ENGINEERS have tested new electrification equipment installed as part of a multi-billion-pound upgrade to the railway line between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds.

The successful test train run follows work being completed by Tranpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) last year, which included the installation of overhead line electrification between Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge and Guide Bridge stations, the replacement of track to allow faster speeds, 25 new signals for closer spacing of trains and a higher-speed railway junction at Stalybridge.

Electric trains are set to run between Manchester and Stalybridge from the end of the year, bringing greener, faster and more reliable journeys to the route.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Work at Stalybridge last year as part of the TRUWork at Stalybridge last year as part of the TRU (Image: TRU)

This will be the first section of line to be electrified as part of the TRU, with the remainder of the route between Manchester and York set to be electrified in the future.

TRU is also delivering station improvements along the route, most notably at Huddersfield, where the listed station is to undergo a huge revamp.

Meanwhile, a new digital signalling system to improve the reliability of the line will be installed.

Upgrades also include doubling the number of tracks between Huddersfield and Dewsbury to allow for greater capacity, meaning more seats for passengers and opportunities for increased freight.

Neil Holm, Managing Director of TRU said: “This is a big achievement in our plans to bring cleaner, faster and better travel to the people of the North of England.

“People can see that TRU is very much in the delivery phase now and the benefits of all our teams’ hard work is starting to show. I would like to thank passengers and local residents who have supported us throughout the ongoing work.”

The train, which was a Northern Class 331, departed from Blackpool North and arrived at Manchester Piccadilly just before 12:00. It then travelled between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge station while the tests were undertaken.

Electric trains will next be tested on the Eastern section of TRU later in the year, between York and Church Fenton.

Meanwhile, a Kirklees road is to close for 10-weeks as the TRU work continues in West Yorkshire.

In preparation of the Dewsbury leg of the mammoth scheme, Ravensthorpe Road, between Station Approach and Calder Road will be closing from Monday, April 8. Work is anticipated to be complete by Monday, June 17 and will see two high pressure water mains redirected by Yorkshire Water.

To coincide with the road closure, and minimise further disruption, Northern Power Grid will also take the opportunity to complete repair works to their electric cables in the area at the same time.