The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU)

🛠️ TRU engineers took to the railway between Mossley and Dewsbury again this weekend, as part of our eight-weekend series of works throughout the area.   The upgrade work, which started on March 29, will continue every weekend until May 11 and forms a key part of TRU's wider plans to transform journeys across the North by:   ⚡ Installing overhead line equipment (OLE) foundations, which will power electric trains through the area in the future. 🛤️ Renewing track, for a faster, more reliable railway. 📈 Continued with work at stations, to make them more accessible and able to facilitate longer trains with more seats, once the upgrades are complete.

🚨 TRU is looking for a Principal Engineer E&P (Lead Discipline Engineer (E&P)). 📍 This is a full-time, permanent role based in Manchester or York. To view the full job description and to apply, please visit the post below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eN7ffDJ4

👋 It was great to welcome Lewis to the Transpennine Route Upgrade today, as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award journey! 🥇 After impressing the team with his volunteer work with the Friends of Batley station (FoBs), we invited Lewis — joined by his dad, Mick — for a behind-the-scenes tour along the route 👀 🚆 After leaving Batley, the train went through Ravensthorpe, Mirfield and Deighton, where Lewis asked some brilliant questions and got an overview of the transformational works taking place at each location. He even got to ride in style as the friendly conductor from TransPennine Express moved him into First Class! In Huddersfield, Lewis toured the station and got to see the newly installed station canopies — before heading to HD1, our main project hub. There, he explored the team space and took in the work from the top-level viewing platform. It’s inspiring to see such passion for rail, construction and engineering in general, so we hope to welcome Lewis back later this year for a visit to Ravensthorpe, the biggest civil engineering site in the North 👷♂️🛠️

Another TRU milestone in Huddersfield 🙌   🔍 We're excited to reveal the progress made on Huddersfield station's roof canopy. Work to modernise the listed railway station has been underway for over a year and now that part of the scaffolding on the building is being removed, the programme's newest set of upgrades have come to life.   🛠️ Inside the roof space above platforms 1 & 4, TRU engineers have preserved the canopy’s historic features while enhancing its durability for future generations. A standout refurbishment includes the extensive roof truss and renovated floral effect crests.   🚅 This achievement is part of transformative, wider TRU plans that will deliver a faster, greener and more reliable railway across the North.    With a section of the canopy roof project now complete, attention turns to the next phase of upgrades during a 30-day intense programme of activity between August and September, when the station is taken out of use. During this time, focus will move from the roof restoration work to track and platform remodelling across the entire station. 🛤️

✈️ Last week, Daniel Shurz and his son Noah made the 4,500-mile trip from Denver, Colorado to Huddersfield for a whistle-stop tour of TRU.   🎟️ They won the chance to get an exclusive look at what's happening on the biggest rail upgrade in the North, as part of a charity raffle organised by the Railway Benefit Fund.   🦺 Their unique experience included a run-through of the major upgrade work being carried out at Huddersfield station and a visit to HD1, a key hub for the programme. They also headed to Ravensthorpe, one of the biggest civil-engineering sites in the UK, to see the sheer scale of work being delivered there.   🚅 They wrapped up their tour at Hillhouse Sidings - a new depot that will support the maintenance, cleaning and storage of some of Northern's passenger fleet and engineering trains.   🤝 The Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) provides crucial support to rail workers and their families in times of need, offering financial assistance, mental health support, and grants. The charity raffle that secured Dan and Noah’s trip helps to fund these vital services.

Take a look at all things TRU from March in this month's newsletter! 👇

A major boost for rail in the North 🚀 📣 The Prime Minister has today confirmed an additional £415m for the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). This investment is about more than just railway upgrades - it’s about unlocking economic growth, creating jobs and delivering a more sustainable transport network. TRU is: 🚆 Delivering faster, more frequent services – up to six fast trains per hour between Leeds & Manchester 🧑💼 Boosting the economy – creating thousands of jobs & hundreds of apprenticeships, while supporting local businesses 🍃 Cutting carbon emissions – reducing CO₂ by up to 87,000 tonnes per year through full route electrification 📈 Enhancing passenger experience – upgrading stations & making travel more accessible As work progresses, TRU will transform connectivity across the North, helping businesses thrive, communities grow and customers get to where they need to be. https://lnkd.in/eSPtDs_B

💡 March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Every year, Brain Tumour Research, with support from the public, light up landmarks across the UK to bring awareness to the cause.   🩷💛 This evening (March 28) Leeds station, along with Liverpool Lime Street and London Kings Cross, will be lit up in Brain Tumour Research's signature pink and yellow colours. This initiative has been driven by TRU colleague, Alex Davies, whose glioblastoma diagnosis has pushed him to not just fight his own battle, but to raise awareness and help others. To date, he has raised over £6,000 for those affected by brain tumours.   Brain tumours can affect anyone at any age and Alex's story is just one of many across the country. If you'd like to read more on Alex's inspirational journey and find out how to donate, please visit https://lnkd.in/e_FJMBE8

💫 Last night, the TRU Social Value team were at the Spotlight Rail Awards where our efforts in the Corporate Social Responsibility category were recognised with the Highly Commended distinction.   📚 The recognition came as a result of 'Cones and the Transpennine Route Upgrade' - a book written in partnership with author Chris Madeley which aims to engage children and provide an insight into safety on the railway, the benefits the TRU programme will bring and fun facts about the places across our route.   Well done to our amazing Social Value team and to all the other nominees and winners. 🙌

It's your last chance to apply for the second cohort of the PlanBEE Rail apprenticeship - applications close Sunday, 23 March! 🚨 Apply now 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPwKPykp PlanBEE Rail is a pioneering apprenticeship to address skills shortages and give young people the chance to launch their careers in the rail industry. NSAR and Network Rail have joined forces with The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), Alstom, Amey, AmcoGiffen, Aureos, Balfour Beatty plc, BAM UK & Ireland, Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, Jacobs, Morgan Sindall Construction, Murphy, SYSTRA, TransPennine Express and VolkerRail Ltd. #PlanBEERail #Rail #Careers #Apprenticeships