dewsbury.
• run rail replacement bus services between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds.
• start and terminate services from Hull at Leeds.
• start and terminate services from Saltburn to Manchester Airport at Manchester Victoria.
• run rail replacement bus services between Huddersfield and Manchester Airport via Stockport.

Northern will:

• divert services between Leeds and Wigan via Brighouse to not run through Dewsbury.
• run rail replacement bus services between Halifax, Brighouse, Dewsbury and Leeds.

Services between Marsden, Huddersfield and Mirfield will also be affected on Saturdays and Sundays over the next five weekends. Northern and TPE will run amended timetables.

• 18-19 May
• 25-26 May
• 1-2 June
• 8-9 June
• 15-16 June

“We appreciate that closing roads such as the A641 causes a great deal of inconvenience in the local area, so I’d like to thank the community in Huddersfield for their patience and understanding while this work takes place.

“To minimise disruption and keep the closure as brief as possible, our team will be working around the clock throughout the day and night to complete these rail upgrades. The work will ultimately contribute to providing an improved railway service and an upgraded station to rail users in Huddersfield.”

Gareth Hope, Sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade