About 5,000 people are currently employed across no fewer than 70 worksites to bring a once-in-a-generation railway upgrade to fruition.

Latest projections suggest the Transpennine Route Upgrade, including major works at Mirfield and Ravensthorpe, will cost about £11 billion.

A 70-mile section of the route between York and Manchester is alive with construction activity, with large-scale works ongoing at historic Huddersfield Station, nearby Deighton and Heaton Lodge Junction, near Battyeford, where a new 1km stretch of 'curve' track is being created.

This summer, TRU has awarded contracts of around £3 billion with the West and East alliances, and passengers are benefiting from the first electric train service operating between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

Now, a new managing director of the TRU has been announced to lead the ambitious electrification programme, which aims to deliver faster and greener journeys for millions in northern England.

James Richardson will spreadhead the Transpennine railway's transformation James Richardson will spearhead the Transpennine railway's transformation (Image: Network Rail) James Richardson is set to bring his extensive experience in major programmes to the role. He is currently the managing director of the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture delivering the HS2 London tunnels.

He said: "Leading this ambitious infrastructure programme of national importance is a huge source of pride for me.

"It will benefit millions of people by improving the connectivity between towns and cities."

Mr Richardson will assume his new role in the new year.

He has previously held roles as Infrastructure MD and Rail Sector Director, and has worked on programmes including HS1, M25DBFO, Crossrail, Northern Hub, Wessex Capacity Alliance and Thameslink.

The major roof works at Huddersfield Station earlier this yearThe major roof works at Huddersfield Station earlier this year (Image: T&A)

Rob McIntosh, Network Rail’s North West and Central Managing Director, said: “Given the scale of our works - one of the biggest programmes in Europe and carried out on a live railway - I am really happy we’ve appointed a very capable leader who can manage our unique challenges and lead TRU to continued success.”

The programme has invested £500m with local businesses so far and is recruiting sustainably, with 85 per cent of the team living within 40-miles.

TRU is already halfway to achieving one target of awarding 600 apprenticeships, and well on with delivering 25,000 hours of volunteering in the community. The programme is also committed to engaging with over 100,000 young people through the inclusive education scheme.

Ensuring there is step-free access at stations across the route with more services and faster, cleaner, greener trains, TRU will aim to remove up to 2,000 lorries a day from the roads with increased capacity for freight.