TransPennine Express (TPE) has announced that several engineering works will take place from this weekend and over the next few months, including the Christmas period, which will affect journeys out of Manchester. The works form part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade, a multi-billion-pound programme of railway improvements happening in the North. TPE will divert some services and run rail replacement buses where a diversion isn’t possible.
Late October: the York line
During the closure, the only TPE train to and from York on weekends will be the hourly York to Scarborough service, calling at Malton and Seamer.
From 26 to 30 October, services between Manchester Piccadilly and York via Castleford will run only between Manchester Piccadilly and Wakefield Kirkgate. Manchester Victoria to Scarborough services will split at Leeds, so check where your train ends before you set off.
RMT conductors have also planned industrial action on Sundays 11, 18 and 25 October, on top of the engineering work on those dates.
November: Sheffield, Liverpool and Leeds
On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, TPE will divert Manchester to Sheffield trains, and they will not call at Stockport. Services from Piccadilly will run via Stalybridge, Huddersfield and Wakefield Kirkgate instead.
On Sunday 8 November, there are no trains between Liverpool Lime Street and Warrington Central, and buses will replace them. Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street services run on the Saturday only, and Oxford Road to Warrington Central services run on the Sunday only.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, Manchester Victoria to Dewsbury trains will divert via Brighouse, and Leeds to York trains will divert via Castleford. The extra peak services between Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds will not run.
December: the Airport and Christmas
On Sunday 6 December, no TPE trains run between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly. Rail replacement buses will link Manchester Victoria, Piccadilly and the Airport. Glasgow and Edinburgh services will terminate at Piccadilly, and Redcar Central services will terminate at Victoria.
On Sundays 13 and 20 December, some services between Manchester and Dewsbury will divert via Brighouse, with buses for affected journeys. Piccadilly to York via Castleford will split, with trains running between Piccadilly and Stalybridge, and between Wakefield Kirkgate and York.
From Sunday 13 December, overnight North Route services will normally run via the Ordsall Chord rather than reversing at Salford Crescent. If both that route and the Guide Bridge diversion are unavailable, they will start or finish at Victoria, with a replacement bus to the Airport.
- Thursday 24 December: services finish earlier than usual.
- Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December: no train services.
- Sunday 27 December: services start later than usual.
From 27 December to 31 January, work between Stalybridge, Huddersfield and Dewsbury will affect services. TPE will divert some trains, and buses will run where that isn’t possible.
Midweek evenings
Regular midweek evening blockades between Heaton Lodge Junction and Stalybridge, and via Micklefield, will bring diversions and some replacement buses. Check any journey after 22:30.
The work is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will fully electrify the line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York for passenger trains. Dates can change, so check your journey on the TransPennine Express planned engineering work page before you book or travel.
