Transpennine Route Upgrade public consultation – Standedge to Gledholt

Posted on February 16, 2026 by admin

As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) Network Rail are proposing a number of changes between Standedge and Gledholt (Huddersfield).

This includes upgrades at Marsden and Slaithwaite stations, the reconstruction of various bridges and highways, and the installation of new track, signalling and cabling.

They will also be setting up some temporary construction compounds for their teams to be based out of [note for pedants: it was Network Rail, not us, who ended a sentence with a preposition.]. They are keen to share these proposals with the local community and hear feedback on their plans.

The works represented in this public consultation do not include the entirety of the activities between Standedge and Gledholt.

Residents, businesses and stakeholders are now being encouraged to view the plans and provide feedback as part of a public consultation period running from today (Monday 16 February) until Friday 27 March 2026.

The proposals can be viewed online via a dedicated virtual consultation room at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/standedge-to-gledholt-scheme

In addition, members of the project team will be available at the following in-person events:

– Tuesday 24 February 2026, 2:30pm – 6:30pm at Slaithwaite Community Centre, Bank Gate, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5DL

– Thursday 26 February 2026, 2:30pm – 6:30pm at Marsden Mechanics, Peel Street, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6BW

If you think the timings are a bit awkward for regular commuters, then you would not be the first to have pointed this out.

Proposals for the rebuilding of both Slaithwaite and Marsden stations would provide amongst other things full accessibility to all platforms, and we broadly support these.

The virtual consultation also has information on bridge reconstructions along the route, and potential locations for temporary construction compounds.

SMART has been pushing for consultation on this project, how it affects our communities and what outcomes it will deliver for our communities, for several years now.

One of the things we would like to see is a commitment that the completed scheme will provide an outcome of two stopping trains per hour throughout the day for Marsden and Slaithwaite. Our view is that any meaningful consultation will include consideration of what the completed scheme will deliver for passengers and residents in Marsden and Slaithwaite. It’s a lot easier to put up with “years of severe disruption” (Network Rail’s words not ours) if we have a clear and unambiguous commitment to two stopping trains per hour.

For ease of reference we have uploaded the pdf versions of the consultation documents here. responses to the consultation need to be given either using the Network Rail link above or in person at the drop-in consultation events.

NR_TRU_W2C_Public_ConsultationDownload
NR_TRU_W2C_Public_Consultation_VisualisationsDownload
NR_TRU_W2C_Public_Consultation_PlansDownload
NR_TRU_W2C_Public_Consultation_Wider_Works_ListDownload
Posted in accessibility, Electrification, Marsden, Slaithwaite, Transpennine Route Upgrade | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport Update – Jan 2026

Posted on February 1, 2026 by admin

Here are the latest updates from SMART:

  • ‘Talking Transport’ event in Marsden: West Yorkshire Combined Authority and local councillor Matthew McLoughlin discussed the West Yorkshire ‘Weaver Network’, local transport and took questions on future plans at Marsden Mechanics on 28th January. A recording will be added to the Talking Transport Your Voice page.
  • Transpennine Route Upgrade: we have been informed that public consultation will likely take place in February in relation to our stations. We will update as soon as we know anymore and continue to press for improvements to accessibility and connectivity for Slaithwaite and Marsden.
  • Upcoming Works:
    • Weekends of 31 Jan/1 Feb and 7-8 Feb: our part of the lines is closed with a rail replacement bus operating between Stalybridge and Huddersfield
    • 14-22 Feb: Manchester Piccadilly will be effectively closed for major upgrades, meaning our services will have a changed timetable and operate via Manchester Victoria instead.
    • Please check the TPE website for all details: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/planned-engineering-work
  • Northern Powerhouse Rail: The government announced earlier this month that Northern Powerhouse Rail will be a three phase scheme with new infrastructure planned between Manchester and Leeds in the third phase. We are awaiting further detail about what this means for our part of the line. Further detail: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-billion-pound-drive-to-transform-rail-and-growth-across-yorkshire-and-north-east

In terms of station performance, Slaithwaite and Marsden stations continue to have some of the worst rail service based on punctuality and cancellations in the country at 2,393rd and 2,356th respectively out of 2,637 stations [Source: www.ontimetrains.co.uk]. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Waiting an hour for the next one”

Posted on January 29, 2026 by admin

“We believe that Northerners have had to put up with a second rate rail system for far too long, and we want a ‘turn-up-and-go railway’. No more faffing around with looking at the timetable before you go to the station.

“No more worrying if you miss your train, that you’re going to have to wait for an hour for the next one. We think that people in the north of England, in the northwest of England, deserve a service that people in London and the southeast of England get.”

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, 22nd January 2026

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport Update – Nov 2025 

Posted on December 7, 2025 by admin

Representatives of SMART had the opportunity to discuss the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) with staff from TRU this month. Here are the main points:

  • Consultation: will begin with residents and businesses for the Huddersfield to Marsden section in early 2026 (provisionally February). They then intend to consult on relevant planning documents in Autumn/Winter 2026 and submit for approval to the Department for Transport in 2028. The Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) for Stalybridge to Diggle is currently in its consultation period, deadline 19th December.
  • Closures: there will be about 15 weeks of closures somewhere on the route every year, alongside significant disruption on most weekends. Some of these will not directly affect us but always check the TRU and TPE websites for the latest. Our feedback on rail replacement services is being considered – including real time bus tracking! We reiterated concerns about the current lack of accessibility at Marsden station through not using the accessible platform. TRU stated that due to the layout of the track, using that platform would require each train to take an three additional minutes which would not be possible with the current timetable. They say that the issue will only be fixed when TRU is complete – which is very disappointing.
  • Station Upgrades: both Marsden and Slaithwaite will have fully accessible, three platform stations served by footbridges and lifts. Slaithwaite will gain a new car park on Crimble Bank that will mean a significant net addition in parking. Consideration is also being given to making Crimble Bank one way for the short stretch where the road goes under the railway for safety reasons. Marsden station parking changes are subject to further discussions between TRU and Kirklees Council, with further work needed to align with the Marsden Masterplan.
  • Future Service Patterns: TRU are still unable to guarantee that all this disruption will actually lead to any benefit for Colne Valley rail users in terms of rail service. This is because they keep saying it will allow ‘up to two trains’ per hour – the same as now. SMART believes that any meaningful consultation about the project must include discussion about what outcomes the completed scheme will deliver for our communities, and specifically about the need for an increased frequency.  SMART continues to push for a half hourly service for Slaithwaite and Marsden – and has raised this issue again with TRU and our MP. If people are concerned about this then do please write to your Councillors, MP or others to make this point.

In terms of station performance, Slaithwaite and Marsden stations continue to have some of the worst rail service based on punctuality and cancellations in the country at 2,485th and 2,439th respectively out of 2,638 stations [Source: www.ontimetrains.co.uk]. 

Posted in Campaigning, Marsden, Slaithwaite, Transpennine Route Upgrade | Tagged , , | Leave a comment