Network Rail submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application to the Secretary of State for Transport for the Huddersfield to Westtown (Dewsbury) scheme.
The application involves upgrading the section of railway between Huddersfield and Westtown – about half a mile south-west of Dewsbury Station – which is said to be key to delivering the benefits passengers want along the Transpennine railway.
The current layout of railway in this area presently means Network rail can’t run more trains or faster trains than we currently do, making it a section of the track whcih can be a cause of delays.
The proposals include improving the railway between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) include:
- Double the number of tracks from two to four along the majority of the railway.
- Upgrading stations at Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield and providing a new station at Ravensthorpe.
- Separating sections of the track from each other with a bridge (fly-over) at Ravensthorpe.
- Electrification of the railway from Huddersfield to Ravensthorpe – and right through to Leeds.
Due to the pandemic, the face-to-face cosultation events that were meant to take place in Spring 2020 were cancelled, but Network Rail put the plans online so people could see and send back feedback. Through the first round of consultation 85% of those who responded so far support the scheme.
