A scheme to widen the railway in Huddersfield is going to involve considerable changes to the rail network in this part of the country.
A scheme to widen the railway in Huddersfield is going to involve considerable changes to the rail network in this part of the country.
The project, which is expected to cost £1 billion, will see the railway from Huddersfield to Dewsbury widened. However, as YorkshireLive reported, this will result in significant changes along the route.
The news provider revealed that a dozen bridges on the railway between Huddersfield railway station and Ravensthorpe will either need to be replaced or adapted in order to accommodate the wider railway, which is expanding from two to four tracks.
In addition, overhead lines will also be installed along the length of the railway and several tunnels on the route will also need to be adapted.
According to the publication, one of the most significant changes will be the demolition of the Grade II listed Colne Bridge. In its updated plans for the route, Network Rail has also revealed that Leeds Road will need to be closed for a time to allow workers to replace the bridge at Deighton.
The issue with the bridges along the line is that they either aren’t wide enough or high enough to accommodate the expansion of the railway.
Wheatley’s Bridge, which is also Grade II listed, is another of those on the line that will be demolished and replaced.
Other work that will take place as part of the project is the replacement of the metallic section of the Colne Viaduct, the widening of Red Doles Road Bridge and strengthening works on the Huddersfield Viaduct and Northgate Bridge.
With the consultation phase almost over, it is hoped that work on the large project will begin in 2022.
It’s part of a wider scheme of work to update the Transpennine Route, with a total cost of £2.9 billion.
According to Network Rail, the scheme will see updates to the railway between York and Manchester, via Leeds and Huddersfield. The aim is to “deliver a high-performing, reliable railway for passengers with more seats, more trains and faster journeys” along the route.
The organisation also revealed that it intends to make major upgrades to stations on the eight-mile stretch of line between Huddersfield and Dewsbury, which are Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.
Network Rail also revealed that, in its first round of consultations with the public, 85 per cent of respondents supported the scheme. As a result, the organisation stated that it understands “how important it is to passengers and the community that we deliver the benefits of the upgrade”.
In addition to widening the railway to allow more services to run, the work will also make the railway more environmentally friendly, by electrifying the route. This could also result in quieter trains, which will benefit those living closest to the tracks.
The station upgrades, meanwhile, will also result in a more accessible railway service for passengers.
A project of this scale and complexity will require expert engineers to assist with many aspects, including those relating to the redesign, strengthening, widening or replacement of bridges. If you need assistance with structure sliding, bridge repairs or tunnel repairs, contact our experts today.