Rolling towards UK electric rail travel

Electric trains are planned to operate in the North of England after Network Rail's Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Improvements to Stalybridge station in Greater Manchester are being celebrated as the latest and largest phase of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

After a 26-day closure, the station now has a remodelled full junction, 2km of new track with 23 new signals, 13 upgraded crossovers as well as new overhead line equipment for future electrification.

Plans are to electrify the whole 76-mile route between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds.

The improvements will also allow more trains to run with up to six fast services every hour between Leeds and Manchester and up to two stopping services for local connectivity.

Network Rail says that journeys will be faster, with 63-66 minutes forecast between Manchester and York, and 41-42 minutes between Manchester and Leeds. They also say stations will be better and more accessible, and hope to save 87,000t of carbon emissions.