Tag: TRU East Alliance

On 5 August 2025, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) team welcomed Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, along with David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to the route as they marked a significant milestone in the delivery of an electrified railway across the North.

Sunday 3 August saw the first electric passenger train run between York (Colton Junction) and Church Fenton. This means that 25% of the 70-mile Transpennine route is now electrified following the introduction of electric services between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge last year. By summer 2027 this will be 40%, with full-route electrification expected in 2030. 

Once complete, the programme will cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year and enable more rail freight, removing over 1000 lorries from the road daily.

“We have reached a key milestone as 25% of the route is now electrified. enabling greener, faster, and more reliable journeys between York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester in the future. The improvements are already bringing economic and social benefits along the route and wider communities across the North”, said TRU Managing Director, James Richardson.

Murphy has been delivering this work as part of the TRU East Alliance, consisting of Network Rail, Murphy, VolkerRail, Siemens and Systra.

To read more about the TRU East Alliance, please click here.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The first electric passenger train ran between York (Colton Junction) and Church Fenton on Sunday 3 August
  • By summer 2027, TRU will be 40% electrified, with full-route electrification expected in 2030
  • Once complete, the programme will cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year

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