The Anonymous Widower

I’ve Just Glimpsed The Future Of Train Travel Across The North Of England And I Like It

Yesterday, I had an appointment at Liverpool Lime Street station at four o’clock, so as I hadn’t seen the works for the TransPennine Upgrade for some time, I decided to go the long way round with a change of train from LNER to TransPennine Express at Leeds.

These sections document my day.

London King’s Cross To Leeds In An InterCity 225

I took these pictures on the journey.

Note.

1. The 31 InterCity 225 trains were built around 1990.
2. They have a capacity of 535 seats, whereas the newer Hitachi Class 801 trains have a capacity of 611 seats. Both trains are nine cars with both First and Standard seats.
3. There is more of a step-up and step-down when entering or leaving the trains, compared to the best of today’s trains.
4. They are now being phased out in favour of ten new CAF tri-mode Class 897 trains, which should be entering service in 2027.
5. No details are available of the seating capacity of these trains, but they could be between 650 and 700, so they could maximise capacity on any LNER route.

Yesterday, the InterCity 225 performed well, although the windows at the seat where I sat, were rather dirty.

Changing Trains At Leeds Station

I changed to TransPennine Exzpress at Leeds station.

• At least, Leeds station, is one of the few in the UK, with a ticket office behind the barrier. Reading station please note this.
• But, I did have to walk across the bridge from one side of the station to the other.

In the end, I caught the TransPennine Express with about thirty seconds to spare.

Between Leeds And Huddersfield Stations

I took these pictures between Leeds and Huddersfield stations.

Note.

1. Dewsbury and Huddersfield stations is about eight miles and takes about eight minutes.
2. It is virtually a continuous building site, where extra tracks are being inserted.
3. Three stations are being rebuilt.
4. Overhead electrification is being installed. But except for approaching Huddersfield, there’s not much to be seen.
5. OpenRailwayMap gives the maximum speed between Dewsbury and Huddersfield stations as between 60-75 mph.

The ride on my Class 803 train was very quiet and smooth. Was it on battery power or was I sitting in a coach without a diesel engine underneath?

Huddersfield Station

I took these pictures at Huddersfield station.

Note.

1. Huddersfield station is Grade I Listed.
2. There is a pub in each wing.
3. I had a beer in the West Wing.
4. There are currently three main through platforms and three bay platforms.
5. Extensive works, which will be part of the TransPennine Upgrade,  will include electrification, a new roof, a new footbridge, and two extra through platforms.

Huddersfield station will be the jewel in the Costa del Yorkshire.

The Platforms At Huddersfield Station

This OpenRailwayMap shows the platforms in Huddersfield station.

Note.

1. The red and black tracks are being electrified.
2. Of the current platforms, Platforms 1, 4 and 8 will be electrified.
3. The two bay platforms; 5 and 6, will be converted into through platforms.
4. Platform 2 is the bay platform in the South-West corner of the map, that is used by the shuttle train from Sheffield.

I am sure extra platforms could be electrified as required, as there must be a good electrical connection at Huddersfield station.

A Tram-Train Service Between Huddersfield And Sheffield Stations

This OpenRailwayMap shows platform 2 at Huddersfield station.

Note.

1. Platform 2 is the black track at the right of the two through tracks, that are being electrified.
2. Platform 2 is a bay platform close to the Head of Steam pub.
3. I estimate that the platform is about 90 metres long.
4. I suspect Platform 2 could be lengthened if required.
5. Sheffield’s Class 399 tram/trains are 37.2 metres long, so a pair should fit in Platform 2.
6. The Class 398 tram/trains can run on battery power and climb hills in South Wales.
7. Platform 2 at Huddersfield station could be electrified to charge the tram/trains.
8. There could be a significant height difference between Huddersfield and Sheffield stations of about 40 metres, which could be used to charge tram/trains on the way down.
9. I feel with some track improvements, that a four trains per hour (tph) service could be run.

The service would call at Meadowhall, Chapeltown, Elsecar, Wombwell, Barnsley, Dodworth, Silkstone Common, Penistone, Denby Dale, Shepley, Stocksmoor, Brockholes, Honley, Berry Brow and Lockwood

The Pair Of Cranes In Huddersfield Station

These can’t be missed in the pictures. But why two massive cranes?

With an old roof to be taken down and a new roof and a footbridge to be lifted into place, I believe Network Rail have decided to bring in two of largest mobile cranes available in the UK, so that all the lifting doesn’t delay the project.

Between Huddersfield And Stalybridge Stations

I took these pictures between Huddersfield and Stalybridge stations.

Note.

1. The Class 802 train was running freely along a well-laid track.
2. There are four stations between Huddersfield and Stalybridge; Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield and Mossley(Manchester).
3. The stations were in reasonable condition, but some needed new footbridges and a bit of refurbishment.
4. There was virtually no signs of any foundations for electrification.

This map shows the route.

Note.

1. The pink tracks are the Manchester Metrolink.
2. The red tracks are electrified at 25 KVAC overhead.
3. The red and black tracks are being electrified.
4. Huddersfield is indicated by the blue arrow in the North-East corner of the map.
5. Stalybridge station is in the South-West corner of the map.
6. The pink track in the South-West corner of the map is the Manchester Metrolink branch to Ashton-under-Lyme.
7. The route between Huddersfield and Stalybridge is shown as it will will be fully electrified.
8. Huddersfield and Stalybridge is 18 miles.
9. There are three short tunnels between Huddersfield and Stalybridge.

I wonder, if it would be more affordable to not put up wires between Huddersfield and Stalybridge and use battery-electric passenger trains and hydrogen freight locomotives?

Stalybridge Station

I took these pictures at Stalybridge station.

The station is fully-electrified and has direct services to Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, Newcastlle, Wigan and York.

Will Liverpool Lime Street And Newcastle Be Fully Electrified?

Consider.

• Liverpool Lime Street and Newcastle stations is 180.8 miles.
• Newcastle and Church Fenton stations is 91.4 miles and is fully-electrified.
• Liverpool Lime Street and Stalybridge stations is 39.4 miles and is fully-electrified.

This means that the gap between Church Fenton and Stalybridge stations is just fifty miles.

Real Time Trains indicate that the current Class 802 trains on the route run on diesel between Stalybridge and York stations, which is 60.8 miles.

• Changing power in Stalybridge and York stations means if anything goes wrong passengers can be easily rescued.
• From what I saw on Thursday, it looks like electrification will be completed between Neville Hill depot and Huddersfield.

I wouldn’t be surprised, if they just electrified to the West of Stalybridge and the East of Huddersfield.

That would mean that the 18 miles between Stalybridge and Huddersfield would be run on batteries.

• But it would also avoid electrifying three tunnels.
• How much disruption would be saved, by not electrifying the tunnels?
• Freight trains would use something like a bi-mode Class 99 locomotive, but it would only need a range of 18 miles on diesel.

I can also see improvised bi-mode locomotives being used like this combination of a Class 66 and Class 90 locomotives.

It was certainly doing its job, when I saw the combination at Shenfield.

August 24, 2025 Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Avanti West Coast, Class 398 Tram-Train, Class 399 Tram-Train, Class 66 Locomotive, Class 697 Train, Class 802 Train, Class 90 Locomotive, Class 99 Locomotive, Construction, Cranes, Huddersfield Station, Lea Green Station, Leeds Station, Liverpool Lime Street Station, LNER, Manchester Piccadilly Station, Manchester Victoria Station, Partial Electrification, Public House, Sheffield Station, Stalybridge Station, TransPennine Express, TransPennine Upgrade | 3 Comments