The electrification of the trans-Pennine rail line has been welcomed as a potential catalyst for huge investment in Kirklees which could see Huddersfield station transformed.

Kirklees councillor Peter McBride said it offers “a truly transformational” chance for the area which needs to seize the opportunity to radically improve Huddersfield and Dewsbury and attract further investment.

He said: “The decision to continue re-electrification is perhaps the most important thing that could happen to Kirklees and, in particular, our two main towns of Huddersfield and Dewsbury.”

He said the decision now has to give the confidence to increase further inward investment and exploit new opportunities.

The Government has announced that electrification of key northern rail lines will now go ahead, just months after shelving the plans.
The Government has announced that electrification of key northern rail lines will now go ahead, just months after shelving the plans.

The case for expanding Huddersfield Railway Station was drawn up some years ago and includes a new Platform 9. It is the second busiest rail station in West Yorkshire with more than four million passengers each year.

It is hoped a new Platform 9 could be connected to the rest of the station by extending the existing pedestrian subway and introducing a new lift and stairs.

Clr McBride said Wednesday’s electrification announcement “is the opportunity to get platform 9 at Huddersfield open.”

He added: “We will now press the Combined Authority to exploit the benefits of platform 9 and to relocate the bus station in Dewsbury closer to the rail station. This opportunity is truly transformational.”

Rail bosses announced the electricification of the trans-Pennine line on Wednesday – three months after it was “paused”. It is expected to create six faster trains per hour on the line through Huddersfield and Dewsbury.

Clr Peter McBride

Network Rail will work with the Department for Transport and Rail North to develop the plan for the line between Stalybridge and Leeds and on to York and Selby, to focus on providing key passenger benefits as quickly as possible.

When the work is finished the whole route from Liverpool to Newcastle via Manchester, Leeds and York will be fully electrified and journey times will be significantly reduced.

The Huddersfield Examiner and Manchester Evening News launched a campaign after the scheme was halted, calling for it to be brought back on course.

The Upper Calder Valley Renaissance Sustainable Transport Group has welcomed the announcement –but called on the government to go further and commit to electrifying the Calder Valley routes through Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Brighouse and Halifax.

The group said that early electrification of the Calder Valley lines was essential in providing an alternative route for when the new trains have to be diverted from the Huddersfield route and has called for work to enable necessary improvements including re-signalling, track and junction improvements and the need for a passing facility at Halifax, and a new station at Elland.