Home » TRAVEL NEWS » Disruption Expected On Rail Services Between Manchester and Leeds, Due To Upcoming Engineering Work
Friday, August 1, 2025
Rail passengers commuting from Manchester to Leeds will face major disruptions in August, as engineering works are carried out on various important routes across West Yorkshire. The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) works will take place across three weekends from August 2nd and are likely to disrupt services between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Greater Manchester.
Engineering Work and Its Impact
The planned engineering work will impact essential routes, including the busy connection between Manchester and Leeds. Specifically, trains will not be running through Huddersfield for the weekends of August 2nd-3rd, 9th-10th, and 16th-17th. Passengers can expect rail replacement bus services to take over between Stalybridge, Huddersfield, and Dewsbury, ensuring some level of transportation during the disruptions.
For travelers, it’s crucial to stay informed. Services will be temporarily replaced with buses, and train routes will be diverted. However, weekday services will remain unaffected by the ongoing work. As the affected period spans three weekends, passengers should check schedules through nationalrail.co.uk or directly with their service providers to stay updated on changes.
Scope of the Transpennine Route Upgrade
The Transpennine Route Upgrade is a £10.7 billion project aimed at enhancing the rail network between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York. The upgrade involves significant improvements, such as the installation of 1.2 miles of new track, new foundations for overhead line equipment (OLE) to support the electrification of the line, and the construction of a new bridge deck over Station Road in Mirfield.
This is part of a larger effort to provide faster, more reliable, and environmentally-friendly rail services across the Pennines. The full completion of the project is expected to take place by 2036, at which point travelers can anticipate improved journey times and more frequent trains, with better overall service reliability.
Huddersfield and Deighton Station Closures
One of the key elements of the ongoing upgrade work will affect Huddersfield Railway Station, which will be completely closed for a 30-day period from August to September. During this time, both platforms and tracks will be worked on, leading to additional travel disruptions. Passengers looking to travel through the station will need to plan alternate routes or utilize rail replacement services.
In addition to the Huddersfield closure, Deighton Station will undergo a major rebuild starting on August 30th. The station will be closed for the duration of the construction, with the project set for completion in 2027. These extended closures and construction projects are part of a comprehensive plan to modernize and enhance the rail infrastructure in the region.
What Travelers Should Know
For those planning to travel over the affected weekends, the primary concern is ensuring alternative transportation options are accounted for. Since train services will not be available on certain weekends, rail replacement buses will be provided, although they may not offer the same convenience as direct rail services.
Train services operated by TransPennine Express will also be interrupted, with no services running between Manchester and Leeds and no trains calling at Huddersfield. Travelers are advised to use rail replacement buses for these routes, which may extend travel times and cause some inconvenience for those relying on fast, direct service.
As construction progresses over the coming months, passengers will need to plan accordingly, especially with the extended closures at Huddersfield and Deighton stations. This level of disruption could affect regional tourism, particularly for travelers heading to key destinations such as Leeds and Manchester.
Impact on Tourism and Future Outlook
The engineering works come at a time when tourism in the region is experiencing a steady rise, with travelers seeking to explore northern cities like Leeds, Manchester, and York. The disruptions could impact leisure travel, as visitors looking to use the rail network may face delays or detours, especially those unfamiliar with the rail replacement bus services.
However, once completed, the upgrades are expected to provide a significant boost to the region’s tourism sector, offering faster, more sustainable travel options. The enhanced rail network will make it easier for tourists to explore the Pennines, making it a more attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors.
The long-term benefits of these upgrades cannot be understated. As the project progresses, the region’s transportation infrastructure will offer more efficient services, helping to improve both business and leisure travel. This, in turn, will likely drive further tourism growth in the coming years, once the disruptions have subsided.
Looking Ahead: Continued Disruptions
Services will run again after each weekend of engineering work but the disruption is set to last until the project ends. Travelers should keep in touch with updates and arrange for alternative transportation when appropriate, especially during the busy travel seasons.
Since these projects (and thus consturction zones) are longer term, it is important we know about them and have the opportunity to plan travels accordingly.
Although the current engineering work on the Transpennine Route signals a short-term pain, it indicates in long term one gain with smoother, greener and faster rail services for passengers. That being said, anyone travelling to Leeds and Manchester or beyond these cities should prepare accordingly for a stress-free trip.
