Piling work signals welcome start of Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade electrification
26 APR, 2021 BY
CLAIRE SMITH
Network Rail has said that overnight piling work has started as part of work to electrify the railway between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) scheme.
The TRU project will improve train capacity and reliability from Manchester to York, via Huddersfield and Leeds but there are a number of smaller improvements needed to deliver the overall scheme.
Transport for the North has welcomed progress on the scheme but has called on the government to confirm the full extent of the project and to publish the Integrated Rail Plan, which is expected to include the project, in full. Transport for the North has said that committing to full electrification of the line would cut carbon emissions and provide additional track capacity to reduce bottlenecks.
The current phase of steel piling work between Collyhurst and Miles Platting will create foundations for planned mast and overhead electrification equipment and follows on from embankment reconstruction work in the area. The piling work is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Network Rail director for TRU Neil Holm said: “The overnight piling is early enabling work as part of future plans to electrify the line between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, via Ashton, to improve passenger journeys. By its nature, piling can be a disruptive activity and so we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience it may cause. We will be engaging closely with local communities who live near the railway to keep them informed of progress and what it means to them.”
According to Network Rail, once the electrification is completed, it will enable quieter and more reliable train journeys between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.
Transport for the North has welcomed progress on the project and the organisation’s strategic rail director David Hoggarth said: “Upgrading the existing Trans-Pennine route has long been seen as a key building block in delivering a better rail network for the North. It’s finally underway after years in the planning and – once delivered – it’ll speed up journeys, increase reliability and connect communities along the line much better than today.
“It’s critical we have better rail links across the Pennines and TRU – alongside a fully new line via Bradford as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail – will provide just that. Fully electrifying the existing line and freeing up capability to move freight from our ports onto rail would support our mission to make journeys in the North greener and more sustainable.
“Through everything, passengers must come first. It’s essential that, as this long-promised project gets underway, all those involved in the programme do everything possible to minimise disruption for travellers and we will be working closely with the rail industry and our partners on this throughout the course of its delivery.”