Tag: Network Rail

Unlocking faster, greener journeys

Over the last few weeks, colleagues working on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) have been hard at work completing several impressive milestones across five consecutive weekends of critical work between Leeds and York.

Murphy is working on TRU as part of the TRU East Alliance, formed of Network Rail, Murphy, Siemens, Systra and VolkerRail.

The recent works, which will support the electrification of the railway, have included:

Following overhead line equipment (OLE) mast installation earlier in the year, 7.5km of wiring has now been completed between Micklefield and Church Fenton, which will unlock faster, greener journeys in the future. Just to the east of this location, electric passenger services between York and Church Fenton are set to launch in the coming months, following last year’s successful switch-on between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

In Cross Gates, Station Road bridge was also safely demolished and replaced so that OLE can be installed throughout the area. You can watch the project team carrying out the bridge replacement in the video below.

Around 750m of track was renewed between Killingbeck and Cross Gates, which will support smoother, more reliable travel. A new track crossover was also installed, allowing trains to switch lines more easily and give the TRU programme more flexibility for future upgrades.

TRU will ultimately see 70-miles of fully electric, digital railway revolutionise travel in the North of England. In addition to the milestone already reached, future plans include:

  • Electrifying the whole route between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds 
  • Installing a new digital signalling system along the Transpennine route
  • Doubling the number of tracks from two to four between Huddersfield and
    Westtown in Dewsbury.
  • Station improvements along the route to enhance customer experience, comfort and accessibility

Improving the railway on diversionary routes to allow more trains to run, helping passengers and freight on the move while the core Transpennine route is closed to deliver essential upgrades. This will provide capacity and reliability improvements for the future too.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Several impressive milestones completed across five consecutive weekends of critical work between Leeds and York
  • 7.5km of wiring now completed between Micklefield and Church Fenton
  • Station Road bridge safely demolished and replaced
  • 750m of track was renewed between Killingbeck and Cross Gates

50 new bridge sections and a 350m³ concrete bridge deck will replace the original 1958 bridge structure

On behalf of our customer, Network Rail, Murphy has been hard at work preparing for the replacement of the Greek Street bridge, located in the centre of Stockport, Greater Manchester. The 67-year-old bridge structure carries a roundabout with four approach roads, and beneath the bridge, five electrified railway lines carry trains on the West Coast Main Line from Manchester to London, as well as routes to Chester, Crewe, Sheffield, and the Peak District.

Our team’s preparation of the Greek Street site included the installation of a temporary scaffold bridge, completed over Christmas 2024. The Greek Street roundabout, located on top of the bridge structure, was closed to traffic in March 2025. Our engineers have focused this summer on the temporary diversion of all existing statutory services, such as water and electricity, to ensure local communities have access to necessary services during the work.

From 2 – 22 August, an unprecedented 21-day railway closure will take place. The closure will involve lowering the existing overhead line equipment to track level, cutting and removing the bridge in 130 sections using two 1000-tonne cranes. Subsequently, 50 new bridge sections will be installed, the overhead line equipment reinstated, and 350m³ concrete bridge deck constructed.

After the blockade, waterproofing the structure will take place, followed by statutory service reinstatement into the new structure, removal of the temporary scaffold bridge, and installation of the new carriageway.

Once completed, the new bridge is expected to last 120 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 50 new bridge sections will be installed
  • 350m³ concrete bridge deck
  • Once completed, the new bridge is expected to last 120 years