SMART

Station performance: Slaithwaite and Marsden stations continue to have the worst rail service based on punctuality and cancellations in the country by some measurements with them being 2,541st and 2,445th respectively out of 2,635 stations [Source: www.ontimetrains.co.uk]. This puts them both in the bottom 10%.

Kirklees Transport Consultation: the council are consulting on their draft transport strategy. There are some good points in there like looking to ensure that all rail stations are fully accessible – as any user of the Marsden station stairs will I am sure support! There is currently nothing in there about ensuring two trains per hour at Slaithwaite and Marsden stations or supporting direct access to Leeds – residents may want to make these points as well as any others by responding to the consultation here before the deadline of Sunday 27^th April.

Letter in the Yorkshire Post: Our Chair wrote to the Yorkshire Post regarding the Transpennine Route Upgrade, planned closures and the lack of clarity on what the service benefits will be for our stations.

Weekend closures: Huddersfield station, and the entire route between Stalybridge and Mirfield, will be closed on weekends from 29^th March to 11^th May (except for the Easter weekend, when other arrangements will apply). During this period bus replacement will take place between Stalybridge and Huddersfield, and between Huddersfield and Brighouse. From 29^th March replacement buses will no longer call at Marsden station, but will run from the Peel Street bus stops on Manchester Road instead. Bus stop ID 45019366 for buses to Stalybridge/45019367 for buses to Huddersfield. On the weekends of 26/27 April and 3/4 May, the A670 (Uppermill High Street) will be closed to all traffic underneath Saddleworth Viaduct. Details at https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/planned-engineering-work.

Future closures: Huddersfield station, plus the route between Stalybridge and Deighton, will be completely closed from 30^th August for four weeks. Bus replacement will operate between Stalybridge and Huddersfield, and between Huddersfield and Brighouse. Brighouse will become a main interchange point between replacement buses and trains diverted along the Calder Valley route.

Through trains to and from Leeds: When Huddersfield station reopens on 29^th September, there will be only two through platforms so through trains from Marsden & Slaithwaite to and from Leeds at peak times will resume (mainly to get the extra peak stopping trains out of the way). This will continue until the next month-long closure (which will increase the number of through platforms at Huddersfield to four), currently expected to be in Autumn 2026. In line with the survey feedback, we continue to press for the reinstatement of through trains to and from Leeds on a permanent basis.

Prime Minister visit in Meltham: The Prime Minister visited Meltham on 28^th March to confirm additional money for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, after also suffering from a delayed train. Whilst this funding is very welcome, as a group we will continue to push the Transpennine Route Upgrade team and Transpennine Express for further consultation with residents and passengers, detail on what outcomes the project will deliver for our communities and detail on what arrangements will be put in place for the forthcoming month-long closure in September. We hope to be able to update on consultation events soon.