An update from South Yorkshire Transport Forum about Manchester and Sheffield Trains

13th March 2024

Engineering work which will be affecting train services between Manchester and Sheffield

We wanted to take this opportunity to keep you updated on the significant amount of engineering work which will be affecting train services between Manchester and Sheffield between 16^th and 24^th March and Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York between 29^th March and 7^th April.

Due to the volume of work taking place, we’ve tried to include as much information as possible, however for specific journey details we recommend you visit the TransPennine Express planned engineering work webpage Planned Engineering Works | TransPennine Express (tpexpress.co.uk) or check our Journey Check facility: http://www.journeycheck.com/tpexpress/.

• Hope Valley Railway Upgrade - Saturday 16^th March to Sunday 24^th March:

Engineering work will affect train services that run between Sheffield and Nottingham and between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly. This work is part of the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, a programme of upgrades to remove bottlenecks and increase capacity between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly. During these works, the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade will be delivering the completion and opening of the new platform, footbridge, and lifts at Dore & Totley station. Additionally, the programme will deliver track installation and track drainage work in Dore & Totley, follow up work on the new track at Grindleford, recovery of redundant signalling equipment, and final commissioning of the new signalling system.

To keep people moving during this time, our services between Liverpool Lime Street and Cleethorpes will be split into three:

• An hourly shuttle service will run between Doncaster and Cleethorpes. Customers will need to change at Doncaster for onward connections
• A two-hourly service will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield, diverted via Huddersfield. It will not call at Stockport. Journey times will be increased due to the diversionary route
• A shuttle service will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Oxford Road. Customers should change at Manchester Oxford Road for onward travel.

There will be a two-hourly rail replacement service which will run directly between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield. These will run in the opposite hour of the train service. The estimated journey time is 98 minutes. Between Monday 18^th March until Friday 22^nd March, there will be a select amount of rail replacement services which will run between Dore & Totley and Stockport at peak times. The estimated journey time is 80 minutes. There will also be a rail replacement service which will run from Dore & Totley to Sheffield at 08:05 every morning. The estimated journey time is 25 minutes.

• Huddersfield 10-day blockade from Friday 29^th March to Sunday 7^th April

Network Rail is carrying out major improvement works in Huddersfield as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. During the 10 day blockade, the following works will be delivering:

• Roof canopy work at Huddersfield station
• Mining remediation works at Huddersfield and Ravensthorpe
• The installation of a new bridge deck on Huddersfield Viaduct
• Track work in the Deighton and Mirfield areas

As a result, TransPennine Express will not be able to run through Huddersfield station. Additionally, train services will be diverted on some parts of the network and may be running to an amended timetable, meaning journey times may be extended.

Changes to TPE Services - Friday 29^th March to Saturday 30^th March, Monday 1^st April and Saturday 6^th April

• Services that run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds will run to an amended timetable, with journey times extended. These services will be diverted and will not run through Huddersfield, instead calling at Brighouse.
• Services that run between Saltburn and Manchester Airport will start/terminate at Manchester Victoria, additionally calling at Ravensthorpe and Cottingley. Whilst services from Hull will start/terminate at Leeds.
• A local stopping shuttle service will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Marsden, with a rail replacement bus service running between Marsden and Huddersfield calling at Slaithwaite. A Huddersfield – York via Castleford replacement bus will also run (limited service).
• Rail replacement buses will operate between Huddersfield – Manchester Airport/Manchester Piccadilly and will also operate Huddersfield – Brighouse and Huddersfield – Mirfield

Changes to TPE Services on Sunday 31th March

• No services will be able to run between Dewsbury and Manchester due to the rail improvement works. As a result, Newcastle services will start/terminate at Leeds and services from Liverpool Lime Street will start/terminate at Manchester Victoria.
• Services from Hull/Saltburn will start/terminate at Dewsbury. Saltburn services will additionally call additionally at Cottingley, Morley and Batley.
• A local stopping shuttle service will run between Manchester Piccadilly and Marsden, with a rail replacement bus service running between Marsden and Huddersfield, calling at Slaithwaite.
• Rail replacement buses will run between Huddersfield – Manchester Airport/Manchester Piccadilly and will also operate between Huddersfield – Dewsbury – Leeds.

Changes to TPE Services - Tuesday 2^nd to Friday 5^th April

• Services that run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds will run to an amended timetable, with journey times extended. These services will be diverted and will not run through Huddersfield, instead calling at Brighouse. Services that run between Saltburn and Manchester Airport will start/terminate at Manchester Victoria, additionally calling at Ravensthorpe. Whilst services from Hull will start/terminate at Leeds.
• A shuttle service will run between Dewsbury and Leeds calling at Batley, Morley and Cottingley.
• Rail replacement buses will operate between Huddersfield – Manchester Airport/Manchester Piccadilly and will also operate Huddersfield – Brighouse and Huddersfield – Mirfield. A Huddersfield – York via Castleford replacement bus will also run (limited service)

We hope that this information helps in planning for journeys over the affected period while these investment works are completed.  Please use the links provided for further information and to check the status of journeys.