TRU Stakeholder Update February 2025

Welcome to the first edition of the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s monthly stakeholder updates, providing an overview of our progress and upcoming work. 

As a multi-billion-pound transformative railway programme in the North of England, TRU recognises the importance of keeping our stakeholders informed and involved as we work to deliver more reliable, faster, and greener train services for our customers and communities.

Key updates at a glance:

  • Major progress made across the route over Christmas and New Year

  • Bridge installed in Huddersfield, in preparation for an increased number of rail tracks  

  • £175,000 TRU community fund released to volunteer groups and more to come

  • TRU driving job creation, according to industry leaders

  • Our latest rail blockades planned for 2025, as TRU continues to increase construction

Mayor for West Yorkshire shows her support for TRU. Mayor for West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, enjoyed a cab ride along part of the TRU route, between Leeds and Huddersfield on Monday January 6. TransPennine Express, who alongside Northern and Network Rail make up the TRU Enterprise, hosted the Mayor with Managing Director Chris Jackson providing an overview of progress on the TRU.

TRU FAST FACTS

  • TRU is an £10.7bn electric railway upgrade, which aims to:

    • Provide 15% quicker journeys between York and Manchester on reliable electric trains. 

    • Offer up to six fast services every hour (from four per hour) between Leeds and Manchester.

    • Halve time lost to delays on trans-Pennine services.

    • Deliver early benefits with electric trains running now between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

  • We've created 5000 jobs on TRU to date, and 85% of colleagues come from within 40 miles of the route. We will create over 8000 jobs during the duration of the programme.

  • We’re expanding freight provision – widening tunnels so shipping container can travel from between ports on the east and west of the country via rail, helping remove up to 2000 lorries a day from the clogged roads across the Pennines. 

  • While working on a live railway, we are keeping customers updated with comprehensive customer handling plans.

  • We have improved the railway on three diversionary routes to allow more trains to run, to help keep customers and freight moving while the core Transpennine route is disrupted to deliver essential works.

Cristina Schek