Huddersfield-Leeds rail disruption warning as upgrade work begins

Rail commuters in West Yorkshire have been warned to expect disruption as work on the line between Huddersfield and Leeds gets under way.

The work in the Dewsbury, Morley and Batley areas would start on Monday and last for five days, Network Rail said.

A spokesperson said diversions and rail replacement buses would be in place and passengers should plan their journeys.

The works, part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, were described by TransPennine Express as "important".

Further rail upgrades would take place in Huddersfield over the next two weekends, the Network Rail spokesperson added.

Jonathan Hepton, a sponsor of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: "The works being carried out across the Morley, Batley and Dewsbury areas are an important step in the progress being made by the Transpennine Route Upgrade team."

Between Monday and Friday, TransPennine Express services between Huddersfield and Leeds would not run through Dewsbury, with rail replacement buses in place, according to Network Rail.

Services from Hull would start and terminate at Leeds, while buses would operate between Huddersfield and Manchester Airport, a spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Northern services between Leeds and Wigan via Brighouse would not run through Dewsbury and rail replacement bus services would also run between Halifax, Brighouse, Dewsbury and Leeds.

Chris Nutton, major projects director at TransPennine Express, described the upgrades in Morley and Dewsbury as "essential for the delivery of more reliable services for our customers, as well as the delivery of the upgraded Morley station".

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